Under the authority of the Head of Internal Audit, the position-holder will perform internal audit assignments in accordance with the provisons of the Financial Regulations and the Audit Charter.

(External recruitment procedure organised in accordance with Article 16 of the Regulations on Appointments)

The incumbent performs all or a combination of the following duties:

-       conducts or participates in compliance, financial, operational and IT audits in accordance with the international professional standards of the Institute of Internal Auditors (IIA);

-       contributes to identifying audit objectives, focal points and strategy;

-       plans audit assignments;

-       drafts audit reports;

-       monitors the implementation of corrective action resulting from the observations and recommendations made in audit reports;

-       represents the Director of Internal Oversight on the various committees and commissions;

-       participates in the evaluation of the various information management systems including computerised systems;

-       performs any other task compatible with the grade and qualifications required for the post.

Please note that the incumbent may be required to perform other duties not listed in the vacancy notice.

·         Qualifications: diploma certifying minimum of four years’ post-secondary education (Bac+4), in auditing, finance or other appropriate field.

·         Experience: at least three years of recent, in-depth professional experience of auditing (compliance, financial, operational and IT audits).

·         Language requirements: a very good knowledge of one of the official languages (English or French) and good knowledge of the other. 

·         Nationality: nationality of one of the 47 Council of Europe Member States. 

·         Age: under 65 years of age, at the closing date of the vacancy notice. 

Please note that only applicants meeting the above-mentioned requirements will be considered for shortlisting. Moreover, these being only minimum requirements, there is no guarantee that applicants will be shortlisted, even if they meet all of these.

Essential:

·         Managerial skills: managing complex audits, managing an audit team.

·         Professional and technical competencies:

·         good command of the techniques used in risk analysis, sampling, data analysis, conducting interviews and drafting audit reports;

·         thorough knowledge of the International Professional Practices Framework of the Institute of Internal Auditors;

·         professional experience in International Organisations;

·         sound computer skills enabling him/her to use specific software for managing statistical and financial data;

·         planning and work organisation;

·         analytical thinking:  problem-solving and judgment skills.

·         Communication and linguistic skills: listening and communication skills; ability to express him or herself and to draft clearly, concisely and convincingly in English and French. 

·         Personal attitudes: integrity, objectivity and confidentiality. 

Desirable:

·         Professional and technical competencies: professional certificate and/or professional training in the audit field. 

·         Communication and linguistic skills: knowledge of other European languages. 

For more information, please refer to the competency inventory of the Council of Europe.

Applications

Applications must be made in English or French using the Council of Europe on-line application system.  By connecting to our website http://www.coe-recruitment.com you can create and submit your on-line application.  Applications must be submitted at the latest 3 June 2013 (midnight Central European Time).  

The selection procedure may vary according to the specific requirements of the job vacancy. It consists of preliminary selection and can include ability tests, behavioural questionnaires, job related examinations, situational exercises, language tests, interviews and full assessment centres.

Depending on the number of applicants, the length of the required professional experience may be increased.  

Only candidates who best match the requirements of the job vacancy and, if applicable, candidates with the best results in the previous stages of the procedure (tests, exams, etc.) will, as a last stage of the procedure, be invited for an interview.

Following this competition, a list of eligible candidates, in order of merit, may be established. This list will be valid for two years with the possibility of extending it to a maximum of four years. During the period of validity of the list, candidates on the list may be offered employment of fixed term duration. It should be noted that placement on this list does not give candidates the right to an appointment within the Council of Europe. Moreover, the choice of candidates from a reserve list is not made solely according to the order of merit.  

The first year of employment will constitute a probationary period. Provided the staff members’ work is considered satisfactory, he/she may be offered  a contract of fixed term duration. However, the total length of employment will not exceed five years. The staff member so recruited shall not be eligible for any subsequent internal competition, promotion or transfer to a post, or for secondment. The compulsory retirement age is 65.

For the moment, this position is limited until 31 December 2014, and may be prolonged. 

Details on conditions of employment including salaries, allowances, pension scheme and social insurance can be consulted on our recruitment website. 

Under its equal opportunities policy, the Council of Europe is aiming to achieve parity in the number of women and men employed in each category and grade. In the event of equal merit, preference will therefore be given to the applicant belonging to the under-represented sex.

The Council of Europe welcomes applications from all suitably qualified candidates, irrespective of gender, disability, marital or parental status, racial, ethnic or social origin, colour, religion, belief or sexual orientation.

During the different stages of the recruitment procedure, specific measures may be taken to ensure equal opportunities for candidates with disabilities. 

The Organisation 

The Council of Europe is a political organisation founded in 1949 in order to promote greater unity between its members. It now numbers 47 member States. The Organisation’s main aims are to promote democracy, human rights and the rule of law, and to develop common responses to political, social, cultural and legal challenges in its member States. Since 1989 it has integrated most of the countries of Central and Eastern Europe and supported them in their efforts to implement and consolidate their reforms.

The Council of Europe has its permanent headquarters in Strasbourg (France). By Statute, it has two constituent organs: the Committee of Ministers, composed of the member States’ Ministers for Foreign Affairs, and the Parliamentary Assembly, comprising delegations from the national parliaments. The Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of Europe represents the entities of local and regional self-government within the member States.

The European Court of Human Rights is the judicial body competent to adjudicate complaints brought against a state by individuals, associations or other contracting states on grounds of violation of the European Convention on Human Rights.