Accountability & Compliance Investigations Specialist

Role Overview

The Accountability & Compliance Investigations Specialist is responsible for leading accountability audits, proactive monitoring, compliance oversight, and supporting impartial internal investigations into fraud, corruption, financial misconduct, and breaches of organizational protocols across the region.

Key Duties and Responsibilities

Accountability Audits & Proactive Monitoring

• Conduct thematic or comprehensive accountability audits focusing on community engagement, decision-making, resource allocation (beyond pure financial auditing), and adherence to commitments.
• Ensure audit findings inform management decision-making and corrective actions.
• Perform regular risk assessments to identify vulnerabilities and emerging challenges in the accountability and integrity landscape.
• Provide real-time advisory support to offices and programme coordination teams on setting up and strengthening accountability systems.

Compliance Oversight

• Assist in maintaining the Risk and Compliance Register, tracking deviations from established policies, protocols, and donor agreements.
• Prepare formal Compliance Gap Reports with clear findings and tracked corrective action plans.
• Conduct periodic compliance reviews and audits across departments to detect gaps early and ensure proactive remediation and cross-departmental alignments with Safeguarding, EDI, Data Protection, and HR.
• Establish clear referral protocols with Safeguarding to distinguish between behavioral/safeguarding cases and Integrity/Fraud cases.
• Follow up on key findings, evidence, risk ratings, recommendations, agreed action implementation by owners, and escalation of overdue high-risk actions.
• Carry out compliance monitoring and follow-up through regular review, analysis, reporting, and follow-up.

Investigations (Supporting Role)

• Conduct impartial investigations into allegations of fraud, corruption, financial misconduct, and breaches of organizational protocol as assigned by the Head of ATU, following the strict Investigation Protocol.
• Support complex investigations led by the Head of ATU by gathering and analyzing financial records, transactional data, and documentary evidence.
• Collaborate with forensic experts and legal advisors as needed to ensure investigations are thorough and evidence-based.
• Coordinate confidentiality standards and case-ownership responsibilities.

FRM Oversight & Quality Assurance

• Provide technical support to departments and programmes in designing context-appropriate Feedback and Response Mechanisms (FRMs), including hotlines and community liaison structures.
• Monitor FRM performance using key indicators (response time, resolution rate, user satisfaction) and ensure case tracking for sensitive complaints.
• Ensure FRMs are accessible, safe, and inclusive, particularly for vulnerable populations or target groups.
• Analyze FRM data to identify systemic issues and contribute to organizational learning.

Reporting & Capacity Building

• Contribute data-driven insights to the Quarterly Internal Dashboards and the Annual Accountability Report.
• Support the development and delivery of training modules on Accountability Fundamentals, FRM Management, and Whistleblower Protection for staff.
• Support development of scalable training approaches including e-learning modules.

Qualifications and Requirements

• Advanced university degree (Master’s or equivalent) in Accounting, Finance, Auditing, or a related field.
• Certified Public Accountant (CPA), Chartered Accountant (CA), Certified Internal Auditor (CIA), or Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE) designation is required.
• Experience working in Eastern Africa or similar complex operational environments is highly desirable.