- Location
- Cameroon-Yaounde Main Office
- Type
- Full-time
- Department
- Legal
- Seniority
- Senior
- Experience
- 6+ years
- Source
- Workday
Description
The Senior Compliance Officer will support Management Sciences for Health (MSH) in ensuring that MSH Cameroon operates in accordance with MSH policies and procedures, donor requirements, and applicable Cameroon laws and regulations. The position will support an anticipated U.S. Government funded project and other projects as assigned. The position will conduct ongoing reviews of financial and operational processes, including finance, procurement, human resources, administration, payroll, assets, travel, and other project-support functions, to confirm that appropriate internal controls are in place and working effectively.
Working closely with the Project Director, Finance Manager, project leadership, MSH's Governance and Entity Management (GEM) function and other relevant global and country office staff, the Compliance Officer will develop a risk-based compliance workplan, review tools, and practical procedures. The Sr. Compliance Officer will assess the effectiveness and efficiency of operations, reliability of financial reporting, safeguarding of assets, compliance with statutory and donor requirements, segregation of duties, operational quality, and value for money.
The Sr. Compliance Officer will clearly document findings, recommend practical corrective actions, and follow up with responsible staff to ensure that agreed actions are completed on time. The position will also support country office risk assessments, maintain the risk register, assist with audit preparation and responses, and provide guidance and training to strengthen staff understanding of compliance, ethics, internal controls, and fraud-risk prevention.
When formally authorized, the Sr. Compliance Officer may support confidential and thoroughly documented reviews or investigations of suspected fraud, waste, abuse, misconduct, or loss of assets under the direction of the Ethics Committee, HR, or another authorized MSH oversight function. The position must handle sensitive matters with independence, sound judgment, discretion, and strict confidentiality.
MAIN DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Compliance
Ensure that all MSH country and project financial and operational activities comply with applicable Cameroon laws and regulations, donor rules and regulations, and MSH policies and standards.
Develop an annual, customized compliance-monitoring plan, including review tools, standards, ethical considerations, and a schedule for assessing all project and country functions, field offices, remote staff, and locations requiring additional verification.
Develop and maintain a compliance framework for the MSH in Cameroon, including checklists covering key business processes, transaction types, applicable Cameroon laws and regulations, and specific donor requirements.
Periodically review and update the compliance-monitoring plan, checklists, and other tools to reflect changes in MSH policies and procedures, donor requirements, and applicable Cameroon laws and regulations.
In collaboration with the Project Director, Finance Manager, and relevant MSH business units, develop, support, and monitor the implementation of contry-specific guidelines and procedures for human resources, procurement, finance, administration, and other operational functions, processes, and controls.
Verify compliance with applicable Cameroon tax and statutory requirements, including social security contributions, insurance obligations, employee terminal benefits, severance payments, workers’ compensation, VAT requirements, and applicable tax exemptions. Periodically confirm that statutory obligations are accurately calculated, reported, and paid on time to prevent noncompliance and penalties. Conduct spot checks and/or consolidated reviews of payroll records, including applicable tax and social security deductions.
Review the country office’s segregation-of-duties matrix and monitor its implementation as a key internal-control measure to prevent incompatible responsibilities and reduce opportunities for error, fraud, or misconduct.
Assess the effectiveness of internal controls and compliance systems within the country office’s operating framework. Identify gaps in procedures and controls and provide practical recommendations to the Project/Country Leadership Team and MSH global support teams.
Document internal-control weaknesses and compliance deviations, assess their potential impact, and recommend appropriate corrective actions.
Identify compliance-related knowledge and skills gaps and recommend and/or provide appropriate staff training and/or guidance.
Provide compliance and ethics training directly to country office staff when requested and based on the country compliance plan.
Prepare detailed reports for each compliance review and other assigned tasks, including prioritized findings, risks, and recommendations for MSH global teams and country staff.
Present final compliance reports to the MSH Global ICC team leadership for review, approval, and action, including sharing reports with country/project leadership and global support teams.
When necessary and formally authorized, conduct reviews or investigations involving whistleblower reports, suspected fraud, mismanagement, misconduct, or loss of assets. This may include providing support to internal or external auditors for these actions, as assigned.
Follow up on recommendations from internal and external audits to confirm that agreed actions have been implemented. Assist the Project Director, Finance Manager, and relevant global and country teams in responding to requests from auditors.
Stay informed about applicable laws, directives, and developments affecting the legal, regulatory, and nongovernmental organization operating environment in Cameroon.
Conduct financial and operational risk assessments, identify high-risk and high-probability events, and recommend appropriate mitigation measures. Conduct additional risk assessments for specific situations when requested.
Provide practical advice to help country office staff maintain effective risk-management and internal-control systems and comply with financial policies, donor requirements, and MSH procedures.
Additional Responsibilities
Prepare quarterly reports summarizing compliance reviews and verification activities, authorized investigations, and the status of audit recommendations for submission to the Project Director and/or country office leadership and MSH Governance and Entity Management (GEM).
Meet regularly with the Project Director and Finance Manager, and as requested, provide updates on compliance activities, significant findings, risks, and corrective actions.
Perform other duties as assigned.
QUALIFICATIONS
Education Requirements
Required:
Bachelor’s degree in accounting or business management or related area.
Preferred:
Advanced degree preferred.
Professional certification such as Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE), Certified Internal Auditor (CIA), or ACCA
Work Experience Requirements
Required:
6+ years of experience in compliance, risk management or audit required.
Preferred:
Eight years of progressively responsible experience is preferred. Experience in international public health is preferred.
Experience with an international development organization and donor-funded projects, including U.S. Government awards.
Knowledge and Skills
Strong knowledge of compliance monitoring, internal controls, risk assessment, audit principles, risk management, investigation processes, and corrective-action tracking
Working knowledge of U.S Government grant rules and regulations or other donor rules and regulations (Global Fund, European Union, Gates Foundation, GAVI, etc.) required.
Ability to interpret Cameroon laws and regulatory requirements affecting nongovernmental organizations and translate them into practical controls and procedures.
Knowledge of statutory compliance areas such as taxation, social security, benefits deductions, payroll deductions, insurance, employee-related obligations, and applicable exemptions.
Strong analytical, interviewing, report-writing, and data-management skills, with the ability to distinguish significant risks from routine exceptions.
Ability to communicate findings objectively, provide practical recommendations, and work constructively with technical and operational teams.
Experience in international development programs preferred.
Excellent planning, management, and organizational skills.
Proven leadership and interpersonal skills.
Excellent oral and written communication skills in English and French
Proficiency in Microsoft Office, particularly Excel, Word, and PowerPoint; experience with enterprise financial or compliance systems is preferred.
Competencies
Integrity and independence, with the discretion to safeguard confidential and sensitive information.
Ability to work independently and in collaboration with global teams who provide supervision and oversight.
Sound judgment, professional skepticism, attention to detail, and a fair, objective, evidence-based approach.
Strong planning and prioritization skills, with the ability to manage multiple reviews and deadlines.
Clear communication, active listening, collaboration, adaptability, and constructive problem solving.
Cultural sensitivity and the ability to build trusted working relationships while maintaining appropriate professional boundaries.
Physical Travel and Demands
Work is performed in an office environment and requires the ability to operate standard office equipment and keyboards. Must have the ability to navigate an office environment and pick up materials.
Travel: n/a
MSH is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, status as a protected veteran, or any other protected category under applicable federal, state, and local laws. MSH complies with Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act, Section 4212 of the Vietnam Era Readjustment Assistance Act, as amended, and all related applicable regulations.
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