The International Rescue Committee (IRC) responds to the world's worst humanitarian crises, helping to restore health, safety, education, economic wellbeing, and power to people devastated by conflict and disaster. Founded in 1933 at the call of Albert Einstein, the IRC is one of the world's largest international humanitarian non-governmental organizations (INGO), at work in more than 40 countries and 29 U.S. cities helping people to survive, reclaim control of their future and strengthen their communities. A force for humanity, IRC employees deliver lasting impact by restoring safety, dignity and hope to millions. If you're a solutions-driven, passionate change-maker, come join us in positively impacting the lives of millions of people world-wide for a better future.
SCOPE OF WORK
The Compliance, Internal Control & Risk Management Coordinator is a strategic advisor to the Country Director and Senior Management Team (SMT), responsible for enabling the organization to proactively manage risks and uphold the highest standards of integrity, accountability, and compliance across all operations.
This function plays a critical role in:
- Risk Enablement: Supporting the identification, assessment, and mitigation of operational, financial, and regulatory risks across the country program and partner activities.
- Risk Culture & Capacity Building: Institutionalizing risk management processes and systems, delivering training, and fostering awareness to embed a culture of risk-informed decision-making throughout the organization.
- Compliance Assurance: Providing assurance to leadership on compliance in high-risk areas, including donor regulations, national legislation, and organizational policies.
- Operational Effectiveness: Streamlining compliance practices to prioritize support resources toward the highest-risk issues and improve overall organizational performance.
The role covers all programmatic and support functions in the Ukraine Country Office, acts as liaison with national authorities, and reports to the Deputy Director of Finance. It is central to promoting ethical standards, donor trust, and ensuring that IRC’s humanitarian mission is delivered with excellence and accountability.
Responsibilities
Prevention: Create a safe and compliant environment
- In coordination with and under the guidance and direction of the Country Director and the DDF, act as focal point for the local integration of IRC Organizational Policies and coordinate a training and awareness program for staff on ethics and compliance issues.
- Promote a culture of ethics, compliance, and reporting through awareness initiatives and innovative strategies across all offices.
- Coordinate ethics and compliance training for staff and partners, including fraud prevention and anti-corruption policies.
- Ensure full compliance with the Ukrainian Tax Code, including VAT, income tax, payroll tax, and NGO-specific exemptions.
- Monitor and interpret changes in Ukrainian tax and financial legislation that could affect the NGO's operations.
- Support the development and localization of internal policies on financial compliance, tax, and regulatory risk management.
- Participate in grant start-up and closure meetings, ensuring alignment with IRC and donor compliance requirements.
- Maintain and monitor a country-level risk register across programs and operations
Internal Controls and Compliance Monitoring
- Implement a country-level approach to internal controls, monitoring, and strengthening.
- Conduct regular compliance, operational, and financial reviews of IRC and partner activities to assess adherence to policies, procedures, and donor regulations.
- Produce clear, actionable internal reports with findings and recommendations to strengthen systems and processes.
- Review partner agreements and oversee transparent selection, capacity building, and compliance support to implementing partners.
- Identify, assess, and document financial and regulatory risks related to program implementation, grant funding, and partnerships.
- Support donor compliance efforts by aligning Ukrainian tax and finance practices with funder expectations.
- Monitor the NGO’s ongoing compliance with nonprofit registration and tax-exempt status requirements.
Audits and Reviews
- Prepare and coordinate internal audit plans and donor compliance reviews based on risk assessments.
- Lead or support internal audits and compliance reviews, including field visits, testing of systems, and report preparation.
- Follow up on the implementation of audit recommendations and compliance actions across departments.
- Focal point and contact with the accounting services outsourcing supplier
- Act as a liaison with Ukrainian authorities during audits and inspections (e.g., State Tax Service).
- Prepare compliance reports and risk assessments for senior leadership, regional offices, and headquarters.
Training and Capacity Building
- Design and deliver ethics and compliance training for IRC staff and partners, including training on the IRC Way and donor regulations.
- Conduct training sessions for program, finance, and operational staff on tax obligations, compliance procedures, and internal controls.
- Promote a compliance culture by sharing updates on regulatory changes and best practices.
- Develop tools and guidance materials to support staff in applying compliance requirements in daily operations.
- Develop materials and coordinate sessions in collaboration with AMU, HR, and ECU.
- Provide targeted compliance support to partners and sub-recipients as needed.
Staff Performance Management, Learning & Development
- Coach, train, supervise, and mentor direct-report staff, including communicating clear expectations, setting annual performance objectives, providing regular and timely positive and constructive performance feedback, and providing documented semi-annual performance reviews.
- Maintain open and professional relations with team members, promoting a strong team spirit and providing oversight and guidance to enable staff to successfully perform in their positions.
- For donor-funded programs with specific requirements, ensures proper calculation, management, and accurate monthly submission of timesheets and conducts trial reviews.
- Support the professional development of finance and compliance team members by identifying training needs and growth opportunities.
- Mentor staff or focal points involved in risk management and compliance.
- Promote cross-departmental learning on financial compliance and risk mitigation strategies.
- Maintain open and professional relations with team members, promoting a strong team spirit and providing oversight and guidance to enable staff to successfully perform in their positions.
- Promote and monitor staff care and well-being. Model healthy work-life balance practices. Support appropriate interventions in response to identified staff care needs of both national and international staff.
- Adhere to and act in accordance with the IRC Global HR Policies and Procedures and communicate through word and example a high standard of compliance with all applicable policies and regulations.
Job Requirements
Work Experience & Education:
- Minimum 5 years working experience from working as a manager in compliance, auditing or risk management functions or from working as senior manager in the humanitarian sector.
- Proven experience in investigation planning/execution/documentation and risk-based auditing.
Desirable
- Qualified internal auditor or compliance management experience (Graduate of finance, accounting, or a related business field )
- Experience in designing and delivering training workshops is an asset.
- INGO experience or have worked in a commercial/public sector international organization.
- Familiarity with grant requirements of major donors such as ECHO, SIDA, GFFO, BMZ, GAC, SDC & Others.
- Counter fraud experience
Demonstrated Skills and Competencies
- Demonstrated commitment to IRC’s mission, values, and the IRC Way – Professional Code of Conduct.
- High ethical standards, integrity, and professionalism in all aspects of work.
- Strong analytical, problem-solving, and innovative thinking skills, with the ability to develop effective solutions within legal and policy frameworks.
- Excellent planning, organizational, and time management skills; able to manage multiple priorities under tight deadlines.
- Proven interpersonal and communication skills, including influencing, negotiation, and relationship building.
- Ability to work independently, proactively, and with a high level of initiative.
- Flexible and adaptable to changing priorities and demands.
- Strong presentation and reporting skills.
- Proficiency in Microsoft Word and Excel; strong overall IT skills.
Language/Travel
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills in English
- Ukraine language skills are advantageous.
- Local Travel: 20%
Key Working Relationships
Position Reports to: Deputy Director of Finance
Position directly supervises: N/A
Indirect Reporting: Deputy Director of Field Management
Key Internal Contacts: Members of the SMT, Head of Departments, Budget Holders.
Key External Contacts: Donors and auditors in-country to coordinate donor-initiated audits
Standard of Professional Conduct: The IRC and the IRC workers must adhere to the values and principles outlined in the IRC Way – our Code of Conduct. These are Integrity, Service, Accountability, and Equality.
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