· Independently lead and deliver end-to-end internal audit engagements (planning, fieldwork, execution, reporting, and followup) in accordance with the Global Internal Audit Standards (GIAS), ensuring high-quality, risk-based audit outcomes.
· Support the Head of Internal Audit in developing, maintaining, and continuously updating CIMMYT’s rolling risk-based internal audit plan, including performing enterprise-wide risk assessments across operational, financial, compliance, IT, governance, and research/program areas.
· Conduct risk assessments and advisory reviews to identify emerging risks, control weaknesses, governance gaps, and opportunities to strengthen organizational effectiveness.
· Prepare clear, concise, and impactful audit reports, including practical, risk-focused, and implementable recommendations tailored for senior management and governance bodies.
· Manage a structured process for tracking, validating, and reporting implementation of agreed management action plans, including assessing adequacy of remediation, escalating delays or ineffective responses where necessary, and formally validating closure.
· Support governance reporting, including preparation of periodic reports, dashboards, and presentations to the Leadership Team (LT), Director General (DG), Audit & Finance Committee, and Board, as required.
· Provide independent advisory support to management on governance, enterprise risk management, internal controls, and process improvement initiatives, while maintaining independence and objectivity.
· Leverage data analytics and technology-enabled audit techniques, where appropriate, to enhance audit effectiveness, risk identification, and insight generation.
· Ensure audit work is properly documented and fully compliant with GIAS, internal methodologies, and quality assurance requirements, maintaining complete and defensible audit files.
· Build strong, professional relationships with geographically dispersed stakeholders, constructively challenging management where appropriate while maintaining independence, objectivity, and sound professional judgment.
· Provide guidance, coaching, and quality support to junior internal audit staff, peers, interns, or secondees, as applicable, contributing to capability development, knowledge sharing, and consistent delivery of high-quality audit work across the function.
· Coordinate and oversee co-sourced or outsourced internal audit engagements, as applicable, including supporting scope definition, reviewing deliverables, ensuring alignment with GIAS and CIMMYT expectations, and maintaining overall quality and continuity of assurance outcomes.