Senior Specialist, Internal Audit

Want to make a positive difference to the future of people and our one shared home, the Earth? Working at WWF could be your opportunity of a lifetime.
All around the world, people are waking up to the devastating impacts of climate change and nature loss. The situation today is worse than the darkest predictions of just ten years ago, pushing billions of people to the edge and threatening lives and livelihoods. At WWF, we are facing our biggest crisis – and our biggest ever opportunity – to create a better future for people and nature. With over 60 years of experience and an active presence in more than 100 countries, we work to achieve both on-the-ground and global policy action, from protecting and restoring species and their habitats, to transforming markets and policies toward sustainability.

Our people come from hugely diverse backgrounds and with a variety of expertise, ranging from conservation science and advocacy to HR and finance. We welcome applications from anyone who believes they can help us tackle this enormous global challenge and drive the urgent conservation impact needed to restore our planet.

What We Do
We are an independent conservation organization, striving to sustain the natural world for the benefit of people and the ecosystem. From individuals and communities to businesses and governments, we are part of a growing global movement calling for bolder action on climate and nature, demanding that world leaders set nature on the path to recovery by 2030. WWF works to address the most dominant drivers of nature loss through system-wide changes in how food and energy are produced and consumed, and in how financial systems are structured. By implementing change in every country, we aim to drive visible and positive impacts on the ground, helping to restore nature in the most critical places around the world, from the Amazon to the Coral Triangle.

Engaging everyone means addressing the barriers to participation faced by some groups in society, including local communities. Conservation will only be sustainable if it is owned by, and benefits, local people. That's why Indigenous Peoples and local communities must be at the centre of action on climate and nature. WWF is committed to using its resources and global network to support these communities in creating together the most effective solutions where they live.

Humanity is still in time, we have a clear pathway to solve this crisis. At WWF, we call on everyone to join the global movement, change how we live, and take action now.

1 MISSION OF THE DEPARTMENT

The primary role of Internal Audit is to help the Board and executive management to protect the assets, reputation, and sustainability of WWF-International. We report functionally to the Audit, Risk and Compliance Committee (ARCC). Internal Audit undertakes the objective examination of evidence to provide independent assessments on the adequacy and effectiveness of governance, risk management, and internal control processes operating within WWF-International. Internal Audit may also support and assist management through other types of audit engagement to help identify and manage risks effectively and select the most appropriate method available to best add value. Our revised purpose statement is: We safeguard and strengthen WWF's mission and reputation through independent assurance and value-adding advisory.

2 Major Functions

• Supports WWF International's Head of Internal Audit (HIA) in developing and promoting Internal Audit as a value-added activity within WWF International and, through active engagement with the Network Internal Audit Group, across the WWF Network.
• In the context of the Internal Audit Plan plans and delivers high quality solution-based internal audits, from risk assessment through to delivery of impactful audit reports, driving continuous improvement in the effectiveness of WWF I governance, risk management and control processes.
• Manages and develops internal audit resources, comprising WWF staff members and external co-sourced partners.
• Drives continuous improvement in the auditing process in accordance with the International Internal Audit Standards.

3 Major Duties and Responsibilities

• Assist the HIA with the maintenance of an ongoing audit risk assessment and delivery of a programme of internal audits, covering the full (global and functional) scope of WWF International's activities.
• Ensure adequate and appropriately skilled resources are available to deliver the audit plan, providing coaching and supervision, as required. The small size of the team will require a willingness to perform hands-on internal audit fieldwork. However, the role will also be responsible for day-to-day management and support of any additional resource, whether WWF colleagues or a co-sourced partner.
• Working alone or as part of the team, responsible for leading and conducting assigned financial and operational audits in accordance with best practice audit techniques, establishing root causes of issues and agreeing workable, value-added solutions with management. This may include performing risk assessments; anticipating emerging issues through research; determining the scope of the audit; planning, designing and implementing audit programmes and tests; attending meetings with auditees; writing impactful audit reports and presenting results to management.
• Follow up audit recommendations and validate the implementation of the agreed actions.
• Ensure strong project management of all audits assigned, in terms of both efficiency and cost-effectiveness.
• Continuously develop knowledge regarding the external risks impacting on WWF-I, the legal and governance environment and audit best practice.
• Work with the HIA to identify and coordinate with other sources of assurance thereby minimising the audit 'burden' on offices and increasing the overall assurance available to management and the Audit Committee.
• Develop and maintain key relationships with other WWF-I business units, Network offices and other stakeholders as a means of obtaining information needed to perform functional duties, provide business advisory service and to provide strategic recommendations.
• Actively work with the WWF-I Internal Audit team and the wider Network Internal Audit Group to improve audit processes through shared learning and promote Internal Audit across the Network.
• Support and mentor any "occasional" auditors seconded to the team.
• Brief and support co-source partners.
• Perform any other duties as required to support the HIA and Internal Audit team.

4 PROFILE

Required Qualifications.

• Bachelor's Degree.
• Chartered Internal Auditor or relevant accountancy qualification.
• At least 5 years' experience in Internal Audit or finance in a complex international environment.

Required Skills And Competencies.

• Experienced team and project manager, with strong coaching and developmental skills.
• Experience of identifying and analysing complex information, regulations and policies, translating these into impactful advice and communications and providing best fit solutions according to organisational needs.
• Demonstrable ability and experience of providing and communicating strategic internal audit advice and recommendations to all levels of the organisation. Perfect command of English language; other languages an asset.
• Ability to analyse and resolve complex risk management and internal control problems involving multiple stakeholders.
• Demonstrable ability / experience of handling potentially difficult situations in a professional, tactful and confidential manner.
• Ability / confidence to participate in audits overseas in situations that may require rapid reappraisal of audit objectives / approaches. Willingness to travel (up to 60%) sometimes at short notice.
• Ability to adapt an approach to consider cultural sensitivities and still deliver a quality audit product.
• Ability to manage own work to meet tight deadlines.
• Embraces the WWF mission and values of the organisation: Courage, Integrity, Respect & Collaboration.

5 WORKING RELATIONSHIPS

Internal.

Regular interaction with the internal audit team, WWF International management and staff at all levels and in all locations, globally, from the devolved Secretariat to field offices in Europe, Africa and Asia.

External.

Regular interaction with third party internal audit resource providers, Network Internal Auditors and Network colleagues.

Please upload your covering letter and CV in English. Priority will be given to applications with both documents indicated.

Deadline for applications: 18 November 2025
Work permit restrictions may apply.
Early application is encouraged as we will review applications throughout the advertising period and reserve the right to close the advert early.

At WWF, we are dedicated to fostering an inclusive and diverse workplace where every individual feels valued and respected. We believe that a diverse workforce will help us to achieve our mission to stop the degradation of the Earth's natural environment and to build a future in which humans live in harmony with nature. As an equal opportunity employer, we are committed to providing fair and unbiased consideration for all candidates regardless of their background. We encourage applicants from all backgrounds to apply and join us in fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace.