Compliance Officer

With 30 years of humanitarian action, Première Urgence-Aide Médicale Internationale (PU-AMI), a non-profit, apolitical and secular international NGO in Lebanon:  

Supports more than 300,000 beneficiaries annually through its programs in Lebanon.  

Employs more than 190 national staff from diverse backgrounds.  

Works in close partnership with local authorities, UN agencies, and NGOs to deliver coordinated, high-quality assistance.  

Our mission in Lebanon:  
PU-AMI strives to provide rapid and integrated humanitarian responses to populations affected by crisis. Our teams combine expertise in Health, Protection, Shelter, Livelihood, Mental Health, and Psychosocial support to help individuals regain independence and dignity.  

Learn more: PU-AMI Website | LinkedIn | Facebook | Instagram | Ethics Framework

SUPERVISION

Under the direct supervision of: Compliance & Audit Manager

Under the technical supervision:Compliance & Audit Manager

Under the overall supervision:Deputy Country Director Support

in supervision of: None

OVERALL MISSION

GENERAL OBJECTIVE

The Compliance Officer supports the Compliance & Audit Manager in the implementation and monitoring of compliance, internal control and audit-related activities at mission level.

S/he will also assist the Compliance & Audit Manager in providing technical reference for the bases in Lebanon about standards to be reached in terms of controls, processes, compliance to the organization’s procedures, Donors’ procedures and good practices.

The position focuses on operational execution, documentation, follow up and field level checks and internal and external audits.

RESPONSABILITIES AND TASKS

1. COMPLIANCE ROLE

• Support the Compliance & Audit Manager in monitoring compliance with PUI internal procedures and donor regulations.
• Contribute to the collection, review and organization of compliance related documentation.
• Support awareness raising activities and trainings.
• Report identified gaps, risks or non compliance issues to the Compliance & Audit Manager for analysis and decision.

2. INTERNAL CONTROL

• Contribute to the use and update of internal control tools developed by the Compliance & Audit Manager.
• Ensure that the Mission’s recommendation tracker produced from internal and/or external audits, review, checks, KPIs, investivations, complaints and feedback mechanism reports, etc. is updated regulary and proper follow up is made;
• Assist departments in compiling supporting documentation requested for compliance checks
• Assit in updating the internal control framework of the Mission including but not limitted to SOPs, guidelines, procedures, etc.
• Assit in developing guidelines on how to draft an SOP, the content & template of an SOP, and responsabilities of updating, drafting and approving SOPs.
• Maitain the Mission’s SOP register in addition to the shared folder that includes all Mission’s SOPs.

3. INTERNAL AUDIT

• Use the internal audit checklists, tools and methodology developed by the Compliance & Audit Manager.
• Compile, request and follow up with departments on the collection of supporting documents required for internal audits.
• Perform a first-level completeness and consistency check of supporting documentation prior to the audit, and flag any gaps or inconsistencies to the Compliance & Audit Manager.
• Conduct internal audits and spot checks at base level under the supervision of the Compliance & Audit Manager.
• Draft factual, evidence-based observations and submit them to the Compliance & Audit Manager for validation.
• Update the Audit Action Plan tool based on validated audit recommendations.
• Follow up on the implementation status of corrective actions and report progress to the Compliance & Audit Manager.

4. EXTERNAL AUDIT

• Liaise and follow up with the different departments for the collection and preliminary review of documents requested by external auditors.
• Assist departments in organizing audit files prior to submission.
• Support the different departments in the audit preparation when needed;
• Assist in checking the supporting documents before sharing it with the external auditors;
• Support in preparing an external audit plan for the expected audits;
• Assist in checking/reviewing the external audit reports and updating the Mission’s recommendation tracker;
• Assist in guiding departments in preparation of action plans to implement recommendations as per audit reports or management letters.

5. ARCHIVING

• Support the implementation of archiving standards defined at mission level.
• Assist in the supervision of archiving processes at coordination and base levels to ensure alignment with established standards.
• Complete and regularize pending archiving to ensure files are up to date in the warehouse, including labelling, sorting and proper filing of documents.
• Ensure documents are properly scanned, classified and stored in line with archiving instructions and procedures.
• Support the digital archiving of departmental documents and verify that digital archiving practices are consistently applied across the mission.
• Liaise with departments and designated archiving focal points to follow up on archiving status, identify challenges or bottlenecks, and support corrective actions.
• Assist in the development and use of an archiving tracking tool to monitor progress and compliance.
• Flag gaps, delays or non-compliance in archiving practices to the Compliance & Audit Manager.

6. RISK MANAGEMENT

• Support the collection of risk-related inputs from departments, internal audits and investigation processes.
• Assist in the development of the Mission risk matrix and update it.
• Follow up on the implementation status of mitigation measures and report progress to the Compliance & Audit Manager.

7. ANTI-CORRUPTION

• Ensure delivery of regular trainings and refreshers on Anti-Fraud and Anti-Corruption are delivered to all Mission’s staff;
• Assist in the Corruption Risk Mapping for the Mission on Yearly basis. Ensure proper follow up on mitigation measures across all departments;
• Ensure follow up on the completion/implementation of the recommendations arising from investigations;
• Participate in investigation processes when requested and as deems necssary.

8. DUE DILIGENCE, VETTING AND COMPLIANCE OVERSIGHT

• Support the vetting and due diligence processes for partners in line with mission procedures and donor requirements.
• Act as observer in ongoing consultancies and procurement-related processes, when requested, to monitor procedural compliance.
• Flag any identified procedural breaches, compliance gaps or risks to the Compliance & Audit Manager for review and action.
• Support the documentation and follow-up of vetting and compliance observations related to consultancies and selection processes.

The tasks and responsibilities defined in this job description are non-exhaustive and can evolve depending on the project’s needs.

PRIORITIES OF THE DEPARTMENT

• Ensure continuous maintenance and periodic update of the Mission Risk Matrix, based on audits, investigations, partner monitoring and operational changes.
• Implement a regular and structured internal audit cycle, including follow-up of recommendations, spot checks and quality reviews, using existing audit tools and methodologies.
• Strengthen the compliance advisory and preventive role of the department by providing ongoing guidance to departments and projects on procedures, donor requirements and good practices.
• Conduct monthly compliance checks on ongoing projects to identify early risks, gaps or deviations and support corrective actions.
• Ensure regular monitoring and spot checks of partners, in coordination with relevant departments, to assess compliance with contractual, procedural and donor requirements.
• Maintain and consolidate archiving practices at mission level to ensure documentation is complete, up to date and audit-ready at all times.
• Support the ongoing implementation and monitoring of Anti-Fraud and Anti-Corruption measures, with a focus on prevention, awareness and follow-up rather than framework development.

4. Critical interfaces: Relevant interfaces for this position are:

• All PU-AMI Lebanon program staff
• All PU-AMI Lebanon Operations and Support Staff
• Auditor (internal and external)
• PU-AMI Partners
• HQ staff/colleagues.

QUALIFICATIONS

MANDATORY REQUIREMENTS

• Language skills: Fluent in Arabic and English both spoken and written.
• Education degree: Bachelor Degree in Audit or other relevant field such as Law, Finance, Business Management, etc.
• Work experience: Minimum 3-years of experience working as an auditor/compliance role, preferably including experience in an internal audit / compliance / Risk function and in the NGO or UN sector.
• Knowledge and skills: Donors’ Rules and Regulations, National Legal Regulations, Financial/Accounting/Procurement/HR procedures in INGOs.
• Computer skills: Good knowledge of Microsoft Office.
• Other: Knowledge of humanitarian actors.

• Interests: Work in humanitarian action and motivation to help people in need.
• Transversal skills:

• Excellent communication and diplomacy skills
• Effective stress management
• Ability to work under pressure and with short deadlines
• Good problem-solving skills
• Excellent ability to work in a team
• Well organized, hard worker and fast learner
• Respectful, neutral and impartial attitude