Regional Risk & Compliance Technical Advisor CWARO

Job Summary

The Advisor II, Regional Risk and Compliance provides regional advisory leadership to strengthen risk management, compliance, safeguarding, and accountability practices across multiple country programs within an assigned region. The Advisor supports country and regional leadership by interpreting CRS policies, donor requirements, safeguarding standards, and global risk and compliance expectations; identifying recurring or systemic risks; and helping country teams translate requirements into practical, context-appropriate tools, guidance, and corrective actions. Working closely with regional leadership, country program teams, and global risk and compliance colleagues, the Advisor promotes consistent application of standards, supports escalation of high-risk or sensitive issues, analyzes trends across countries, and contributes to regional learning, management decision-making, and continuous improvement of risk and compliance systems.
Location: This is a remote position and will be locally based in the country where the selected candidate is hired. Candidates based in Central and West Africa are preferred; however, candidates based in other CRS countries of operation may also be considered.

Roles and Key Responsibilities

• Provide regional technical guidance and advisory support to country programs on risk management, compliance, safeguarding, fraud prevention, accountability, and ethical conduct, in alignment with CRS policies, donor requirements, and global standards.
• Advise country teams on interpretation and practical application of global policies, standards, procedures, and donor expectations, helping adapt guidance to country contexts without weakening required controls or compliance obligations.
• Support country and regional risk assessments by reviewing inputs, identifying cross-country trends and systemic issues, and advising on proportionate mitigation actions, escalation needs, and follow-up priorities.
• Provide technical input on significant compliance, safeguarding, fraud, incident, audit, and partner-risk matters, ensuring complex or sensitive issues are escalated to appropriate country, regional, and global stakeholders in line with organizational protocols.
• Develop, adapt, and promote use of regional risk and compliance tools, templates, guidance notes, learning materials, and practical job aids that support consistent country program implementation.
• Review and analyze risk, compliance, safeguarding, incident, partner, and audit-related information to identify trends, recurring issues, root causes, and areas requiring additional technical support or management attention.
• Prepare and contribute to regional reports, briefing notes, management updates, and learning documents related to risk management, compliance, safeguarding, partner oversight, and corrective action follow-up.
• Support country programs in strengthening safeguarding awareness, ethical conduct, reporting channels, accountability mechanisms, and timely response processes, including follow-up on agreed corrective actions.
• Coordinate with country, regional, and global colleagues to promote consistent application of risk and compliance approaches, share learning across country programs, and support alignment between regional priorities and global standards.
• Participate in regional and cross-functional discussions, providing country-level insights, regional trend analysis, and technical recommendations to support continuous improvement of risk and compliance practices.
• Advise on partner risk and compliance oversight by supporting partner capacity assessment approaches, corrective action monitoring, and follow-up on partner adherence to applicable CRS, donor, safeguarding, and regulatory requirements.
• Mentor and provide technical backstopping to country risk and compliance staff, helping strengthen professional practice, analytical quality, documentation, escalation, and evidence-based recommendations.
• Support country program submission and follow-up on corrective action plans arising from the Annual Internal Control Questionnaire process, including reviewing country inputs, tracking completion of agreed actions, and escalating overdue or high-risk items for regional management attention.
• Provide technical support to the Fraud Oversight Team on FAM cases, including review of investigation reports, management responses, donor notification or response letters, and related documentation to ensure consistency, completeness, and alignment with CRS protocols and donor expectations.
• Conduct regional-level risk and compliance review of agreements requiring Deputy Regional Director, Regional Director, or higher-level approval through the Agreement and Proposal Management process, identifying key risks, compliance considerations, and recommended mitigation actions before approval.
• Promptly follow up to close audit recommendations by collaborating with country program teams, developing audit closure action plans, ensuring timely submission of responses to HQ’s Internal Audit Department, and maintaining comprehensive audit report files for all internal and external audits.
• Provide risk and compliance reviews for donor proposals requiring regional review, advising proposal teams on compliance risks, partner or operational risk considerations, safeguarding implications, and practical mitigation measures to strengthen proposal quality and management readiness.

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, Governance, Ethics, Risk Management, Law, International Development, Business Administration, or a related field.related field.
• Minimum of 8 years’ progressively responsible experience in risk management, compliance, audit, governance, safeguarding, investigations, partner oversight, or related operational risk functions, preferably in an international NGO or complex multi-country environment.
• Demonstrated experience providing technical support, advisory guidance, or oversight across multiple countries or complex operating environments within the assigned region.
• Experience aligning regional risk and compliance approaches with global organizational policies, governance frameworks, safeguarding standards, and donor requirements.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree in Accounting, Finance, Governance, Ethics, Risk Management, Law, International Development, Business Administration, or a related field.related field.
• Professional certification such as CPA, CIA, CFE, CCEP, CRMA, or equivalent; strong knowledge of donor regulations and compliance expectations.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Ability to analyze country-level information and articulate regional implications to inform management decision-making, prioritization, and organizational learning.
• Strong planning and advisory skills, including the ability to structure workplans, risk reviews, learning agendas, and technical support engagements while responding effectively to emerging issues.
• In-depth knowledge of donor compliance frameworks, including USG, EU, UN, and institutional donor expectations, as well as audit, safeguarding, and accountability requirements.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to assess complex risk scenarios, identify root causes, and recommend practical, proportionate, and evidence-based solutions.
• Proven ability in risk assessment methodologies, mitigation planning, corrective action monitoring, and trend analysis across programs, operations, and partner portfolios.
• Strong understanding of safeguarding, protection, ethical conduct, and accountability standards, including prevention, reporting, response, and follow-up mechanisms.
• Ability to translate technical requirements into clear, practical guidance, tools, and recommendations usable by non-specialist country teams and senior managers.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to draft guidance, technical reviews, briefing notes, management updates, and senior-level reports for diverse audiences.
• High level of discretion, sound judgment, and professionalism when handling confidential, sensitive, or potentially reputationally significant information.
• Ability to influence and collaborate effectively across multiple countries, functions, and time zones, managing competing priorities without direct authority.
• Adaptability, cultural humility, and contextual awareness, with sensitivity to diverse legal, regulatory, cultural, and operational environments.

Required Languages: Fluent professional proficiency in English required; proficiency in French is strongly preferred.

Travel: Willingness and ability to travel up to 30% within the assigned region and, as needed.

Supervisory Responsibilities: No

Catholic Relief Services is the official international humanitarian agency of the Catholic community in the United States. Catholic Relief Services works to save, protect, and transform lives in need in more than 100 countries, without regard to race, religion or nationality.  Catholic Relief Services’ relief and development work is accomplished through programs of emergency response, HIV, health, agriculture, education, microfinance, and peacebuilding.  We welcome as a part of our staff people of all faiths and secular traditions who share our values and our commitment to serving those in need. CRS’ processes and policies reflect our commitment to safeguarding children and vulnerable adults from abuse and exploitation.

CRS welcomes candidates from the countries and regions in which we work. In the event the successful candidate is an expatriate, the anticipated duration of the assignment is informed by a term limit, based on the type and level of the job and the needs of the agency.

CRS is committed to safeguarding program participants, community members, staff and volunteers from all forms of exploitation and abuse.  The successful candidate is expected to sign and adhere to CRS´ Code of Conduct.

CRS talent acquisition procedures reflect our commitment to safeguarding the rights and dignity of all people - especially children and vulnerable adults - to live free from abuse and harm.

Disclaimer:  This job description is not an exhaustive list of the skill, effort, duties, and responsibilities associated with the position. 

CRS is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

General Requirements

CRS offers are contingent on the selected candidate’s ability to legally work where the position is to be performed. Every government has a unique set of work permit eligibility requirements.  All positions requiring residence or frequent travel outside a home country must undergo and clear a pre-employment medical clearance; some work permit processes require clearing a separate government administered medical examination.

CRS prioritizes candidates who are citizens/ permanent residents of the countries where we have CRS offices.