Senior Specialist – Audit

About the role

Save the Children International is seeking a Senior Specialist, Audit to join its global finance team. The role focuses on ensuring audit readiness, leading donor audit engagements and providing expert guidance to maintain compliance with UK accounting standards and donor requirements.

Key responsibilities

• Lead the planning and execution of donor audit engagements, including USAID, ECHO and Global Fund audits.
• Develop and deliver capacity‑building activities and guidance materials for country and regional offices.
• Prepare Schedule of Expenditure of Federal Awards (SEFA) and maintain audit trackers.
• Collaborate with internal finance teams to address audit findings and ensure disallowances are removed.
• Support tax compliance initiatives and provide specialist advice on direct and indirect taxes.
• Analyse audit results, track follow‑up actions and contribute to continuous improvement of financial accountability.

Required profile

• Extensive experience in donor and statutory audit engagements, preferably with USAID, ECHO or Global Fund.
• Strong knowledge of UK accounting standards and international donor compliance requirements.
• Demonstrated ability to partner with country, regional and headquarters teams to build audit readiness.
• Excellent analytical and problem‑solving skills with a focus on risk mitigation.
• Right to work in the country of assignment and willingness to travel up to 10% of the time.

Required skills

• Audit planning and execution for international donor programmes.
• Preparation of audit documentation and compliance trackers.
• Capacity‑building and training delivery for finance teams.
• Tax governance and compliance advisory.