Background:
This position is open for secondment only and participating States are kindly reminded that all costs in relation to an assignment at the Secretariat must be borne by their authorities.
The duties and requirements of this seconded (S) position correspond to a P4-level role in the UN common system. Candidates should, prior to applying, verify with their respective nominating authority to which extent financial remuneration and/or benefit packages will be offered. Seconded staff members in the OSCE Secretariat and Institutions are not entitled to a Board and Lodging Allowance payable by the Organization.
The OSCE has a comprehensive approach to security that encompasses politico-military, economic and environmental, and human aspects. It therefore addresses a wide range of security-related concerns, including arms control, confidence- and security-building measures, human rights, combating human trafficking, national minorities, democratization, policing strategies, counter-terrorism and economic and environmental activities. All 57 participating States enjoy equal status, and decisions are taken by consensus on a politically, but not legally binding basis.
The OSCE Secretariat in Vienna assists the Chairpersonship in its activities, and provides operational and administrative support to the field operations, and, as appropriate, to other institutions.
The Internal Audit Section is part of the Office of Internal Oversight (OIO) within the OSCE Secretariat, in Vienna, Austria. It consists of one Head of Internal Audit and six additional staff members. OIO is responsible for planning and delivering internal audits, investigations, and independent evaluations of the OSCE executive structures, including field operations.
Internal Audits assignments assess the adequacy and effectiveness of the OSCE’s governance, risk management and control processes, verify compliance with the regulatory framework and determine if resources are used in an efficient & effective manner and make recommendations aimed at improving the governance, risk management and compliance. The work of Internal Audit is conducted in conformance with the International Standards for the Professional Practice of Internal Auditing and the related mandatory guidance of the International Professional Practices Framework.
Tasks and Responsibilities:
The Senior Auditor will be responsible for planning, leading and conducting assigned audits, reviews and other format of audit/advisory activities, and drafting the related reports, aimed at providing assurance on and/or strengthening governance, risk management, internal control, compliance and performance across the Organization. These assigned activities typically include the most complex, high-value and/or sensitive planned assignments and thematic reviews across the organization.
The Senior Auditor will enable the translation of audit/advisory activities into actual and measurable added-value to the Organization, through effectively engaging with relevant auditees during assignments; and regularly following-up on the agreed action plans resulting from these activities. The incumbent will actively contribute to the continuous development of professional practices within the Office of Internal Oversight, perform other activities linked to the implementation of the Internal Oversight mandate, as required, and act as an alternate to the Head, Internal Audit, during periods of leaves and/or unavailability.
The Senior Auditor reports directly to the Deputy Director/ Head of Internal Audit of OIO. The second level supervisor is the Director of OIO.
More specifically, he/she will be tasked with the following:
1. Planning, conducting and drafting reports for assigned audits, reviews and other formats of audit/advisory activities, aimed at providing assurance on and/or strengthening governance, risk management, internal control, compliance and performance across the Organization; as team leader ensuring successful planning, implementation, quality assurance and reporting on the assignment, including rendering adequate support, assistance and coaching to team members;
2. Translating audit/advisory activities into actual and measurable added-value with effective engagement with relevant auditees during assignments; providing appropriate explanations on the audit/review process; keeping auditees periodically informed on the status of the audit, emerging findings and reporting, and validating draft observations and recommendations with clients;
3. Performing periodic follow-up with auditees (for relevant assignments) to ensure that the agreed actions are on track to be implemented by the auditees, and engaging with clients to get basic confidence that the actions implemented address the issues/risk identified, as well as advocating for the implementation of agreed action plans, and where possible, getting insight into the added-value gained as a result of implementing the agreed actions;
4. Actively contributing to the continuous development of professional practices within the Office of Internal Oversight and conducting detailed quality assurance reviews of internal audit assignments completed by other (Senior) Auditors throughout its lifecycle from planning, work paper documentation, to reporting, for accuracy, methodology used, and soundness of conclusions;
5. Supporting the development of the OIO work plan and providing feedback within requested timeframe to revisions, updates, etc. to CRMS guidance or other related policy documents for which OIO input is sought;
6. In the planning and execution of the audits, factoring gender mainstreaming consideration into the audit works to the fullest extent possible;
7. Performing other duties as assigned.
For more detailed information on the structure and work of the OSCE Secretariat, please see https://www.osce.org/secretariat
Necessary Qualifications:
A first-level university degree in management, economics, finance, business administration, information technology or a related field;
Certification of an internationally recognized Internal Audit / Accounting / Anti-Fraud body is required (e.g. CIA, CISA, CFE, CPA, ACCA);
A minimum of nine years (seven years with a relevant second-level degree) of experience at the national or international level in the audit / accounting field, including exposure to the examination and evaluation of management and financial/administrative control processes;
Experience in auditing information systems and IT processes is an asset;
Experience with performing quality assurance tasks within an internal audit function in accordance with the International Standards for the Professional Practice of Internal Auditing is highly desirable;
Professional fluency in English with excellent communication (both oral and written) skills; good command of at least one other language from the OSCE region is an asset;
Demonstrated gender awareness and sensitivity, and an ability to integrate a gender perspective into tasks and activities;
Ability and willingness to work as a member of team, with people of different cultural, and religious backgrounds, different gender, and diverse political views, while maintaining impartiality and objectivity;
Computer literacy with practical experience using Microsoft applications.
If your participating State does not provide the option to apply online for seconded positions, you are kindly requested to submit your offline application form available at https://jobs.osce.org/resources/document/offline-application-form to the respective OSCE delegation whose address can be found at https://www.osce.org/contacts/delegations.
The OSCE retains the discretion to re-advertise/re-post the vacancy, to cancel the recruitment, to offer an appointment with a modified job description or for a different duration.
Only those candidates who are selected to participate in the subsequent stages of recruitment will be contacted.
Candidates interviewed and found suitable in the recruitment process for this vacancy notice will be placed on a roster of suitable candidates (valid for three years) for fixed-term posts open for secondment, should a suitable opportunity arise. The placement on a roster does not guarantee a future appointment or assignment.
Please note that vacancies in the OSCE are open for competition only amongst nationals of participating States
The OSCE is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages the nomination of qualified female and male candidates from all religious, ethnic and social backgrounds.
The OSCE is a non-career organization committed to the principle of staff rotation; therefore, the maximum period of service in this post is 10 years.
Candidates should be aware that OSCE officials shall conduct themselves at all times in a manner befitting the status of an international civil servant. This includes avoiding any action which may adversely reflect on the integrity, independence and impartiality of their position and function as officials of the OSCE. The OSCE is committed to applying the highest ethical standards in carrying out its mandate. For more information on the values set out in OSCE Competency Model, please see https://jobs.osce.org/resources/document/our-competency-model.
Please apply to your relevant authorities well in advance of the deadline expiration to ensure timely processing of your application. Delayed nominations will not be considered. The OSCE can only process Secondment applications that have been nominated by participating States. For queries relating to your application, please refer to the respective delegation as listed here: https://www.osce.org/contacts/delegations.
Please be aware that OSCE appointments are subject to medical clearance.
Please be aware that the OSCE does not request payment at any stage of the application and review process.
- Issued by: OSCE Secretariat
- Requisition ID: SEC000997
- Contract Type: International Secondment
- Grade: S
- Job Type: Seconded
- Number of posts: 1
- Location: SEC - OSCE Secretariat, Vienna
- Issue Date: Jun 5, 2026
- Closing Date: Jul 7, 2026
- Employee Status: Fixed Term
- Schedule: Full-time
- Education Level: Bachelor's Degree (First-level university degree or equivalent)
- Target Start Date: As soon as possible
