CIMMYT is a cutting-edge, non-profit, international organization dedicated to solving tomorrow’s problems today. It is entrusted with fostering improved quantity, quality, and dependability of production systems and basic cereals such as maize, wheat, triticale, sorghum, millets, and associated crops through applied agricultural science, particularly in the Global South, through building strong partnerships. This combination enhances the livelihood trajectories and resilience of millions of resource-poor farmers, while working towards a more productive, inclusive, and resilient agrifood system within planetary boundaries. CIMMYT is a core CGIAR Research Center, a global research partnership for a food-secure future, dedicated to reducing poverty, enhancing food and nutrition security, and improving natural resources. For more information, visit https://www.cimmyt.org/
CiIMMYT is looking for a strong Internal Audit professional who can independently lead end-to-end audit engagements—from planning and fieldwork to reporting and follow-up—ensuring a risk-based approach and full alignment with Global Internal Audit Standards.
This role is quite strategic. You would partner closely with the Head of Internal Audit to continuously refine the organization’s risk-based audit plan, contributing to enterprise-wide risk assessments across areas like operations, finance, compliance, IT, governance, and research programs.
Key Responsibilities:
- Independently lead and deliver end-to-end internal audit engagements (planning, fieldwork, execution, reporting, and followup) in accordance with the Global Internal Audit Standards (GIAS), ensuring high-quality, risk-based audit outcomes.
- Support the Head of Internal Audit in developing, maintaining, and continuously updating CIMMYT’s rolling risk-based internal audit plan, including performing enterprise-wide risk assessments across operational, financial, compliance, IT, governance, and research/program areas.
- Conduct risk assessments and advisory reviews to identify emerging risks, control weaknesses, governance gaps, and opportunities to strengthen organizational effectiveness.
- Prepare clear, concise, and impactful audit reports, including practical, risk-focused, and implementable recommendations tailored for senior management and governance bodies.
- Manage a structured process for tracking, validating, and reporting implementation of agreed management action plans, including assessing adequacy of remediation, escalating delays or ineffective responses where necessary, and formally validating closure.
- Support governance reporting, including preparation of periodic reports, dashboards, and presentations to the Leadership Team (LT), Director General (DG), Audit & Finance Committee, and Board, as required.
- Provide independent advisory support to management on governance, enterprise risk management, internal controls, and process improvement initiatives, while maintaining independence and objectivity.
- Leverage data analytics and technology-enabled audit techniques, where appropriate, to enhance audit effectiveness, risk identification, and insight generation.
- Ensure audit work is properly documented and fully compliant with GIAS, internal methodologies, and quality assurance requirements, maintaining complete and defensible audit files.
- Build strong, professional relationships with geographically dispersed stakeholders, constructively challenging management where appropriate while maintaining independence, objectivity, and sound professional judgment.
- Provide guidance, coaching, and quality support to junior internal audit staff, peers, interns, or secondees, as applicable, contributing to capability development, knowledge sharing, and consistent delivery of high-quality audit work across the function.
- Coordinate and oversee co-sourced or outsourced internal audit engagements, as applicable, including supporting scope definition, reviewing deliverables, ensuring alignment with GIAS and CIMMYT expectations, and maintaining overall quality and continuity of assurance outcomes.
Requirements
7–10 years of progressive internal audit experience, with demonstrated ability to independently manage full audit cycles in complex, international, or matrixed organizations.
- Demonstrated ability to operate with a high degree of autonomy in a lean or resource-constrained environment, effectively managing competing priorities and independently driving audit engagements with limited supervision.
- Strong knowledge of the Global Internal Audit Standards (GIAS) and risk-based auditing methodologies, with sound understanding of governance, enterprise risk management, and internal control frameworks.
- Proven experience in developing risk-based audit plans and conducting comprehensive risk assessments across operational, financial, compliance, IT, governance, and project/program environments.
- Excellent analytical, critical thinking, and report-writing skills, with the ability to communicate complex issues clearly, concisely, and persuasively to senior stakeholders.
- Ability to exercise sound professional judgment and translate complex or ambiguous issues into practical, risk-based, and implementable recommendations.
- Demonstrated confidence and professional credibility in engaging senior and geographically dispersed stakeholders, constructively challenging management where required while maintaining strong working relationships and independence.
- Comfortable operating in a dynamic and evolving environment, with the ability to navigate ambiguity, shifting priorities, and emerging risks pragmatically.
- Strong interpersonal and relationship management skills, with the ability to build trust, engage constructively with diverse stakeholders, and influence positive change while maintaining independence and objectivity.
- Professional proficiency in English is required
- Professional certification (CIA, CPA, ACCA, or equivalent) strongly preferred, with a high level of professional integrity and sound judgment.
- Practical experience using audit tool and data analytics to enhance audit effectiveness (e.g.,Power BI, ACL/IDEA, Excel analytics, SQL, data visualization tools, or similar) would be an advantage.
- Familiarity with grant-funded environments, restricted funding, project governance, research institutions, nonprofit/international development settings, and international operations would be an advantage.
Benefits
CIMMYT offers an attractive remuneration package and support for continuous professional development. In addition to the provisions of the Mexican Labor Law our package of benefits includes year-end bonus (40 days), vacation premium (56%), life and medical insurance, supermarket coupons, savings fund, social Mexican benefits (IMSS, SAR / Infonavit).
Please note only short-listed candidates will be contacted.
Foreign national candidates must have legal documents to work in Mexico.
This position will remain open until filled.
CIMMYT is an equal opportunity employer. It fosters a multicultural work environment that values gender equality, teamwork, and respect for diversity.
