Internal Auditor

MEDA•Waterloo, ON

10d•CA$116,400 - CA$129,300•Hybrid

About The Position

Mennonite Economic Development Associates (MEDA) invites applications for an Internal Auditor to join our dedicated and talented team in our mission to create business solutions to poverty! MEDA’s work is built on a foundation of Mennonite business roots and faith-based values, within the global context of the UN Sustainable Development Goals. We believe business solutions are effective interventions to address poverty. Through a market-systems approach and strategic partnerships, MEDA enables access to finance and provides business and technical expertise to build transformative agri-food market systems that create decent jobs, allowing traditionally excluded groups to become active participants in a sustainable economy. MEDA welcomes all who share our values and want to join us in our mission. To find out more about MEDA, please visit our website at www.meda.org. The Internal Auditor is responsible for establishing and leading MEDA’s independent audit function, providing risk-based assurance to management and the Finance, Audit & Risk Committee (FAR). This role provides enterprise-wide oversight of governance, risk and controls across MEDA’s global operations, including multi-country program delivery, donor-funded grants, investment activities, and fund governance structures.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in finance, accounting, or related field.
Professional designation required (CPA, CA, CIA, or equivalent).
10 + years in a role performing internal audit, risk or assurance and leading an internal audit function
Experience developing and executing risk-based audit plans and reporting to audit committees or boards.
Knowledge of financial management of government contracts and compliance requirements.

Nice To Haves

Investment, fund or financial services experience is an asset.
Work in international/multi-country operations and donor funded environments
Understanding and appreciation of business principles and international development and MEDA’s approach of creating business solutions to poverty
Appreciation and support of MEDA’s faith statement, values and goals
Excellent written and verbal communication skills and interpersonal skills, with the ability to simplify complex ideas
Ability and willingness for regular international travel to developing countries

Responsibilities

Establish and maintain a risk-based internal audit framework aligned with leading practices, including an audit charter, policies and procedures, reporting formats and governance cadence
Develop and present the annual internal audit plan for approval by FAR committee
Define audit methodologies, tools, and reporting standards appropriate to MEDA’s operating model
Build a fit-for-purpose audit function, leveraging external expertise where required
Monitor compliance with donor, regulatory and contractual requirements
Assess adherence to internal policies, frameworks, and governance standards
Support strengthening of control awareness across global teams through targeted guidance and training
Leverage data analytics and AI tools to enhance audit effectiveness for risk identification and anomaly detection, transaction testing and pattern analysis and continuous auditing approaches
Promote practical adoption of technology-enabled audit techniques appropriate to MEDA’s scale
Ensure responsible and controlled use of data and AI with audit processes
Lead and execute audits across MEDA’s full risk landscape including; Global program operations and country-level execution including grant and donor compliance (e.g., GAC, Mastercard Foundation and other funders), Investment management and fund governance (including structures, controls, and investment decision-making processes), Procurement, contracting, and vendor management controls, Fraud risk, safeguarding, and whistleblower response frameworks, Cybersecurity, data governance, and information management controls, Regional, partner, and project office controls across multiple jurisdictions
Assess the adequacy and effectiveness of internal controls and ensure delivery of clear, actionable audit findings
Report independently to the FAR committee on audit results, key risks, and control deficiencies
Escalate material issues directly to FAR without management filtering
Establish and maintain audit dashboards and tracking systems for monitoring remediation
Strengthen governance practices across MEDA through disciplined, transparent reporting
Conduct or provide support for enterprise risk assessments and identify emerging risks
Provide advisory input on control design and risk mitigation, while maintaining independence
Provide support for special investigations, including fraud or whistle-blower related matters
Act as a trusted advisor to leadership on governance, risk and control matters