Risk Management and Compliance Manager

THE ORGANISATION

Working in 54 developing countries across Africa, Asia and the Americas, with a total annual budget of approximately Euros1 billion, Plan International’s stated Global Strategic Goal is to reach 200 million girls, particularly those living in fragile contexts, fighting injustice or facing crisis, with high-quality programs that deliver long-lasting benefits

PLAN INTERNATIONAL KENYA (PIK)

Plan International Kenya has been operational since 1982, focuses on long-term development. Collaborating closely with local communities and governments, PIK implements programs to enhance the well-being of children in areas such as Nairobi, Machakos, Kajiado, Tharaka-Nithi, Isiolo, Kwale, Kilifi, Homa Bay, Kisumu, Tana River, Turkana, and Marsabit.

THE ROLE

The Risk and Compliance Manager provides leadership and assurance on Plan International Kenya’s enterprise risk management, internal controls, compliance, and legal governance. The role ensures proactive identification, assessment, mitigation, and monitoring of risks across all functions, programme areas, and partner organisations, fully aligned with:

• Plan International’s Global Risk Management Framework,
• Global Assurance Standards,
• Counter-Fraud Framework,
• Safeguarding & PSEA Standards, and
• Partnership & Localisation policies.

The position strengthens internal control systems, promotes ethical conduct, ensures adherence to donor and statutory requirements, and leads partner risk management within the localisation agenda.
As an independent line of defence, it provides strategic risk intelligence, promotes preventive controls, and supports the Country Management Team (CMT) and Country Director to uphold strong governance and accountability standards.

ACCOUNTABILITIES AND MAIN WORK ACTIVITIES

Strategy and Planning (15%)

• Provide strategic guidance to the CMT on organizational, programmatic, operational, safeguarding, financial, and reputational risks.
• Lead the implementation of the Country Office Risk Management Plan, ensuring alignment with the Global Risk Management Framework.
• Coordinate risk registers at project, partner and country levels, ensuring quality, consistency, and timely updates.
• Ensure mitigation actions are preventive, risk-informed, and integrated into planning, budgeting, procurement, programme implementation, and partner management.
• Coordinate Management Standards Self-Assessments and track compliance with management actions.
• Lead incident and loss reporting in the Incident Reporting System (CAMMS) and ensure timely resolution and documentation.
• Support the CD and CMT in embedding a culture of organizational accountability, transparency, and learning.

Risk Management 20%

• Lead the development, implementation, and continuous strengthening of an integrated risk management framework for PIK and local partners.
• Conduct anticipatory analysis to identify emerging contextual risks (political, environmental, operational, safeguarding, etc.).
• Provide quarterly risk intelligence updates to the CMT and contribute to regional/global reporting.
• Support departments and partners to develop preventive controls and ensure adherence to global standards.
• Ensure partner risk ratings are accurate, updated, and supported by risk mitigation and capacity-development plans.
• Promote strong organizational risk culture through continuous capacity strengthening of staff and partners.

Internal Control Reviews (20%)

• Lead the annual internal audit plan, incorporating partner audits, localization risks, and grant-specific requirements.
• Conduct or supervise internal audits that assess governance, risk management, value for money, and control effectiveness.
• Perform process flow mapping and internal control testing aligned with Global Assurance Methodology.
• Ensure timely implementation and closure of internal/external audit recommendations, including partners.
• Lead and/or support investigations in coordination with the Counter Fraud Unit.
• Ensure audit workpapers meet Global Assurance documentation standards.
• Provide practical, solutions-oriented recommendations to strengthen internal controls and prevent recurrence of weaknesses.

Legal & Compliance (10%)

• Ensure PIK’s compliance with applicable Kenyan laws, donor requirements, and internal policies.
• Provide timely legal advice through coordination with internal and external legal counsel.
• Review organizational contracts, partnership agreements, and MOUs for compliance and risk exposure.
• Maintain an updated litigation and compliance register, ensuring quarterly legal sign-offs.
• Monitor overall policy compliance, escalating critical risks to the CD and regional/global assurance teams as needed.

External Grant Audit Review and Partnerships (10%)

• Ensuring compliance of grant management activities with key controls contained in the grant management guidelines of Plan International Kenya & donor regulations
• Overseeing tracking and recording of Grants and Donor audits’ schedules and ensure audits are done within agreed timelines and reports issued to the donors within stipulated time.  
• Ensuring proper records of all donor grants audit and internal assessment reports 
• Ensuring periodic pre-audits on grants are carried out prior to the donor audits so that matters arising are addressed in a timely manner.
• Reviewing due diligence reports prepared by the grants team and provide feedback on the suitability of the partner.
• Assessing compliance with the partnership guidelines of Plan International Kenya

Partners Audit and Review (10%)

• Oversee partner due diligence, partner capacity assessments, and partner risk ratings, ensuring robust documentation and follow-up.
• Ensure all donor audits (internal, external, partner-related) are completed on time with high-quality documentation and minimal findings.
• Lead pre-audit reviews for grants and partners to identify gaps early and develop corrective actions.
• Support local partners to strengthen governance, financial management, safeguarding, procurement, and compliance systems.
• Ensure partner contracting and monitoring follow Plan’s Partnership Policy, Localisation Framework, and Partner Capacity Strengthening Standards.
• Promote consistent partner oversight practices across all programme units.

Capacity Building (5%)

• Build strong organisational capacity in risk management, internal controls, compliance, donor requirements, and safeguarding.
• Train staff and partners on risk identification, mitigation, policies, internal controls, fraud prevention, and data protection.
• Provide structured coaching and mentorship to partners to strengthen sustainability and localisation readiness.
• Benchmark PIK’s practices against sector standards to ensure continuous improvement.

Safeguarding (5%)

• Ensure that Plan International’s global policy for Safeguarding and PII policy for Preventing Sexual Harassment Exploitation and Abuse; and Gender Equality and Inclusion are fully embedded in accordance with the principles and requirements of the policy including relevant Implementation Standards and Guidelines as applicable to their area of responsibility. This includes, but is not limited to, ensuring staff and associates are aware of and understand their responsibilities under these policies and Plan International’s Code of Conduct (CoC), their relevance to their area of work, and that concerns are reported and managed in accordance with the appropriate procedures.

Other duties (5%)

• Any other duties as assigned by the line manager.

TECHNICAL EXPERTISE, SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE

Essential

• Bachelors degree in Accounting, Management or any other relevant degree. A Masters degree is desirable
• Full Professional qualification i.e. CPA (K) and must be registered by ICPAK or equivalent professional bodies
• At least eight years’ relevant experience five of which are at a senior level, gained in a closely related field;
• Knowledge of auditing and assurance practices and policy issues as they relate to risk management in Kenya
• Ability to prepare and present concise oral and written reports
• Fluent in English and Swahili
• High degree of integrity and professionalism
• High level of confidentiality
• Sound judgment and decision-making in complex situations
• Ability to act as part of multi-cultural and multi-disciplinary team

Click on the following link to access the full Job Description: JD Risk and Compliance Manager.pdf 

Location: Nairobi, Kenya

Reports to: Country Director

Closing Date: 18th December 2025

Equality, diversity and inclusion is at the very heart of everything that Plan International stands for.

We want Plan International to reflect the diversity of the communities we work with, offering equal opportunities to everyone regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex or sexual orientation.

Plan International is based on a culture of inclusivity and we strive to create a workplace environment that ensures every team, in every office, in every country, is rich in diverse people, thoughts, and ideas.

We foster an organisational culture that embraces our commitment to racial justice, gender equality, girls’ rights and inclusion.

Plan International believes that in a world where children face so many threats of harm, it is our duty to ensure that we, as an organisation, do everything we can to keep children safe. This means that we have particular responsibilities to children that we come into contact with and we must not contribute in any way to harming or placing children at risk.

A range of pre-employment checks will be undertaken in conformity with Plan International's Safeguarding Children and Young People policy. Plan International also participates in the Inter Agency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme. In line with this scheme we will request information from applicants’ previous employers about any findings of sexual exploitation, sexual abuse and/or sexual harassment during employment, or incidents under investigation when the applicant left employment. By submitting an application, the job applicant confirms their understanding of these recruitment procedures.

Disclaimer: Plan International is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate applicants on any basis. We also do not charge Job seekers any fees at any point of the recruitment process.