Internal Audit & Investigations Senior Associate Job M-KOPA Solar
M-KOPA Solar
Job description
IT Jobs, M-KOPA Solar Jobs. Internal Audit & Investigations Senior Associate conducts internal audits, leads fraud investigations, and evaluates controls, requires a Degree in a business-related field, law, criminology, or a related field from a recognised university
We are looking for an Internal Audit & Investigations Senior Associate to join our Legal group as we scale up and drive digital and financial inclusion across our markets.
Reports to Head of Internal Audit & Risk
Job Purpose
You will lead internal investigations at M-KOPA end-to-end — from intake through to case closure — across all five operating markets (Kenya, Uganda, Nigeria, Ghana, and South Africa). You will engage stakeholders internally with discretion and sound judgement, safeguard the integrity of the whistleblower and grievance programme, and keep the Board informed through regular, well-evidenced reporting. This role demands not just technical investigative skill but strong personal character — the trust placed in this role by complainants, subjects, and the business depends on it.
Key Responsibilities
Investigation Lifecycle Management
- Lead internal investigations end-to-end: intake and triage, planning, evidence gathering, interviews (complainants, witnesses, and subjects), analysis, and final reporting.
- Apply consistent, defensible investigative methodology across fraud, misconduct, harassment, safeguarding, and policy-violation cases.
- Maintain a clear, well-documented evidence trail for every case, sufficient to withstand scrutiny (including in disciplinary or legal proceedings).
- Recommend proportionate, well-reasoned outcomes and remediation actions, including control weaknesses exposed by the investigation.
Stakeholder Engagement & Board Reporting
- Engage confidently and sensitively with stakeholders across HR, Legal, Risk, and country leadership throughout the life of a case.
- Prepare monthly and quarterly investigation reports for the Head of Internal Audit & Risk and the Board Audit & Risk Committee, summarising case volumes, themes, outcomes, and emerging risk signals.
- Manage sensitive conversations with complainants and subjects with empathy, fairness, and absolute discretion.
Whistleblower & Safeguarding Programme
- Support the day-to-day operation of the whistleblower and grievance programme, ensuring reported concerns are triaged, tracked, and actioned in line with policy and IIA/ACFE good practice.
- Own and maintain the case management platform (tracking, evidence storage, and reporting), ensuring data integrity and confidentiality at all times.
- Identify recurring themes or systemic control gaps from case data and feed these into audit planning and risk reporting.
Audit Innovation & Function Development
- Champion adoption of M-KOPA’s technology and AI capabilities to enhance audit planning and execution (e.g., risk sensing, scoping, testing, and reporting) while maintaining independence, governance, and confidentiality.
- Embed data analytics and continuous monitoring approaches into audit delivery to strengthen coverage, increase efficiency, and enable earlier identification of emerging risks across markets.
- Drive standardisation and quality uplift through modern audit tooling (e.g., audit management platforms, workflow automation, and digital working papers), including clear controls over evidence, versioning, and review.
- Build capability within the Internal Audit team through coaching and knowledge transfer on analytics- and AI-enabled audit techniques, and contribute to the development of related methodology/standards.
- Support the Head of Audit & Risk on strategic projects and function development initiatives as required.
Continuous Improvement & Governance
- Contribute to strengthening investigation methodology, templates, and standard operating procedures.
- Maintain strict confidentiality and independence, managing conflicts of interest appropriately.
- Keep abreast of evolving fraud typologies, investigative techniques, and relevant regulatory requirements across M-KOPA’s markets.
Experience, Skills & Qualifications
Education
- Degree in a business-related field, law, criminology, or a related field from a recognised university.
- Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE) required.
- Other certifications (e.g., CIA, CISA, forensic accounting, or investigations-specific credentials) are an added advantage.
Experience
- Minimum of 8 years’ experience, with in-depth, hands-on experience conducting internal investigations (fraud, misconduct, harassment, or safeguarding-related), ideally within financial services, fintech, or a comparably regulated, multi-market environment.
- Demonstrated experience preparing investigation findings and reports for senior management and/or Board-level audiences.
Skills
- Unimpeachable personal integrity and sound ethical judgement — this role requires trust from all sides of a case.
- Strong interviewing skills: able to build rapport, ask probing questions, and remain composed and neutral under pressure.
- Excellent written communication — able to produce clear, factual, defensible case reports.
- Discreet and calm under pressure; able to handle emotionally difficult and highly confidential matters with maturity.
- Strong stakeholder management across HR, Legal, Risk, and country leadership.
- Ability to manage a caseload independently, prioritising sensitively and appropriately across concurrent investigations.
- Comfortable operating across multiple markets and cultures, with willingness to travel.