Internal Audit and Compliance Officer at GOAL Uganda, Kabarole

Job Title: Internal Audit and Compliance Officer
Location: Kabarole with travel to Hoima
Reports to: Internal Audit and Compliance Manager

Application Deadline: 8th March 2026

Program Background

The Agrifood System Transformation for Youth Employment (ASTYE) Uganda program

ASTYE is a 5-year transformative initiative designed to enable dignified and fulfilling work opportunities primarily for financially disadvantaged young women, refugees, and vulnerable groups by addressing structural barriers in Uganda’s Agrifood system. Aligned with Uganda’s Vision 2040, the National Development Plan and Government of Uganda Agriculture Value Chain Development Strategy, the program will contribute to national efforts toward poverty alleviation, economic growth, as well food and nutrition security. Additionally, ASTYE is part of the Mastercard Foundation’s Young Africa Works strategy in Uganda, which aims to empower 4.3 million young Ugandans, particularly young women, by addressing structural barriers to employment and providing them with the skills and resources to succeed.

Specifically, GOAL will implement component one to reach 500,000 financially disadvantaged young people, with 456,000 transiting into work and 336,000 securing dignified and fulfilling work. As the program is young women-centric, 80% of the total outreach target will be young women within Uganda’s agrifood ecosystem. Furthermore, 5% of the total youth in work target will be refugees, and another 5% will be people with disabilities.

General Description of the Role

The Internal Audit & Compliance Officer will be responsible for promoting a culture of compliance and awareness of donor requirements, GOAL policies, and government rules and regulations, and for ensuring adherence to these standards across all GOAL offices and sub-grantees/partners within the ASTYE Programme.

The role will also be responsible for supporting Internal Audit to conduct Internal Audits and Finance reviews for GOAL field locations and Partners. The position holder will undertake quarterly compliance spot checks and field visits and attend grant management meetings. He/She will be responsible for preparing Bi-annual compliance reports using a standard template for submission to Head Office. This process will include performing tests on sample transactions to ensure compliance with donors, GOAL and Government rules, laws and regulations.

Key responsibilities include:

Compliance

• Keep ASTYE staff informed about compliance risks and emerging issues.
• Prepare quarterly compliance reports, as assigned by HQ, by reviewing transactions across Human Resources, Procurement, and other risk areas. Ensure reports use the standard GOAL format, demonstrate adherence to procedures, and provide a clear audit trail.
• Deliver training to HR and Systems staff on donor rules and regulations, the Anti-Terrorist Screening System (ATSC), sanctions compliance, national legislation in Uganda, and other requirements as assigned.
• Complete donor compliance bi-annual reports for submission to HQ.
• Maintain and regularly update the compliance action point tracker, ensuring timely follow-up on open issues.
• Ensure adherence to GOAL’s procedures, policies, and internal controls as outlined in relevant manuals and guidelines.
• Monitor compliance with government regulations and provide timely updates on regulatory changes to management staff

Internal Audit

• Contribute to the preparation of a risk-focused annual audit calendar and ensure it is shared with auditees.
• Assess and provide independent assurance on the adequacy of GOAL’s internal control systems across all departments, recommending improvements where necessary.
• Ensure timely submission of audit reports and facilitate discussions of identified gaps with relevant stakeholders.
• Conduct regular audits of GOAL locations and implementing partner operations to ensure compliance with GOAL, donor, and government regulations.
• Follow up on audit findings through the consolidated Issues Log System to ensure timely resolution and implementation of corrective actions.
• Develop a strong understanding of GOAL and donor requirements from proposal development through to final project audits.
• Gain in-depth knowledge of internal procedures and donor requirements related to procurement, finance, and partner management.
• Continuously update knowledge of donor-specific requirements and audit practices, with particular focus on the ASTYE Programme.
• Support the Internal Audit & Compliance Manager in coordinating quarterly Risk Register reviews for GOAL Uganda.
• Ensure risk management processes, aligned with the COSO framework, are effectively embedded throughout the organization.

HQ Reporting Requirements

• Ensure annual conflict of interest declarations are completed, maintain COI database and ensure all COI declarations are responded to
• Ensure all HQ compliance training requirements for both GOAL and partner staff are met and training tracker is kept up to date

Job Level Specifications

Essential

• Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Business Administration (Accounting), Commerce (Finance/Accounting)
• Minimum 3 years’ experience in risk-based auditing and compliance
• Knowledge in donor rules and regulations
• Experience in executing financial and other wrongdoing investigations.

 Desirable

• ACCA/CPA/CIMA at least level 2.
• Experience in Anti-Terrorist Check-ups and other sanctions on lists required by different donors and/or management of automated systems on this subject.
• Experience in verification of compliance with internal control policies and procedures with emphasis on the areas of Logistics, procurement, finance, partnership and human resources.
• Experience in compliance review of reports submitted by Sub-Agreements signed with partners and preparation of reports.
• Experience in support for compliance reports and/or internal audit of different areas such as subsidies, human resources, purchasing, inventories, distribution, control of advances for activities and travel expenses.

General Terms and Conditions

At GOAL, we welcome people of all abilities and want to ensure that our hiring and interview process meets the needs of all applicants. If you require a reasonable accommodation to make your application or interview experience a great one, please just contact our Recruitment Team at recruitment@ug.goal.ie

GOAL Commitment to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion:
GOAL is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to building an inclusive environment for all employees. We foster an inclusive culture where all voices are heard and valued. We know that the more inclusive we are, the better our work will be.

All employees share in the responsibility for fulfilling GOAL’s commitment to equal employment opportunity and equal treatment. GOAL does not discriminate against any employee on the basis of sex, race, colour, ethnic background, tribe, birth, creed or religion or social or economic standing, political opinion, disability.

Code of Conduct and Accountability within GOAL

GOAL is an equal opportunities employer and has values and behaviours framework which defines our code of conduct. Any candidate offered a job with GOAL will be expected to adhere to the following key areas of accountability.

• Comply with GOAL’s policies and procedures with respect to safeguarding, Code of Conduct, health and safety, data protection and confidentiality, do no harm principles and unacceptable behaviour protocols.
• Report any concerns about the welfare of a child or vulnerable adult or any wrongdoings within our programming area.
• Report any concerns about inappropriate behaviour of a GOAL staff or partner.

Safeguarding

Children and vulnerable adults a must be safeguarded to the maximum extent from deliberate or inadvertent actions and failings that place them at risk of abuse, sexual exploitation, injury, and any other harm. One of the ways that GOAL shows this on-going commitment to safeguarding is to include rigorous background and reference checks in the selection process for all candidates.

GOAL 

Established in 1977, GOAL is an international humanitarian agency and works with the most vulnerable communities to help them respond to and overcome humanitarian crises, and to assist those facing poverty and exclusion achieve greater resilience and well-being. GOAL envisions a world beyond humanitarian crises where poverty no longer exists, where vulnerable communities exposed to shocks and stresses are resilient, where barriers to well-being are removed and where everyone has equal rights and opportunities.

General Description of the Country Programme 

First operational in Uganda in 1979, the current GOAL Uganda country programme focuses on Health, (including WASH, Health Accountability and Nutrition); and a market-based systems approach to improving agricultural livelihoods and WASH. GOAL Uganda mainstreams gender, child protection, social behavior changes and resilience strategies across all programming. GOAL uses a mixture of direct implementation and partnerships with national and international civil society organizations, local government, the private sector and communities to give effect to our mission.

GOAL Uganda has a skilled team of over 110 personnel and has a head office in Kampala and field offices in 7 locations across Northern, Southwestern and Eastern regions of Uganda.  GOAL Uganda’s donors include the Mastercard Foundation, charity: water, Irish Aid, The Kingdom of Netherland Embassy in Uganda (EKN) and other private donors.

Interested applicants who meet the requirements should apply through the link with at least 3 reference contacts (current or former Line Manager) from the last three employers and daytime contact number by 8th March 2026.