About Us

World Bicycle Relief mobilizes communities in rural regions around the world to thrive with life-changing bicycles. We partner with communities to expand access to education, markets, healthcare and other essential services. With our purpose-designed Buffalo Bicycles, individuals in low-income regions are a force for change, unlocking pathways to new opportunities for themselves, their families and entire communities.

We are a mission-driven, global non-profit social enterprise that manages a highly refined bicycle supply chain from design through final distribution. World Bicycle Relief uses an innovative business model to create sustainable bicycle ecosystems. Through World Bicycle Relief’s 501(c)3, we provide transport solutions to those who cannot afford them, and through Buffalo Bicycle Ltd, we sell the rugged Buffalo Bicycle and spare parts. Buffalo Bicycle Ltd also offers users repair and maintenance services via a retail network of shops and local mechanics. World Bicycle Relief has distributed over 1,000,000 fit-for-purpose bicycles and trained 4,000+ community-based mechanics. Girls with Buffalo Bicycles are 19% less likely to drop out of school; business owners see 53% more revenue; and health workers serve 63% more households.

Purpose of the Position

The Director, Risk, Audit & Compliance is responsible for leading World Bicycle Relief’s global risk management, internal audit, compliance, and governance support activities. The role provides independent assurance, risk insight, and practical guidance to management and the Audit Committee while helping strengthen organizational effectiveness, accountability, internal controls, donor stewardship, and regulatory compliance across World Bicycle Relief’s countries of operation, Buffalo Bicycle entities and affiliated fundraising organizations.

The Director serves as a trusted advisor to management and the Board, balancing independence with collaboration to support achievement of the organization’s mission and strategic objectives.

Job Responsibilities

Enterprise Risk Management

• Lead and maintain the organization’s enterprise risk management framework.
• Facilitate periodic risk assessments and risk register reviews across global operations.
• Identify and monitor emerging operational, financial, compliance, strategic, legal, and reputational risks.
• Support leadership teams in developing practical mitigation strategies.
• Prepare risk reporting for Executive Leadership, the Audit Committee, Country Leadership, and the Board.
• Promote risk awareness and accountability throughout the organization.

Internal Audit

• Develop and maintain a risk-based internal audit plan covering World Bicycle Relief, Buffalo Bicycle country operations and affiliated fundraising organizations.
• Execute operational, financial, compliance, governance, and special audits.
• Assess governance, operational effectiveness, financial stewardship, donor accountability, and compliance with organizational policies across the WBR group.
• Assess the effectiveness of internal controls, policies, procedures, and governance processes.
• Report audit findings, recommendations, and emerging risks to management and the Audit Committee.
• Monitor and report on management action plans and remediation progress.
• Conduct follow-up reviews to validate implementation of agreed corrective actions.

Advisory & Organizational Improvement

• Partner with country and functional leaders to strengthen processes, controls, review of appropriate or critical core operating policies, and organizational effectiveness.
• Provide practical recommendations that balance risk management with operational realities and organizational capacity.
• Support management in designing scalable systems and controls as the organization grows.
• Provide support to operating countries with engagement and management of annual external audits.
• Foster a culture of continuous improvement, learning, and accountability.
• Help management prioritize remediation efforts based on risk, impact, and available resources.

Compliance & Governance

• Support organizational compliance initiatives and monitoring activities.
• Evaluate compliance with key organizational policies, procedures, donor requirements, and applicable regulations.
• Monitor regulatory, donor, legal, employment, tax, and operational compliance risks.
• Support governance activities for Buffalo Bicycles and Board committee reporting.
• Promote accountability, transparency, and ethical business practices throughout the organization.
• Assist management in strengthening policy frameworks and organizational standards.

Investigations & Special Reviews

• Lead or support investigations involving fraud, misconduct, conflicts of interest, policy violations, safeguarding concerns, whistleblower reports, or other matters referred by management, Human Resources, Legal Counsel, or the Audit Committee.
• Conduct special reviews requested by Executive Leadership or the Audit Committee.
• Coordinate with external advisors, investigators, and legal counsel when appropriate.
• Ensure investigations and special reviews are conducted professionally, objectively, and confidentially.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, Internal Audit, Risk Management, Business Administration, Law, or a related field.
• Professional certification preferred, including CIA, CPA, CA, ACCA, CISA, CRMA, or equivalent.
• Minimum of 10 years of progressive experience in risk management, internal audit, compliance, governance, investigations, or related functions.
• Experience working in multinational organizations with operations across multiple countries.
• Experience presenting to executive leadership and governing boards.
• Demonstrated ability to build collaborative relationships while maintaining professional independence.
• Experience within international development, nonprofit, donor funded, or mission driven organizations preferred.

Reporting Structure

The role maintains direct access to the Chief Executive Officer, Audit Committee Chair, and Audit Committee as appropriate. The Director will regularly present risk assessments, audit results, compliance matters, and emerging issues to Executive Leadership and the Audit Committee.

• Lead and maintain the organization’s enterprise risk management framework.
• Facilitate periodic risk assessments and risk register reviews across global operations.
• Identify and monitor emerging operational, financial, compliance, strategic, legal, and reputational risks.
• Support leadership teams in developing practical mitigation strategies.
• Prepare risk reporting for Executive Leadership, the Audit Committee, Country Leadership, and the Board.
• Promote risk awareness and accountability throughout the organization.
• Develop and maintain a risk-based internal audit plan covering World Bicycle Relief, Buffalo Bicycle country operations and affiliated fundraising organizations.
• Execute operational, financial, compliance, governance, and special audits.
• Assess governance, operational effectiveness, financial stewardship, donor accountability, and compliance with organizational policies across the WBR group.
• Assess the effectiveness of internal controls, policies, procedures, and governance processes.
• Report audit findings, recommendations, and emerging risks to management and the Audit Committee.
• Monitor and report on management action plans and remediation progress.
• Conduct follow-up reviews to validate implementation of agreed corrective actions.
• Partner with country and functional leaders to strengthen processes, controls, review of appropriate or critical core operating policies, and organizational effectiveness.
• Provide practical recommendations that balance risk management with operational realities and organizational capacity.
• Support management in designing scalable systems and controls as the organization grows.
• Provide support to operating countries with engagement and management of annual external audits.
• Foster a culture of continuous improvement, learning, and accountability.
• Help management prioritize remediation efforts based on risk, impact, and available resources.
• Support organizational compliance initiatives and monitoring activities.
• Evaluate compliance with key organizational policies, procedures, donor requirements, and applicable regulations.
• Monitor regulatory, donor, legal, employment, tax, and operational compliance risks.
• Support governance activities for Buffalo Bicycles and Board committee reporting.
• Promote accountability, transparency, and ethical business practices throughout the organization.
• Assist management in strengthening policy frameworks and organizational standards.
• Lead or support investigations involving fraud, misconduct, conflicts of interest, policy violations, safeguarding concerns, whistleblower reports, or other matters referred by management, Human Resources, Legal Counsel, or the Audit Committee.
• Conduct special reviews requested by Executive Leadership or the Audit Committee.
• Coordinate with external advisors, investigators, and legal counsel when appropriate.
• Ensure investigations and special reviews are conducted professionally, objectively, and confidentially.

• Risk management
• Internal audit
• Compliance
• Governance
• Investigations
• Financial stewardship
• Donor accountability
• Policy development and implementation
• Risk assessment
• Reporting
• Communication
• Collaboration
• Professional independence

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, Internal Audit, Risk Management, Business Administration, Law, or a related field.
• Professional certification preferred, including CIA, CPA, CA, ACCA, CISA, CRMA, or equivalent.
• Minimum of 10 years of progressive experience in risk management, internal audit, compliance, governance, investigations, or related functions.
• Experience working in multinational organizations with operations across multiple countries.
• Experience presenting to executive leadership and governing boards.
• Demonstrated ability to build collaborative relationships while maintaining professional independence.
• Experience within international development, nonprofit, donor funded, or mission driven organizations preferred.