TERMS OF REFERENCE (TOR) FOR EXTERNAL AUDIT SERVICES
Basic Information
- Position / Tender Title: External Financial Audit Services
- Organization: Civil Society Resource Center (CSRC)
- Posting Date: August 18, 2026
- Closing / Application Deadline: August 25, 2026
- Audit Period: July 07, 2025 to July 08, 2026
- Location: Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
1. Background of the Organization
Civil Society Resource Center (CSRC) is a non-governmental, non-profit organization registered under the laws of Ethiopia with registration number 4323. The Civil Society Resource Center (CSRC) is a board-led civil society registered under Ethiopian law in July 2019. CSRC is set up as a knowledge hub for CSOs where information, research, technical support, and assistance is made available to emerging CSO actors in Ethiopia. CSRC runs a state-of-the-art facility for existing and emerging CSO actors and aims at a number of activities, including institutional capacity building, advocacy, and action-oriented research on the freedom of association and civil society sector.
2. Objective of the External Audit
The primary objective of the audit is to enable the independent auditor to express a professional opinion on the financial position of Civil Society Resource Center (CSRC) for the specified financial year, ensuring that:
- Financial statements present a true and fair view of the organization's financial status, revenue, and expenditures.
- Grant funds provided by institutional donors were used exclusively for authorized project purposes in compliance with grant agreements and donor regulations.
- Internal control systems, risk management frameworks, and financial operations are sound, adequate, and operating effectively.
3. Scope of Work
The audit will be conducted in accordance with International Standards on Auditing (ISA) promulgated by the International Auditing and Assurance Standards Board (IAASB).
The scope of work includes, but is not limited to:
- Financial Verification: Examination of accounting records, bank reconciliations, payroll, ledger entries, procurement documentation, and supporting vouchers.
- Compliance Review: Verification of compliance with relevant national tax laws, labor laws, donor contracts, and the organization’s internal HR and procurement policies.
- Internal Control Systems: Evaluation of internal controls, asset management systems, and cash handling procedures.
4. Key Audit Deliverables
The selected Audit Firm will be expected to deliver the following outputs (in both soft copy and signed hard copies):
- Independent Auditor's Report: Containing the auditor's opinion on the Financial Statements (signed and dated).
- Audited Financial Statements: Including Balance Sheet, Income & Expenditure Statement, Statement of Cash Flows, and Notes to the Accounts.
- Management Letter: A comprehensive report detailing:
- Internal control weaknesses, operational risks, and system deficiencies identified during the audit.
- Specific non-compliance issues with local regulations or donor terms.
- Practical, actionable recommendations to correct identified weaknesses.
- Management's response/feedback to the audit findings.