Are you a qualified auditor who thrives on innovation and driving improvement? If so, we have an exciting opportunity to join our Innovation and Quality business group whose aim is to support and elevate our people, while helping to fulfil the strategic vision of the Auditor General for Scotland and the Accounts Commission. We are recruiting for this role on a 2-year fixed-term basis.
Overall purpose of the role
Our Innovation and Quality (I&Q) business group ensures that the quality of audit work across Audit Scotland is outstanding, innovative and at the forefront of the profession, and helps fulfil the vision and strategic objectives of the Auditor General for Scotland and the Accounts Commission. I&Q’s mission is to innovate and support to elevate our people, our organisation, and public audit, to improve quality and grow our reputation. I&Q achieves this by leading organisational transformation and development; providing technical and professional expertise, and a constructive quality monitoring process; continually enhancing methodologies and best practice and the effective use of new technologies; delivering professional learning and development; and driving Audit Scotland’s role as system leader for public audit in Scotland.
The Professional Support and Learning function is one of I&Q’s four functions. Responsibilities of Professional Support and Learning include, but are not limited to:
- Designing and developing audit approaches and methodologies adopted by ASG and PABV (Audit Scotland’s two audit delivery business groups) and producing guidance to support the application of the approaches and methodologies by audit teams
- Delivering an annual programme of guidance and other outputs for all providers of the annual audit, including the appointed firms, that supplements the Code of Audit Practice
- Providing support and advice via a virtual helpdesk to ASG and PABV colleagues and audit staff in the firms in response to enquiries and requests for consultations to inform their judgement when undertaking their audit work
- Designing and delivering a professional learning and personal development programme across the organisation
- Maintaining and enhancing an online repository of technical reference material
- Supporting Audit Scotland’s role as system leader for public audit in Scotland, including memberships of external groups and boards and responding to external consultations.
As a Band 2B manager in the Professional Support and Learning function, you will report to the Head of that function (Band 3) and will lead on the effective delivery of aspects of Professional Support and Learning activities.
What you will be doing
The main objective of the role is to apply experience, technical knowledge, and professional judgement to contribute to meeting the professional support and professional learning needs of colleagues across the organisation, designing solutions, producing and delivering guidance and related learning, and evaluating outcomes. Specific responsibilities may include, but are not limited to:
- assisting Band 3 colleagues in designing and implementing efficient audit approaches and methodologies to be adopted by ASG that comply with professional standards and meet the objectives of the Auditor General and Accounts Commission
- line managing at least one Band 2A colleague including providing supportive on the job coaching, actively supporting their development, providing constructive feedback, and addressing sub-standard performance
- drafting for review by Band 3 colleagues clear, authoritative, and concise guidance, reports and other outputs that supplement the Code of Audit Practice and/or that support audit colleagues in ASG in applying the audit approaches and methodologies (or reviewing such outputs delegated to and drafted by Band 2A colleagues)
- leading on distinct work areas (e.g. support for specific audit outputs) with responsibility for planning and delivering related activities to time, cost and quality standards, and obtaining feedback on impact.
- establishing and developing productive professional relationships with colleagues in other business groups and with external stakeholders, including other audit agencies, and proactively using stakeholder networks to add value to our work and reputation
- collecting, analysing and interpreting information and applying experience, technical knowledge, and professional judgement to draw reasonable conclusions in designing solutions to complex problems
- assessing enquiries and requests for consultations received from colleagues in ASG and audit staff in the firms, and either providing specialist advice to in response to inform their judgement when undertaking their audit work, or delegating a response to Band 2A or escalating to Band 3 where appropriate
- using experience and judgement to identify new accounting, auditing and other professional developments that are relevant to public audit, prepare tailored briefings that clearly explain the key points for audit colleagues (or delegate preparation to Band 2A colleagues and review briefings drafted) by), and consider any impact on audit approach and existing guidance
- maintaining the online repository of technical reference material including identifying and adding latest relevant developments in a timely fashion
- designing and delivering technical training to audit colleagues as part of our professional learning programme
- leading on reviews of annual accounts to identify and disseminate good practice
- identifying lessons learned to contribute to improving quality and efficiency.
You will also be encouraged to take opportunities to work across I&Q’s other three functions of quality reviews, digital auditing, and organisation improvement.
Specific knowledge and experience
You will be a fully qualified accountant (CIPFA, ICAS, other CCAB, CIMA or equivalent), and will have practical experience in undertaking professional support activities or be able to demonstrate the potential for doing so to a good standard.
Self-aware in your own abilities, you can plan and manage your own work to time and quality. You know how to work seamlessly within a team to bring out the best in your colleagues.
You will also have:
- significant experience of the public sector including sound knowledge of public finances, policy and audit
- high levels of self-awareness and emotional intelligence, and excellent project management and time management skills
- experience at independently developing productive and flexible relationships with external stakeholders and colleagues across all levels of an organisation
- skills and experience that give you an expert perspective on technical accounting and auditing matters, allowing you to efficiently develop and recommend innovative and practical solutions and objectively evaluate outcomes
- strong verbal and written communication skills and sound judgement
- the ability to present complex information in a balanced, influential and persuasive manner with accuracy, clarity and conciseness
- experience in managing, coaching and developing people to increase opportunities for their personal development and skills growth
- experience of successfully and consistently planning and performing complex, high-quality projects on time and within cost
- experience of dealing with difficult situations in a professional and effective manner.
Diversity and Inclusion
We value the unique perspective a diverse workforce brings to what we do. Therefore, we’re keen to increase representation in our workforce and support progression of minority ethnic groups. We are also a proud disability confident employer.
Reasonable Adjustments
Audit Scotland’s recruitment process may include various stages and activities including application forms, online assessments, and interviews, to assess whether you meet the requirements of the role.
As a Disability Confident employer, we are committed to providing inclusive and accessible recruitment where everyone is supported to perform at their best.
When applying for a job with Audit Scotland, you will be asked in the application form if you need an adjustment at any stage of the recruitment process. Please include the reason you require an adjustment and details of what adjustment/s might help.
Some examples of adjustments that have been given to candidates include changing the time, location or format of interviews and providing additional time in any assessments and interviews. This is not an exhaustive list, and we will consider any adjustments that you might need.
As part of our commitment to equality and diversity, our equality network groups would be delighted to offer an insight into Audit Scotland’s culture of inclusivity. If you consider yourself to have a visible or hidden disability and wish to hear more about life at Audit Scotland or wish to speak with someone about the possibility of any adjustments, please contact Careers@audit-scotland.gov.uk or call 0131 625 1500 for further information and a member of the HR team will be in touch.
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