Head of Performance & Corporate Governance

Are you an experienced professional in the field of performance management and corporate governance who thrives on making a difference and is passionate about ensuring public services are run properly for the people of Scotland?

Audit Scotland expects public bodies to have high quality performance and governance arrangements – and we set high standards for ourselves. We can offer you the chance to lead and develop our performance and governance arrangements so that we can be exemplars and ensure that we deliver high quality, efficient and effective services.

Overall purpose of the role

Through our audit work for the Auditor General for Scotland and the Accounts Commission we scrutinise the effectiveness of the governance arrangements for over 220 public sector organisations across Scotland. We expect high standards of governance of the organisations we audit, and we set high standards for our own governance.

The Head of Performance and Corporate Governance is responsible for the design, development, organisation and coordination of a wide range of governance services. This includes providing support for the Audit Scotland Board and its committees, the Executive Team and corporate forums.

You will lead on the maintenance and development of our performance and risk management, frameworks, business continuity planning, information management (including data protection, records management and FOI), records management, governance and compliance, complaints handling and the procurement of, and support for internal audit and legal services.

You will manage the small team with minimal direction, balancing the various competing priorities and stakeholder needs.

You will develop and maintain professional and effective business relationships at all levels of the organisation, including senior management, Audit Scotland’s Board and with external stakeholders. You manage and deploy resources in a proactive and flexible way to ensure efficiency and optimal outcomes.

The Corporate Governance Team is part of Audit Scotland’s Corporate Services Group. This group comprises Business Support Services, Communications, Digital Services, Finance and Human Resources. These teams provide high quality support services for Audit Scotland.

What you will be doing

Our vision is that public money is well spent to meet the needs of Scotland’s people. The outcomes we want to achieve are that:

• Public services in Scotland work better together to target resources more effectively
• Financial planning and management are more effective across Scotland’s public services
• Public bodies deliver clearer and more transparent reporting
• Our recommendations have a positive impact for people in Scotland

As Head of Performance and Governance your principal responsibilities will be to manage and promote good governance across the organisation. You will ensure we have effective governance arrangements, systems and processes in place to meet a broad range of legislative and policy requirements. This includes ensuring robust performance management and reporting systems are in place for the Executive and Committees.

You will support the Chief Operating Officer and the Director of Corporate Support to manage the agendas and papers for the Board and its committees and the Executive Team and report regularly to them.

Working in partnership with the Executive Team and the Leadership Group you will have a clear understanding of the strategic aims and objectives of the organisation and its business groups and ensure that governance services and performance management arrangements are designed to meet the needs and objectives of the organisation.

You will lead on the maintenance and development of our performance, risk and information management frameworks.

You will have line management responsibility for the Corporate Performance Officer and the Corporate Support Officer and will support their learning and development.

Delivering high quality corporate governance

This will include but is not limited to:

• Managing, reviewing and continually improving corporate governance policies and procedures including the Standing Orders, Financial Regulations, Scheme of Delegation, Codes of Conduct, Terms of Reference, purchasing terms and conditions, etc.
• Managing the reviews of policies and procedures, making relevant recommendations to the Board, its committees and the Executive Team.
• Managing and maintaining Audit Scotland’s annual assurance framework, including our internal control checklists and certificate of assurance process to support the Accountable Officer’s Governance Statement in the annual report and accounts.
• Supporting the secretariat role for Audit Scotland's Board and committees, including liaison with Chairs, managing the programmes of work and preparing agenda, minutes and reports etc.
• Managing our legislative obligations and reporting requirements under various Acts including the Data Protection Act 2018, the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002, the Environmental Information Regulations 2004, the Public Records (Scotland) Act 2011, the Public Services Reform (Scotland) Act 2010.
• Being the statutory Data Protection Officer for Audit Scotland and being responsible for our Freedom of Information and Complaints handling processes
• Managing the procurement of externally provided internal audit services and liaising with the service provider on the development and delivery of the programme of internal audits.
• Managing the procurement of externally provided legal services and liaising with internal stakeholders and the service providers on legal matters.
• Developing and maintaining excellent working relationships with the relevant external statutory and regulatory bodies in Scotland and the UK

Planning, performance and risk management

The key areas of responsibility here include:

• Leading, managing and developing Audit Scotland’s performance and risk management frameworks and the cyclical analysis and reporting which underpins them, where you will provide insightful analysis and initiate improvement.
• Managing, reviewing and testing our business continuity arrangements to help mitigate business disruptions. Providing specialist knowledge and advice to colleagues on business continuity management.
• Managing, reviewing and improving Audit Scotland’s complaints process and procedures, providing guidance and support to colleagues and managers and liaising as necessary with senior investigating officers and external stakeholders as required.
• Supporting Audit Scotland's corporate and business planning processes.
• Supporting our wide-ranging Strategic Improvement Programme.
• You will initiate, lead and support a variety of projects to support continuous improvement.

Information management

• Undertaking the statutory role of Data Protection Officer for Audit Scotland, the Accounts Commission and the Auditor General for Scotland.
• Providing specialist knowledge, advice and reports to the Executive Team, the Board and its committees on our statutory obligations for information related legislation such as the Data Protection Act, the Freedom of Information Act, the Environmental Information Regulations, the Public Records Act, the Public Services Reform Act, etc.
• Providing coaching/training to staff to manage our obligations and ensure staff adhere to and comply with our arrangements on data protection, information security, records management and freedom of information.
• Managing our obligations and ensuring staff adhere to and comply with our arrangements for complying with the relevant legislation and codes of practice.
• Managing and supporting Audit Scotland's Records Management arrangements
• Managing and supporting Audit Scotland’s FOI/EIR management arrangements and FOI panels by providing specialist knowledge and advice and procuring specialist legal advice where required.
• Supporting the work of Audit Scotland's Knowledge, Information and Governance Group (KITGG) as secretary, providing advice and guidance on information governance issues, including records management and undertaking the role of an Information Asset Owner within the Corporate Services Group.
• Liaising with the relevant regulatory bodies including the Office of the Scottish Information Commissioner and the UK Information Commissioner's Office and representing Audit Scotland, the Auditor General and the Accounts Commission where appropriate.
• Liaising with Data Protection Officers at the UK and Ireland audit agencies and other relevant forums and stakeholders.

Knowledge and experience

• You will be an experienced manager in this field with the ability to lead, support and constructively challenge your colleagues and the wider organisation. You may have worked in the public, private or third sectors.
• You will have a proven track record in the areas of governance, leadership, improvement and performance, risk and change management and core service delivery.
• You will have a detailed knowledge and understanding of current and future legislative issues and developments, particularly in relation to Data Protection, Freedom of Information and the Environment Information Regulations, Business Continuity, Records Management, handling complaints etc
• You may be educated to degree level and/ or have other relevant professional qualifications and ideally a Certificate in Data Protection Practice or equivalent qualification.
• You always aim achieve the very highest level in your field, we can help you realise your full potential and would consider sponsorship support to assist you in your personal development.
• You have a plan for the future that includes your own development, inspiring others and helping Audit Scotland achieve our vision. Importantly you will share your innovative ideas on how you can make a difference in maintaining and improving our governance arrangements and deliver a high-quality service.

Person specification - specific knowledge and experience

Essential

• Proven experience of delivering high quality governance and excellent customer service. (S&I)
• Proven experience of supporting Boards and senior management forums. (S&I)
• Proven experience of leading, developing and implementing planning, performance and risk management systems. (S&I)
• Detailed knowledge of data protection, FOI and records management legislation, guidance and good practice. (S&I)
• Ability to develop highly effective relationships across the organisation with strong emotional intelligence, deploying a different approach when necessary. (I)
• Leading, managing and developing a team. (S&I)
• Strong business report writing skills and experience. (S&A)
• Experience of continuous improvement and change management practices. (I)

Desirable

• Educated to degree level and / or have other relevant professional qualifications. Ideally, a certificate in Data Protection Practice or equivalent. (S)
• Project management skills. (S&I)

*S = Shortlisting criteria I = Interview criteria A = Assessment / Exercise

Interested? Next steps

• Click the apply button to complete an application form. If you wish, you can also share your CV. We offer a range of benefits, please visit our careers page for more information at http://www.audit-scotland.gov.uk/careers.
• Our application deadline is Sunday 19 May 2024 at midnight, and interviews are expected to take place on Monday 3 June and Tuesday 4 June 2024.

Audit Scotland

Our vision is that public money is well spent to meet the needs of Scotland's people.

To achieve this, we support the Auditor General for Scotland and the Accounts Commission to provide clear, independent and objective assurance on how effectively public money is being managed and spent. Our work covers about £59bn of public spending, almost 300 public sector accounts, and the services and projects that affect all people and communities in Scotland.

As well as what we do, how we do it is integral to delivering our vision and critical to our wellbeing and our organisational success. We put our organisational values of equality, independence, innovation, integrity and respect at the heart of everything we do.

We employ around 340 staff in a wide variety of roles, working from our main offices in Edinburgh and Glasgow, and through a network of regional offices across Scotland.

There has never been a more interesting or important time to join us. We offer a rewarding place to work, a supportive and open culture and a wide range of professional development opportunities. Benefits include 42 days of annual leave including public holidays, an attractive local government pension scheme with 19.4% employer contributions, personal development allowances and flexible working hours. We’ve also been named one of the top 25 workplaces in Scotland and the UK’s tenth best accountancy workplace in the 2023 Best Companies awards.

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.

How we work

We employ around 340 staff in a wide variety of roles. They work flexibly at home and in the office as well as from audit sites across Scotland. This isn’t your typical work from home or work from office type job. We’re flexible about working patterns and we’ve transformed how we deliver high-quality public audit. We support you to work in the ways that achieve the best results for you, your team and the business, including your physical location and how you manage your hours. Put simply, we trust you to do your job, and want you to have the ability to have a rewarding work-life balance and best support your individual circumstances, be that childcare, adult carer responsibilities or managing disabilities.

We welcome applications from across the UK. Some travel to our offices or client sites will be necessary at times, but you don’t need to live in Scotland to work for us.

Other conditions

Audit Scotland is committed to ensuring that:

• We minimise our impact on the environment in accordance with Government policy affecting public sector organisations.
• We uphold the principles of equality, fairness & diversity.
• We all work within a safe environment and adhere to good standards of health & safety.
• All information is protected and managed appropriately.
• We maintain independence and political neutrality.