Audit DIrector

Audit Director, Performance Audit and Best Value

Audit Scotland

Edinburgh, Glasgow or Inverness

Up to £85,000 including relocation, defined benefit pension, life assurance, flexible benefits and world-class digital technology support

Your recruitment experience will be by video conference in recognition of the current arrangements due to COVID-19

This senior leadership role helps ensure over £40 billion of public money in Scotland is spent properly and provides value for money. Our aim is to be a world-class audit organisation that improves the use of public money. We value simplicity, autonomy, integrity and innovation - we’re a Sunday Times 100 Best Companies 2020 employer and top-100 Not-for-Profit employer too. As Scotland’s national public sector auditor, the role offers a unique insight across financial and performance audit for the whole of the public sector and you will play a crucial part in supporting Audit Scotland as we respond to and recover from the COVID-19 pandemic.

The last few years have seen unprecedented change in Scotland, the UK and internationally; a new relationship with the EU, new powers devolved to Scotland, and continuing pressures on public services. Public audit has never been more important as public sector organisations rapidly change their operating models and priorities in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The role

Our Audit Directors are senior leaders in Audit Scotland, and in public services in Scotland more broadly. You will work closely with the Auditor General for Scotland and the Accounts Commission for Scotland, for whom we deliver our audit work. You will have real influence, contributing to the strategic direction of the organisation and making a positive difference to how public services are delivered.

You will be responsible for leading colleagues in developing and delivering a significant portfolio of performance audit work to the highest standards. In doing so, you will exercise your professional judgement in providing an independent assessment of how public services are delivered and what difference they are making for service users and communities. You will be working at the most senior levels across the public sector, and will be credible and resilient in building effective stakeholder relationships.

You will work with the other UK audit agencies and private audit firms to deliver the very best in our work. You will be an outstanding leader, working in an environment where expectations are high. We invest heavily in our people and you will be a role model for professional and personal development.

Continuing your career here brings fantastic benefits

Working for Scotland’s public spending watchdog will be challenging, but it’s equally rewarding. We have put in place a competitive and attractive package which we will be happy to discuss with you.

Your post will be based in one of our well-located offices in Edinburgh, Glasgow or Inverness. At present, our entire workforce of around 300 professionals are able to work remotely from home using our resilient and high quality remote digital platform. Our Edinburgh office is within 15 minutes walking distance from both Waverley and Haymarket stations, and our Glasgow office is just 2 minutes from Queen Street station. Our Inverness office is located in Beech Wood Business Park.

More about you

Passionate about making a difference to the lives of people of Scotland, you understand how the public sector works, although you don’t need to be working within the public sector. You’re either already operating at senior leadership level or you’re ready for the next career step.

As a credible leader you will motivate, coach and develop our people. You’ll think strategically and creatively, have excellent programme management skills, with a track record in analysing complex problems and delivering practical, realistic and workable solutions. A first-class communicator, you are able to present balanced findings with convincing and persuasive recommendations, both verbally and in writing.

You’re able to demonstrate experience of performance auditing and similar activities. It is likely that you are degree qualified, or equivalent. A CCAB audit qualification is desirable, but not essential.

If you want to know more about the work we do, the role, the package and us, then visit our website, which includes a dedicated careers section, at http://www.audit-scotland.gov.uk/careers. It includes a short video and examples of the impact our work is having across Scotland.

Should you have any questions about the role not already covered in the information we have provided, we can arrange a confidential telephone call. Email your contact details to Susan Burgess, Assistant Human Resources Manager at careers@audit-scotland.gov.uk or call on 0131 625 1645, and we will arrange a convenient time.

Interested? Next steps …

Click the apply button to register, upload your CV and complete the additional information section with a brief personal statement about how you can help us and our clients/stakeholders.

We offer lots of flexibility for how, when and where our people prefer to work. We are happy to explore this further, including part-time working arrangements and job sharing options. Please mark on your personal statement if you have a flexible working preference so we can contact you to better understand your preferences.

Closing date is 22 July 2020 at midnight, with time set aside to meet up via video conference week commencing 17 August 2020.