0009 DE24 / 1 (SJ) – Head of Assurance

The key purpose of this role is to provide leadership to the assurance function, comprising risk management, internal audit, counter fraud and information governance. This role is a critical position to enable the Council to achieve its strategic and operational objectives by giving assurance on risk management, governance and internal control arrangements; and playing a key role in promoting good corporate governance.

Main Duties and Responsibilities include:
This list is not exhaustive, and is an indicator of the key duties and responsibilities that the post holder will have, as opposed to a task list.

• Lead the delivery of the Council’s assurance function with the aspiration to be best in class, ensuring that it is effective and commands a high standard of professional respect both internally and externally.
• Develop and maintain effective stakeholder relationships, ensuring productive and positive working, maintaining high visibility, offering sound guidance and advice to officers and members.
• Lead and support the delivery of the Council’s risk management, insurance and information governance framework, supported by the Risk, Insurance & Information Governance Manager, as part of the Council’s assurance framework.
• Lead the Council’s risk based internal audit provision, supported by the Audit Manager, including determining the audit needs for the Council and the Greater Manchester Pension Fund, which the Council hosts; together with the effective delivery of that provision.
• Supported by the Audit Manager, be responsible for ensuring that all allegations of fraud and corruption are promptly and fully investigated and to ensure appropriate liaison with the appropriate law enforcement authorities as necessary. To ensure effective counter fraud arrangements are maintained (e.g. National Fraud Initiative, staff training).
• Provide and present high quality reports on assurance activity to the appropriate governance structures, including but not restricted to, the Senior Leadership Team, the Council, Cabinet, Audit Panel and Pension Board.
• Ensure the function is in compliance with appropriate industry standards, for example, Public Sector Internal Audit Standards or any other relevant standards that may be introduced from time to time.
• Participate in multi-functional/multi-disciplinary projects and tasks, as required.
• Ensure that all assurance related policies (including, but not restricted to, risk management, counter fraud, the internal audit manual) are in place and kept up to date.
• Establish, develop and maintain good working relationships with external auditors and other external review agencies, to ensure optimum assurance coverage without duplication.