Senior Assurance Officer/Senior Auditor

Devon Assurance Partnership provides comprehensive Counter Fraud, Internal Audit, and Risk Management Services. These services are available to all directorates and units of our partners including Devon, Torbay, Plymouth Torridge, North Devon, Mid Devon South Hams and West Devon Councils and external clients including Devon & Somerset Fire and Rescue Service and the majority of schools within the Devon area. This role requires the ability to fulfil all spoken aspects of the role with confidence and fluency in English.

The post supports the Senior Assurance Manager in the delivery of an effective assurance service for all partners.

Main duties and responsibilities:

• Assist in planning, defining, allocating, carrying out and monitoring progress on assurance assignments to enable clients to meet corporate objectives and statutory obligations.
• In conjunction with their manager, discuss, negotiate and agree assurance plans for each directorate and/or external clients by way of risk based reviews and including the number of days to be charged to each client.
• Develop, co-ordinate and carry out reviews allocated, under the direction of the appropriate manager(s), with due professional care and in accordance with professional standards, applicable guidance and financial regulations and DAP’s Audit Manual.
• Support the compiling summary information of reviews for the clients for the 6 monthly and annual progress reports to each Directorate, partner organisation and external client. Reaffirm, negotiate and agree with clients’ scheduled work.
• Manage and supervise junior staff as required.
• Monitor the progress of assurance plans and ensure work allocated results in achievement of defined targets.
• Support the provision of an advisory and consultancy service based on expert knowledge to internal and external clients and officers on issues as they arise.
• Work in partnership with other bodies e.g. police, external audit, external contractors or consultants, health etc to secure robust internal controls to protect client and partners interests as required.
• Deputise for the Manager and represent the partnership at senior management meetings, board of governors, regional and national groups etc as required.
• Produce timely and helpful assurance reports for managers within client directorates and meet with senior managers to review assurance findings and agree actions to be taken. Be available to support staff with technical issues as well as providing advice and assistance to access computer information and support with the recruitment, management, supervision, training and development of the Assurance Team as directed.
• Responsible for ensuring follow-up reviews are completed satisfactorily and monitor the completion of agreed recommendations, reporting where key recommendations have not been implemented. Respond to and manage last minute changes to assurance plans and scheduling.
• Assist with the management and development of a high quality Internal Assurance Service to the Partnership’s clients, specifically: Coordinating and leading certain assurance reviews within the overall plan. Assisting with assurance planning and resource scheduling. Undertaking assurance compliance and substantive testing as directed / necessary. Assisting with the provision of specialist assurance duties as required such as:

• Risk Management
• Contract Audit
• Value for Money
• Computer Audit
• Irregularities and Whistle-blowing referrals

• Providing Assurance advice and information to partnership clients and senior management where appropriate.
• Providing feedback to senior management, including Head-teachers, on findings.
• Assisting with marketing of the service, development of new assurance approaches or programmes, ICT development, IIP, Customer Service Excellence etc. by contributing to web content and selling (e.g.) Fraud Services to existing clients.
• Gather evidence by way of conducting interviews, observations, visiting properties, and taking witness statements from relevant organisations and members of the public in order to establish whether criminality in the form of fraud or related offences may have occurred. This document outlines the duties for the time being to indicate the level of responsibility. It is not a comprehensive or exclusive list and the duties may be varied from time to time which do not change the general character to the job or the level of responsibility entailed.

Please apply for this post at: Senior Assurance Officer/Auditor - Ref 5605 Apply Now (devonjobs.gov.uk)

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: £37,336.00-£41,418.00 per year

Work Location: Hybrid remote in Exeter