Data Analyst (Financial Audit)

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Are you an experienced qualified data analyst, accountant, or IT auditor with data analytics skills who thrives on making a difference? Are you passionate about ensuring public services are run properly for the people of Scotland? If so, we can offer you the chance to support audit teams with new and compelling data-driven insights about the public bodies that they scrutinise.

Overall purpose of the role

Our Innovation and Quality (I&Q) business group comprises four functions: professional support and learning; quality; digital audit; and organisational improvement. I&Q 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.

You will report to the Senior Data Analyst (Financial Audit & AI) and support the management of the Digital Audit team. Audit Scotland is transforming the use of digital technology in our audit processes to analyse and present data more effectively and in how we support our audit teams to deliver high quality audit. This contributes to our vision that public money is well spent to meet the needs of Scotland’s people.

Our Digital Audit Team works across the organisation to deliver the bespoke tools, analysis, support, and specialist skills that we need to support public audit in Scotland. We help deliver the resources that auditors use to question, explore, and communicate how public bodies are spending money and delivering their services across Scotland.

As part of the Digital Audit team, you will be responsible for supporting our financial audit teams to deliver our audits efficiently and in line with auditing and quality standards. You will provide expert knowledge on financial and business systems, data, information flows, financial reporting, and developing supporting tools and guidance.

A key part of your role will be to support teams to extract, validate and analyse financial data in our suite of analytics tools such as Asc. You will support and inform the delivery of products involving data analysis, predictive insights, and specialised process automation. This will involve working directly with a variety of audit and technical staff to refine requirements, prototype solutions, and to research and evaluate new approaches for financial audit.

You will play a key role in engaging with auditors and our Digital audit champions and translating their requirements into useful analysis, tools and guidance. Ensuring we get constant feedback from auditors to help improve the tools, guidance and training that we provide.

The analysis and tools that the Digital Audit Team develop and deliver will enhance our auditors' understanding of financial data and different policy areas within the Scottish public sector, and the wider economy. You will work across I&Q and wider Audit Scotland business groups as we continually modernise our audit approaches and supporting tools, guidance and training.

Working with colleagues in our partner public audit agencies, and across the public sector, you will develop new and innovative solutions that help us deliver to hold public bodies to account and help train others to get the best from these tools.

Knowledge and experience

You will be educated to degree level or have demonstrable relevant experience. You will preferably have postgraduate training / qualification in a relevant data analysis discipline. You may also come from a financial services, accounting or audit background and have an interest and skills in data analysis techniques.

You will have significant experience of working in a data analyst / data scientist role (or similar). You will have significant experience of developing and delivering data analysis products across a variety of areas, using different techniques. You will have practical experience in producing and delivering supporting guidance and training.

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 be able to demonstrate the following:

• Working knowledge of relevant data analysis languages, tools, frameworks and software (R / R Shiny, Power Query, Power BI, Excel, or similar)
• Knowledge of financial reporting and accounting concepts or a willingness to learn these.
• Experience of designing, building, and testing complex or large-scale data products.
• A good understanding of the concepts and principles of data modelling, including interacting with relational and other databases.
• Ability to make sound decisions based on the task requirements and on consultations with appropriate stakeholders.
• The ability to provide technical direction (data, accounting, audit requirements) and guidance to colleagues in delivering products; help to solve complex problems related to algorithms, coding, data, and data manipulation.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills to present complex solutions in a clear and understandable manner.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills with the ability to build and maintain effective relationships with both internal and external stakeholders.
• Creative thinking, able to solve demanding technical problems in a pragmatic way.
• The ability to work under pressure across multiple projects in a calm, professional and effective manner.
• You will have a plan that includes your own continuous development, inspiring others and helping Audit Scotland lead on being a world-class organisation.
• You will undertake professional and personal development to maintain technical expertise and meet CPD requirements.

Person specification – specific knowledge and experience

You will be educated to degree level in a relevant field (Computer Science, data science, IT audit, accountancy or similar) and/or have other relevant professional qualifications or experience.

• Experience of data analysis languages, tools, frameworks, or software (such as R, Python, Power Query, Power BI, SQL, Excel, or similar)
• High level of self-awareness and emotional intelligence
• Experience in developing working relationships with internal and external stakeholders at all levels
• Skills and experience that give an expert perspective on data analytics
• Strong verbal and written communication skills and sound judgement
• Ability to present complex information in a balanced, influential, and persuasive manner with accuracy, clarity, and conciseness
• Experience and skills in coaching and developing people
• Experience of successfully and consistently planning and performing high-quality projects on time and within cost
• Experience in dealing with a variety of financial, economic, demographic and performance data.
• Experience in building and designing dynamic or interactive data tools

Interested? Next Steps: Download the role profile for detailed role information. Click apply to submit an application. Please note that due to the volume of applications, we cannot guarantee that CVs will be screened alongside your application form, therefore please ensure your application form includes all information required to demonstrate you meet the essential and desirable criteria for the role. If you require an alternative way to apply under grounds of a reasonable adjustment, please get in touch with a member of the HR team. The closing date for applications is Sunday 23 November 2025 at midnight. There will be a technical assessment as part of the selection process. Interviews will be in-person at our Glasgow office on 8 and 9 December 2025 and will include a discussion on your technical assessment.