Assistant Manager (Financial Audit Support) Secondment / FTC 18 months in Glasgow

Location: Hybrid working with offices based in Edinburgh/Glasgow/Inverness

Type of role: Fixed Term Contract (18 months up to 31 March 2028)

Salary grade: Band 2A (£53,392 to £61,029 per annum). New entrants will typically start at the band minimum.

Are you a qualified auditor who thrives on innovation and driving improvement? If so, we have an exciting opportunity to join our Innovation and Quality business group whose aim is to support and elevate our people, while helping to fulfil the strategic vision of the Auditor General for Scotland and the Accounts Commission. We are recruiting for this role on an 18-month fixed term basis.

Audit Scotland provides the Auditor General and Accounts Commission with the services they need to carry out their duties. Together we ensure that the Scottish Government and public-sector bodies throughout Scotland are held to account for the proper, efficient and effective use of public money. 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.

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.
• Designing and developing audit approaches and methodologies adopted by ASG and PABV (Audit Scotland’s two audit delivery business groups) and producing guidance to support the application of the approaches and methodologies by audit teams delivering an annual programme of guidance and other outputs for all providers of the annual audit, including the appointed firms, that supplements the Code of Audit Practice.
• Providing support and advice via a virtual help-desk to ASG and PABV colleagues and audit staff in the firms in response to enquiries and requests for consultations to inform their judgement when undertaking their audit work.
• Designing and delivering a professional learning and personal development programme across the organisation.
• Maintaining and enhancing an online repository of technical reference material supporting Audit Scotland’s role as system leader for public audit in Scotland, including memberships of external groups and boards and responding to external consultations.

As a Band 2A Assistant Manager in the Professional Support and Learning function, you will report to a Band 2B Manager or Band 3 Head/Senior Manager and will assist in the effective delivery of Professional Support and Learning activities in respect of financial audit.

What you will be doing:

• The main objective of the role is to apply experience, technical knowledge and professional judgement to assist in meeting the professional support and professional learning needs of financial audit colleagues, helping to design solutions, draft guidance and delivering related learning, and assisting in evaluating outcomes.
• Specific responsibilities may include, but are not limited to:
• Assisting senior colleagues in designing and implementing efficient audit approaches and methodologies to be adopted by ASG that comply with professional standards and meet the objectives of the Auditor General and Accounts Commission.
• Drafting for review by senior colleagues clear, authoritative, and concise guidance, reports and other outputs that supplement the Code of Audit Practice and/or that support colleagues in ASG in applying the audit approaches and methodologies.
• Establishing and developing productive professional relationships with colleagues in other business groups and with external stakeholders, including other audit agencies.
• Collecting, analysing and interpreting information and applying experience, technical knowledge, and professional judgement to draw reasonable conclusions in designing solutions to complex problems.
• Providing specialist advice to colleagues in ASG and audit staff in the firms in response to enquiries and requests for consultations to inform their judgement on complex matters when undertaking their audit work.
• Using experience and judgement to identify potential new accounting, auditing and other professional developments that are relevant to public audit, drawing attention to senior colleagues, where appropriate, drafting tailored briefings that clearly explain the key points for audit colleagues, and considering with senior colleagues any impact on audit approach and existing guidance.
• Assisting in maintaining the online repository of technical reference material including identifying and adding latest relevant developments in a timely fashion.
• Designing and delivering technical training to ASG colleagues as part of our professional learning programme.
• Contributing to reviews of annual accounts to identify and disseminate good practice.
• Contributing to the delivery of the audit modernisation project.

You will also be expected to take opportunities to work across I&Q’s other three functions.

Knowledge and experience:

• You will be a fully qualified accountant (CIPFA, ICAS, other CCAB, CIMA or equivalent), and will have practical experience in undertaking professional support activities or be able to demonstrate an aptitude for doing so to a good standard.
• 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 also have:

• Broad experience of the public sector including sound knowledge of public finances, policy and audit.
• High levels of self-awareness and emotional intelligence, and excellent project management and time management skills.
• Skills and experience that give you an expert perspective on technical accounting and financial auditing matters, allowing you to efficiently develop and recommend innovative and practical solutions.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills and sound judgement.
• The ability to present complex information in a balanced, influential and persuasive manner with accuracy, clarity and conciseness.

Person specification - specific knowledge and experience:

• A fully qualified accountant (CIPFA, ICAS, other CCAB, CIMA or equivalent).
• High levels of self-awareness and emotional intelligence.
• Excellent project management and time management skills.
• Experience at developing working relationships with internal and external stakeholders at all levels.
• Skills and experience that give an expert perspective on technical accounting and auditing matters.
• 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 of the public sector including sound knowledge of public finances, policy and audit.

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 and an accredited menopause friendly 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 and a Menopause Friendly 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 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.scot or call 0131 625 1500 for further information and a member of the HR team will be in touch.

The closing date for applications is Sunday 20 September 2026. Interviews will be held in-person at our Edinburgh office on 1 October 2026 and our Glasgow office on 2 October 2026. A presentation will be required as part of the interview process.