Internal Auditor

About DFTO

DFTO is the government’s public sector rail owning group. Its purpose is to bring all currently privately-owned train operators into public ownership in advance of the creation of Great British Railways in 2027 - and deliver improvements in the here and now by unifying and integrating train operations under common public ownership. DFTO has over 23,000 employees, runs over 6,000 services a day and delivers over 450 million customer journeys across its networks every year. This accounts for 26% of total UK passenger journeys and 30% of passenger miles.

Primary Purpose of Job:

Conduct thorough and effective audits across operations of assigned Train Operating Companies (TOC(s)), testing the effectiveness of internal controls and recommended improvements to support compliance, risk mitigation, value add and operational efficiency. Contribute to the development of an assurance framework for assigned TOC(s) and implementing core audit processes and procedures. This role is ideal for a strategic thinker and self-starter with an understanding of internal audit methodologies and a passion for continuous improvement.

Key Competencies:

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to effectively communicate internal audit findings and recommendations to senior leadership.
• Proven ability to manage tasks and deadlines while maintaining high quality and attention to detail.
• Collaborative team player with a positive and adaptable attitude.
• Strong commitment to professional ethics, integrity, and confidentiality, adhering to the highest standards of professional practice.

Key Responsibilities:

• Plan and conduct detailed audits of various departments and processes, including operational and compliance areas to a high quality standard in line with best practice.
• Contribute to the development and implementation of the TOC Assurance Framework and implementation of core audit processes and procedures.
• Utilise a variety of audit techniques, such as risk assessments, control testing, and data analysis in order to conduct thorough and complete audits.
• Gather and analyse relevant documentation to assist the process.
• Prepare clear and concise audit reports that communicate findings, conclusions, and recommendations effectively, driving timely management responses and agreed action plans.
• Build strong working relationships with operational teams and management to promote the value of internal audit and foster a culture of continuous improvement.
• Contribute to the business assurance and audit activities relating to major business projects, in accordance with agreed plans.
• Identify and document control weaknesses and inefficiencies that enable targeted improvements and stronger internal controls.
• Monitor the implementation of corrective actions and improvements recommended in audit reports, driving timely completion and measurable reduction of risk exposure.
• Contribute to external audit requests, enabling accurate and timely provision of information.
• Participate in cross-TOC audits, supporting alignment with best practice and sharing insights to improve group wide processes.

Knowledge, Skills, Experience & Technical Qualifications:

• Degree educated ideally with Finance, Accounting or other equivalent Internal Audit professional qualification (ACA, CIMA, ACCA, IIA) is preferred.
• Proven technical knowledge of internal audit, including IIA standards.
• Experience planning and executing internal audits.
• Strong ability to identify, assess and evaluate risks and controls in a commercial and operational environment.

Vacancy Details:

• Duration: 2 year Fixed Term contract/secondment.
• Location: London/London/Hybrid – willingness to travel across the UK.
• Salary: up to £51,550.
• Closing date: 16th February 2026.
• Reports to: Regional Head of Internal Audit.

DFTO Benefits:

• Annual Leave: Starting at 25 days and rising to an additional day per year of service completed within the first 5 completed years up to a maximum of 5 additional (30 days).
• DC Pension Scheme: 10% Employer contribution, 5% Employee contribution.
• Opportunities to learn and network across the wider industry.

Additional Information:

Disclaimer: Candidates applying for this position on a secondment basis must inform their line manager prior to submitting their application. This is to ensure transparency and facilitate any necessary discussions regarding workload and responsibilities.

About our people and the recruitment process - We are an inclusive employer of choice and we welcome applications from everyone! We encourage our colleagues to work flexibly, as we know traditional working patterns don’t always fit. If you want to consider working flexibly, just let us know and we’ll do our best to help and invest in your career with us, whilst you have a healthy work life balance.

Contact: If you have any questions or reasonable adjustments, please contact dean.palmer@dftoperator.co.uk. Please do not email any CVs to us, your application must be made by clicking the 'Apply' button.