Director General and Chief Executive Officer

Location: Birmingham, Bristol, Bootle, Croydon, Leeds, London, Manchester, Newcastle, Reading or Swansea (hybrid working).

The Government Internal Audit Agency (GIAA) sits at the heart of the UK government, providing high‑quality internal audit, counter fraud and assurance services to ministers, permanent secretaries and accounting officers across central government. As an executive agency of HM Treasury, GIAA plays a critical role in strengthening governance, improving decision‑making and ensuring value for money for the taxpayer.

We are now seeking an outstanding Director General and Chief Executive Officer to lead GIAA through its next phase of development and impact. This is a unique leadership opportunity for an executive who combines strategic insight with professional credibility and a strong sense of public purpose.

As Chief Executive, you will have overall responsibility for a national organisation of around 450 people, operating as both a major professional services provider and the recognised centre of expertise for the Government Internal Audit Function. You will be the organisation’s Accounting Officer, accountable to Parliament for the effective management of an annual budget of approximately £47m and will work closely with HM Treasury as sponsor department.

At the same time, you will provide visible leadership across government, setting direction, standards and ambition for internal audit and allied assurance disciplines. The role calls for a leader who can balance assurance independence with constructive influence, and who understands how high‑quality insight can enable better outcomes.

You will lead continued organisational transformation, embedding innovation, data‑led approaches and digital capability, while maintaining the confidence of senior stakeholders and Audit and Risk Assurance Committees across Whitehall and beyond. Creating a strong, inclusive culture, developing professional capability and ensuring services remain responsive to an increasingly complex risk environment will be central to your success.

You will be an accomplished executive with a strong track record of leading complex organisations or professional services at scale. You will bring deep expertise in internal audit, assurance or a closely related field, whether as a senior practitioner or as an expert commissioner and customer, alongside the judgement and personal authority required to operate with confidence at board and Permanent Secretary level. A relevant professional qualification, such as CMIIA, CCAB, CIMA or equivalent, is expected.

For a confidential discussion about the role, please contact Rosanne.Sarratt@gatenbysanderson.com.