Audit and Assurance Manager - Clinical Services

North Bristol NHS Trust (NBT) and University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust (UHBW) have merged as of 1st July 2026 to become Bristol NHS Foundation Trust. This will create an exciting future that brings together the best of both organisations. As a single, strong and sustainable organisation, we will not only be able to deliver better outcomes for our patients and fairer care for our population, but it will also provide greater opportunities for our people.

Bristol NHS Foundation Trust recognises the value of a healthy work-life balance. When applying, speak to us about how we might be able to accommodate flexible working, so your work life fits around your home life. We particularly welcome applications from Black, Asian and minority ethnic candidates as they are under-represented within the Trust.

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ASW Assurance has offices in Bristol, Exeter, Torquay and Truro and this post can be based in any of these office locations. However, there will be regular requirements to travel between offices.

As organisations look for audit and assurance services to provide added value through the use of audit and assurance specialists, the purpose of this role is primarily to manage, control and deliver highly complex and high visibility audit, assurance and consultancy reviews. The role specifically requires a clinically qualified professional who brings clinical insight and practical audit experience to the planning, delivery and reporting of audits across clinical and corporate services.

Main duties of the job

• Strategic lead for the delivery and development of highly complex and high visibility audit, assurance and consultancy reviews within audit specialisms and for developing specialist audit and assurance services for current and future clients.
• Applying risk management and assurance principles to the planning and delivery of audit and assurance work, at both an operational and strategic client level, advising Directors, senior managers and other client staff on a range of complex issues.
• Controlling and managing a large range of highly complex and high visibility audit, assurance and consultancy reviews ensuring that suitable assurances are given.
• Preparing audit and assurance reports in line with Internal Audit's statutory responsibility to independently and objectively review, evaluate and report on the adequacy of client's systems of internal control.
• Responding to and anticipating a broad range of requests for advice and assistance and queries from senior client staff and audit staff on a range of specialist, sensitive and complex issues.
• Ensuring that complex, high risk, material and sensitive issues are identified to the appropriate ASW Assurance client lead for suitable reporting to the relevant client Director, Audit Committee, Trust Board and, where appropriate, Trust Chair.

Working for our organisation

ASW Assurance is a leading not for profit NHS consortium, delivering internal audit, counter fraud and consultancy services to healthcare organisations including acute, mental health and foundation trusts, Integrated Care Boards (ICBs) and social enterprises. We do not simply deliver an internal audit and counter fraud service; we are dedicated to delivering quality and safe patient care, providing a cost-effective service with the benefit of a locally highly skilled, flexible and responsive workforce.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

For a more detailed job description, main responsibilities, and Person Specification, please refer to the job description document attached to this vacancy.

Person specification

Education and qualifications

• Essential criteria
• Possess a relevant clinical professional qualification
• Degree educated and/or significant relevant specialist experience.
• Desirable criteria
• Institute of Internal Audit qualification or equivalent

Knowledge, skills and abilities

• Essential criteria
• Detailed, demonstrable and expert knowledge of a relevant clinical discipline
• Expertise in governance, risk management and assurance matters, ideally in relation to the NHS.
• Knowledge and strategic understanding of the NHS organisational structure and client organisations
• Knowledge of national healthcare standards, regulatory frameworks and best practice guidance
• Desirable criteria
• An understanding of relevant professional audit standards e.g. Global Internal Audit Standards

Experience

• Essential criteria
• Experience of working in a large organisation
• Specific experience of highly complex and highly visible audit and or consultancy work
• Specific experience of managing and or supervising staff
• Significant experience of preparing complex reports for Board and Audit Committees to a high standard
• Significant experience of dealing with Senior Management, and or Board members and Audit Committees
• Significant experience of dealing with sensitive internal audit issues.

Personal qualities

• Essential criteria
• Well-developed verbal and written communication skills including report writing, negotiating, questioning and presentational skills
• Ability to supervise and coach staff
• Ability to prioritise work and work to tight deadlines

We hope that you will decide to join us and become part of this exciting journey, helping us to shape our future together.

Equal opportunities statement

As an equal opportunities employer actively working towards a diverse workforce we aim to recruit and retain a workforce which represents the rich diversity of the local population at all levels and are committed to designing our services around the needs of individual patients and those around them. Anonymous information will be used from your application to ensure we're meeting our pledge.

The Trust is committed to investing in and caring for all our staff. We will support you in maintaining and improving your health and wellbeing, as well as your career development through management and training support - developing exceptional people for exceptional careers.

BFT is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people, and vulnerable adults.

To comply with Part 7 of the Immigration Act 2016 all applicants must be able to speak fluent English to an appropriate standard which will be assessed at Interview.

If you require sponsorship for a visa to work in the UK, to avoid disappointment, please check to ensure you are eligible under the UKVI points based system.

The Trust uses electronic new starter forms on Trac to collect personal details. Information collected is securely stored and used to set up the employee record on the ESR HR system.

By applying for this post, you are agreeing to Bristol NHS Foundation Trust transferring the information contained in this application to its preferred applicant management system. If you are offered a job, information will also be transferred into the national NHS Electronic Staff Records system.

IMPORTANT

Please note that if you apply for a position with this Trust, you may be contacted via Trac or via email. This includes invites for job interviews. We therefore recommend that you regularly check your Trac account and email accounts. We may also contact you by texting the mobile number, if provided, on the application form.

Due to the high number of applications that are received for some posts we may close this vacancy before the advertised closing date. Only those candidates who clearly demonstrate how they meet the person specification will be shortlisted for this job.

As a guide interviews should usually take place within 3 weeks of the closing date. When providing employment reference details, please provide correct work-related email addresses so references can be sought promptly when we are looking to progress your application. Your referee must all be known to you in a line manager or professional lead capacity.