Senior Audit Manager - Assurance (Cheshire, Shropshire and Staffs)

We are looking for enthusiastic audit professionals (CCAB/IIA qualified) to join our successful team working across Cheshire, Shropshire and Staffordshire and surrounding areas. The successful candidate will be based in our Chester office at the 1829 Building, Countess of Chester Health Park. As a Senior Audit Manager (Band 8A), you will be earning up to £60,504, leading the delivery of internal audit and adding value to NHS and Public Sector organisations, all within a flexible working environment.

The key purpose of this role is to:

• Take responsibility for operational elements of team delivery and client management of a broad and challenging portfolio of internal audit plans, including the personal conduct of highly complex audit assignments.
• Conclude upon the quality of all audit opinions produced for the team's allocated reviews to support the drafting of the Head of Internal Audit Opinions.
• Direct and supervise staff to deliver the allocated audit reviews on time, to budget and to quality standards.
• Report to Senior Executives and the Audit Committee on a regular basis on specific reviews as required.
• Respond to a broad range of sensitive and complex queries from clients and staff.
• Support the development of knowledge sharing activities to inform the work of MIAAs internal teams, strengthening knowledge and practice across the Agency.
• Support the development of the profile of the Cheshire, Shropshire and Staffordshire MIAA Audit team.

Main duties of the job include:

• Produce, agree, and oversee delivery of risk-based plans with allocated clients that are designed to produce sufficient assurances to fulfil the requirements of the Head of Internal Audit Opinion on the effectiveness of internal control.
• Manage the planning, conduct, output, and opinions for all audit work for allocated clients within agreed deadlines, budgets, and quality standards.
• Operate as budget holder for allocated plans, requiring the planning and organizing of complex activities and programmes to ensure income is recovered, costs contained, and outputs delivered.
• Manage and develop key relationships with allocated clients, particularly at Director of Finance and Audit Committee level.
• Provide principal advice to allocated clients on Annual Governance Statement preparation and related governance and risk management matters.
• Ensure allocated plans are incorporated into the overall planning of resources and commitments for the function.
• Plan and organise the work schedule for allocated clients to ensure timetables are delivered regarding Audit Committee deadlines.
• Conduct a range of highly complex audits for reporting to senior management and the Audit Committee.
• Conduct complex research to develop and pilot approaches to emerging auditable areas.
• Make recommendations involving significant proposed changes to working practices and procedures following policy implementation across multiple areas and NHS organisations.
• Undertake complex systems reviews that conclude upon financial control, physical security of cash, and the safeguarding of assets.
• Respond to and anticipate queries from clients, which may be of a highly sensitive and confidential nature.
• Secure added value consultancy work which enhances the profile and capability of the Agency.
• Participate in preparation and delivery of presentations for tendered internal audit contracts.
• Manage the work of Delivery Managers, Principal Auditors, and Auditors within the function.
• On occasions, deputise for the Regional Assurance Directors.
• Manage the relationship with external auditors for allocated clients to ensure integration of audit resource and positive review of internal audit quality.
• Build effective client relationships across the functions.
• Adhere and contribute to the continuous improvement philosophy to ensure we continue to provide a valuable service focused on clients' needs.
• Fully comply with all aspects of the confidentiality policy.

Person Specification:

• Qualifications

• Essential: Professional accountancy qualification (CCAB) qualified plus significant demonstrable PQE plus self-certified CPD plus experience of operating at Board level/equivalent, presenting to Audit Committee and influencing Executive and Non-Executive Directors.
• OR MIIA plus significant demonstrable PQE plus self-certified CPD for a significant period plus experience of operating at Board level, presenting to Audit Committee, and influencing Executive and Non-Executive Directors.
• Desirable: Professional healthcare qualification recognised by UK professional body/Quality Improvement qualification plus significant demonstrable PQE skills, knowledge, experience, and expertise.

• Essential: Experience of working in audit and demonstrable understanding of audit role and techniques. Experience of managing and supervising staff.
• Desirable: Experience of working in NHS or other public sector organisation resulting in a good understanding of systems and processes.

• Essential: Full understanding of NHS structure, policy, functions, and systems. Understanding of corporate governance, risk management, and assurance principles and practice. Full understanding of audit and financial principles and practice.

• Essential: Excellent oral and written communication skills to explain complicated audit and financial issues to a range of NHS staff, often at a senior level. Excellent analytical skills and the ability to collate complex data from various sources. Strong supervision, staff management, coaching, and mentoring skills. Ability to negotiate and persuade in unresponsive or hostile settings. Good level of numeracy, keyboard skills, and computer literacy (ECDL or equivalent). Ability to make judgements and recommendations in complex systems and risk contexts. Good time management skills and ability to work to tight deadlines while managing competing priorities.

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications.

Applicants must have current UK professional registration.