Local Audit Office - Controller of Local Audit in Leeds

The Local Audit Office (LAO) is an arm's-length body of the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG). Employees of the LAO are public servants and are not classed as civil servants.

The Government is taking bold steps to overhaul the local audit system, leading the most transformational reform programme in over a decade. We are seeking to recruit a Controller of Local Audit to lead the establishment and running of the Local Audit Office (LAO) as an arm’s-length body and drive forward the wider programme of reform to the local audit system.

The English local audit system covers hundreds of public bodies that deliver essential services and manage public funds, including local authorities, police, fire services, NHS bodies, national parks and smaller authorities like parish councils. Around 600 local bodies must publish audited accounts, while 10,000 smaller authorities follow a tailored assurance regime to ensure transparency, accountability, and effective use of public funds.

However, the current system is fragmented and faces capacity challenges, resulting in significant backlogs that have triggered two consecutive disclaimers on the Whole of Government Accounts, a loss of public trust and undermined confidence in public accountability. The LAO is a new statutory and independent body to be established by autumn 2026 to oversee and co-ordinate the auditing of local public authorities to promote effective and timely local audit.

The LAO will be instrumental in overhauling the local audit system to put the system back onto a secure and reliable footing. It will play a crucial role in ensuring that reforms are effectively implemented to provide better value for taxpayers and support economic growth.

The LAO’s roles and responsibilities include:

• Appointment of auditors for local authorities and other local bodies (e.g. police and fire authorities).
• Responsibility for the Code of Audit Practice including delivering training.
• Quality oversight of local audit including overseeing an inspection programme.
• Enforcement and supervision.
• Publishing national insight reports on local audit health.
• Overseeing professional bodies regarding their remit for the qualification, registration and conduct of local auditors.

This is a high-profile leadership role within a new public-sector organisation at the centre of the local audit system. As Controller, you will lead the establishment of the Local Audit Office (LAO) and drive reform to strengthen local audit, improve assurance, and rebuild public trust in local government. You will oversee the delivery of the LAO’s statutory functions and provide visible, public-facing leadership.

Acting as an ambassador for the organisation, you will represent the LAO across the UK and internationally, shaping the future of local audit and influencing the wider audit and regulatory landscape. You will set a clear strategic direction for the LAO, ensuring it operates effectively from inception while contributing to wider system reform.

This includes restoring the effectiveness of local audit as an early warning system and supporting improvement across local bodies. You will lead organisational and cultural development to build a new organisation, bringing together people from diverse professional backgrounds and different system organisations.

You will establish the LAO’s values, foster an inclusive and high-performing culture, and ensure the organisation attracts and retains high-calibre talent. The role requires strong leadership of complex delivery, including large-scale procurement and engagement with the audit market.

You will build and maintain effective relationships with audit firms, other regulators and stakeholders, working collaboratively to achieve the LAO’s objectives. While operating independently, the LAO will work closely with partners across government, local bodies and the audit system to deliver meaningful and lasting reform.

Person Specification

We are seeking an experienced, high-performing leader with a track record of leading (ideally establishing) large, complex organisations at senior executive or board level. You will be responsible for establishing and leading the LAO, setting its vision, strategy and operating model, and ensuring effective day-to-day delivery.

You will demonstrate strong strategic thinking, with the ability to lead organisational and cultural change and respond to complex challenges with clarity and pace. You will recognise the importance of audit as a cornerstone of public accountability and be committed to strengthening its impact.

You will be an influential and credible communicator, able to engage effectively with a wide range of stakeholders, including government departments, local bodies, audit firms and professional organisations. You will build trusted relationships, navigate complex environments, and secure consensus across the sector.

You will demonstrate resilience, sound judgement and political awareness, with the ability to communicate complex and sensitive issues clearly and persuasively. You will lead with integrity and a strong commitment to public service values, including impartiality, honesty and objectivity.

You will have strong commercial and financial acumen, including experience of managing budgets, procurement and strategic planning.

Key Responsibilities

Leadership

• Lead the establishment of the LAO and delivery of the wider local audit reform programme.
• Set strategic priorities, ensure alignment with government policy, and drive organisational performance.
• Represent the LAO publicly, including with Parliament, the media and national and international forums.

Operational delivery

• Establish the systems, processes and capabilities required for effective delivery.
• Build and lead a high-performing executive team and organisation.
• Oversee performance, delivery, and continuous improvement.
• Ensure effective reporting to the Board and sponsor department.

Strategy and vision

• Develop and deliver the LAO’s long-term strategy, vision and priorities.
• Anticipate risks and opportunities, ensuring the organisation can respond effectively.
• Promote innovation and continuous improvement.
• Drive long-term planning and organisational sustainability by setting ambitious priorities, delivering against them, and adapting plans in response to performance and changing context.

Governance

• Establish robust governance, risk, performance and compliance frameworks.
• Ensure effective use of public resources and delivery of value for money.
• Maintain high standards of transparency, accountability and ethical conduct.

Engagement

• Build strong relationships across government, the audit sector and wider stakeholders including the NHS, public bodies and wider public.
• Influence the development of the audit market and wider system.
• Communicate clearly and effectively with diverse audiences on complex issues.

Essential criteria

• Significant leadership experience in complex, regulated environments.
• Experience establishing or leading successful organisations or major functions with the proven ability to build and lead high performing teams.
• Proven track record of setting and delivering organisational strategy and vision, including leading long-term planning, driving transformation and continuous improvement.
• Strong understanding of governance, financial management, audit and accounting processes and regulatory frameworks.
• Excellent communication, influencing and stakeholder management skills with the confidence, and credibility, to provide constructive challenge in complex and politically sensitive environments.
• Demonstrates strong analytical judgement and decisiveness, resolving complex challenges through evidence-led, strategically informed decisions, applied with political acuity and a clear grasp of organisational impact.

Desirable criteria

• Experience of establishing or leading a public arm’s-length body.
• Experience in local auditor accounting with a relevant professional qualification (such as CCAB or equivalent).
• Commercial and procurement experience across public and private sectors.

The Controller of the Local Audit Office will report to the LAO Board and be accountable to the MHCLG sponsor department and, ultimately, to Parliament.