Local Audit Office - Controller of Local Audit

Local Audit Office - Controller of Local Audit Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government Apply before 11:55 pm on Sunday 12th July 2026 Salary: £200,000 - £220,000 Job grade: SCS Pay Band 2 Public Servant role - equivalent to SCS2 - Director Contract type: Fixed term Length of employment : 5 Years Business area: Local Audit Office - 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. Type of role : Senior leadership Working pattern : Flexible working, Full-time Number of jobs available : 1 Location : Birmingham, Leeds Job summary The Government is taking bold steps to overhaul the local audit system, leading the most transformational reform programme in over a decade. We areseekingto 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, includinglocalauthorities, police, fire services, NHS bodies, nationalparksand smaller authorities like parish councils. Around 600 local bodies must publish audited accounts, while 10,000 smaller authorities follow a tailored assurance regimeto 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 beestablishedby autumn 2026 to oversee and co-ordinate the auditing of local public authorities to promote effective andtimelylocal 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 the appointment of auditors for local authorities (and other local bodiese.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, and overseeing professional bodies regarding their remit for the qualification, registration and conduct of local auditors. Job description 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 willrepresentthe 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 itoperateseffectively frominceptionwhile 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 developmentto build a new organisation, bringing together people from diverse professional backgrounds,anddifferentsystemorganisations.You willestablishthe LAO’s values, foster an inclusive and high-performing culture, and ensure the organisation attracts andretainshigh-calibre talent. The role requires strong leadership of complex delivery, including large-scale procurement and engagement with the audit market. You will build andmaintaineffective relationships with audit firms,otherregulatorsand stakeholders,working collaboratively to achieve the LAO’s objectives. Whileoperatingindependently, the LAO will work closely with partners across government,localbodiesand the auditsystemto deliver meaningful and lasting reform. Person Specification We areseekingan experienced, high-performing leader witha track recordof leading(ideallyestablishing)large, complex organisations at senior executive or board level . You willbe responsible forestablishingand leading the LAO, setting its vision, strategy and operating model, and ensuring effective day-to-day delivery. You willdemonstratestrong 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,localbodies,auditfirmsand professional organisations. You will build trusted relationships, navigate complex environments, and secure consensus across the sector. You willdemonstrate resilience, soundjudgementand 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,honestyand objectivity. You will have strong commercial and financial acumen , including experience of managing budgets,procurementand 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, themediaand national and international forums. Operational delivery Establish the systems, processes and capabilitiesrequiredfor 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,visionand 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,performanceand compliance frameworks. Ensure effective use of public resources and delivery of value for money. Maintainhigh standardsof transparency,accountabilityand ethical conduct. Engagement Build strong relationships across government, the audit sector and wider stakeholdersincluding 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. Proventrack recordof 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 ofestablishingor leading apublicarm’s-length body. Experience in local auditor accountingwith a relevant professional qualification(such as CCAB or equivalent) Commercial and procurement experience across public and private sectors. Reporting The Controller ofthe Local AuditOfficewill report to the LAO Board and be accountable to the MHCLG sponsor department and, ultimately, toParliament. For more information please click apply below #J-18808-Ljbffr