Auditor

Job Reference: HCC622820

Salary Range: £33,178 - £36,369 per annum

Work Location: Elizabeth II Court, Winchester (Hybrid Working)

Hours per week: 37 (part‐time hours will be considered)

Contract Type: Permanent

Closing Date: 8 February 2026

Interview Date: w/c 16 February 2026

Introduction

Are you a motivated and enthusiastic individual with excellent communication skills and experience of managing and controlling work to professional standards? If so, and you are also looking for an opportunity to develop existing skills or learn skills in a new area, a career in internal audit could be the role for you! The Southern Internal Audit Partnership (SIAP) provides internal audit and consultancy services to a wide and growing portfolio of public sector partners and clients in the South of England. We pride ourselves on delivering an innovative, customer‑focused service aligned to the business needs of our clients and to achieving improved outcomes.

The Role

In joining the team, you will be responsible for the delivery of assignments using a risk‑based audit approach across a portfolio of partners and clients. You will work closely with both internal audit and client managers to establish potential risks and their corresponding control mechanisms; evaluate your findings and report the outcomes to the client.

What you’ll do

• Carry out internal audit reviews for a variety of partners and clients across the South of England with some supervision from the Audit Manager for more complex reviews.
• Using a risk‑based approach, review risks facing the client and design a programme of work to review, evaluate and test the internal control framework in place to manage the risks.
• Analyse findings to assess the impact on the risk environment.
• Form an opinion on the adequacy and effectiveness of the control framework currently in place to provide assurance to senior managers, Chief Officers and Members.
• Negotiate on required actions to address identified weaknesses and agree timescales and responsibilities.
• Undertake completion of work in the audit certification of grant claims, ensuring compliance with grant instructions.
• Contribute to the development of the audit practice.

Team Working

• Plan and co‑ordinate workloads to ensure that the audit plan is achieved within the agreed timescales and to high standards.
• Individual audit assignments are scheduled and agreed with clients to ensure that they can be completed within agreed timescales.
• Ensure that audit findings are clearly documented to provide adequate evidence to support the opinion on the control framework.
• Draft audit reports following the completion of fieldwork and contribute to reports drafted by Senior Auditors on more complex audits.

Communication

• Communicate promptly and appropriately with clients to ensure that they understand the purpose of the audit and that the audit meets their needs.
• Provide feedback audit findings to clients promptly and clearly so that they understand the impact of the findings on their business objectives and the level of risk involved.
• Highlight key risks.

Participation

• Contribute to the continued development of the Partnership by attending and actively participating in meetings and section briefings and demonstrating a commitment to providing high quality services consistently.

Corporate and Statutory Initiatives

• Maintain an awareness of corporate and departmental policies and procedures and apply them to day‑to‑day job requirements.

What we’re looking for

As an Auditor you will be either a qualified Internal Audit Practitioner (IAP) or hold an equivalent qualification (Level 4). Internal audit experience is not essential, but you should be able to demonstrate an understanding of the role of internal audit and have experience of managing and controlling work to professional and quality standards within budgeted deadlines. You will work with experienced colleagues who will support your personal development and provide on‑the‑job training. You will be eager to learn, determined and adaptable and have excellent interpersonal and communication skills – both oral and written. With the ability to absorb information quickly, you will also be able to identify and analyse problems in a logical and effective way. Above all, you will share our passion to support and add value to our partners and clients in ensuring that they have effective risk management, governance, and control mechanisms in place.

Why join us?

Hampshire County Council is recognised nationally as one of the highest performing local authorities in the UK. We offer a modern, forward‑looking local authority, a pleasant, supportive collaboration environment, flexible working opportunities, an excellent work/life balance, strong emphasis on training and development, professional challenge, variety and a central Head Office in Winchester. Our benefits package includes holiday entitlement, a pension scheme, flexi‑time, family‑friendly policies and interest‑free travel loans and discounts. Flexible working patterns enable employees to shape their working week while meeting business needs. We are a flexible employer committed to an inclusive workplace where people can grow and develop.

Additional Information

This post is subject to a Criminal Records Check and Non‑Police Personnel Vetting. Further information about this process will be provided to successful candidates.

Contact Details for an Informal Discussion

Natalie Jerams, Deputy Head of Southern Internal Audit Partnership – natalie.jerams@hants.gov.uk or 07784 265314.

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

Hampshire County Council is committed to safeguarding children, young people and adults and ensuring that all recruitment and selection practices reflect this commitment. We do not apply any discrimination and all sections of the population have equal access. We are a Disability Confident Employer committed to an inclusive and accessible recruitment process.