About the Government Internal Audit Agency

The Government Internal Audit Agency (GIAA) was established as an Executive Agency of HM Treasury on 1 April 2015, and is the specialist provider of internal audit and counter fraud and investigation services to central government.  We will also help our customers to understand and manage their risks and to ensure exemplary standards of governance.

We’re responsible for:

• reviewing the functions and activities of government and public sector organisations, and assessing their efficiencies and risks;
• making recommendations for improvement, based on our assessments;
• adding value to public services and improving how effectively organisations provide them.

The Agency currently provides services to over 60 Government Departments and a wide range of diverse government bodies associated with those Departments.

Our vision is to be the primary, trusted and expert provider of consistent, high quality audit, assurance and counter fraud services across government that are valued by our customers and recognised as a catalyst for improvement.  Our Service is one in which the most talented want to work and are proud to say they have worked.

GIAA also provides assurance services to the European Commission, providing both the UK Government and the European Commission with advice and assurance on the implementation of the various programmes such as the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF).

Currently, there are approximately 500 people in the Agency, including support staff, who work flexibly across our client base and in regional offices.  Most of the client facing staff are qualified internal auditors, accountants and investigators.  The agency has an exciting future and, over the next two years, will expand to include the vast majority of central government internal audit teams; currently approximately 70%.

The Role

The roles are based across various teams within the Agency, providing independent and impartial assurance to the Government.  We are, therefore, looking to recruit from a variety of backgrounds which will improve GIAA’s experience and skills base.

You will lead a team which may vary in size over time, with responsibility for a range of audits and assignments. Work can be highly complex and high profile, with considerable stakeholder liaison.

GIAA employs Audit Managers to lead assignments and customer liaison for our work with medium and small sized customers, and to support Senior Audit Manager and group Chief Internal Auditors to deliver services in our larger departments.  Audit managers are integral to the leadership of the Agency and have a role beyond delivery of audit services to support the ongoing development of our services, staff and customer approach.

Our Audit Managers use their expertise and experience to deliver value to the Agency and customers.  There are clear opportunities for progression within the Agency and the wider civil service for candidates with the right skills and approach.

With access to high profile work, you will work alongside key decision makers, audit specialists and private sector contractors within the Agency, challenging and developing your skills as well as ensuring we meet our customer expectations.

This is an opportunity to join a highly respected, forward-thinking organisation that builds and maintains strategic relationships at the most senior levels across the majority of government departments. The variety and contribution of these roles is unparalleled across government.

We offer support in maintaining and building your professional career through technical training, coaching and development opportunities.

You are entitled to a formidable range of benefits from generous pension provision, embracing of flexible work patterns, diversity and security.

Responsibilities

• Provide input into the development and implementation of audit plans for identified clients, bringing to this an understanding of the risk environment, materiality and the control framework.
• Provide oversight of the way in which audit methodology, risk assessments, plans and working practices are delivered in line with GIAA methodology; this will involve liaison with stakeholders, and critical appraisal of audit team output, team coaching and supervision, promoting common standards and consistency, and alignment of working practices.  
• Act as a member of the Senior Team supporting a Group Chief Internal Auditor; and play an active part in the delivery of corporate objectives and develop and grow the Agency.
• Within own audits, be accountable for compliance with professional standards and compliance with GIAA’s new single audit methodology and audit management software.
• Take account of key requirements and practices when planning and prioritising work, and ensure that the delivery of plans meets management and stakeholder expectations i.e. timeframes, budgets, quality.  
• Show judgment when potential risk exposure seems significant and escalate matters through the appropriate management/customer channels – this may involve liaison with specialists within the Agency or with outside advisers.
• Engage with suppliers using the GIAA framework and obtain the best VFM for audit work.
• Be accountable for the performance of the team (including work delivered by private sector firms performing co-sourced audits) in meeting agreed plans, objectives and targets, as well as the resulting provision of audit assurance to the Accounting Officer and/or Partner Organisations.

Qualifications required

Candidate will need to demonstrate full current membership of a recognised professional accountancy/audit body below:

• Chartered Institute of Internal Auditors UK & Ireland

You must hold the chartered auditor/CMIIA designation or the MIIA designation where you qualified under the previous exam route and did not apply to make this chartered. If you have passed all of the CMIIA/MIIA exams but do not hold the designation, you are not eligible to apply.

No other level of internal audit qualifications meets the requirements for this post.

• Other Institutes of Internal Auditors that are part of IIA Global

If you studied with the Institute of Internal Auditors in another country, you must hold the equivalent of the MIIA designation. You should verify this with the IIA UK & Ireland prior to submitting your application, by e-mailing membership@iia.org.uk. (If invited to interview you will be asked to provide us with the IIA response and the designation certificate you hold, as your evidence of meeting the qualification criteria for this post)

OR

• Accountancy

Fully Qualified, current member of one of the five CCAB bodies (ICAEW, ACCA, CIPFA, ICAS and Chartered Accountants Ireland) or CIMA.

Person Specification

You will be required to write a statement of 750 words setting out how your skills and experience meet the criteria:

• Have the ability to build and maintain relationships within the organisation at all levels, including a successful track record of influencing a diverse senior stakeholder community to adopt good practice internal controls and risk management and governance processes;
• Be a proactive, independent thinker who can confidently express their views, having the ability to look across their work and understand and apply bigger picture considerations where necessary;
• Be able to demonstrate resilience and tact in the face of challenging circumstances using innovative and creative solutions as necessary;
• have significant knowledge and experience of successfully planning, managing & delivering multiple audit reviews across multiple business areas to time, whilst ensuring a high quality of service is maintained;
• An effective decision maker, with the ability to manage conflicting priorities and targeting work to key risk areas;
• an excellent communicator through both written and verbal means, including leading and coaching team members to achieve highest standard quality products using departmental audit methodology, recognising success and challenging performance when necessary;
• Leading and supporting change at a team and organisational level, adopting a continuous improvement approach; and
• Contributing to the wider corporate responsibilities of the organisation.

Recruitment Process

Application

To apply for this post, you will need to submit your personal details, CV and provide a statement of suitability no more than 750 words referring to the Person Specification. 

Failure to submit your full application along with attaching your CV will mean the panel only have limited information on which to assess your application against the criteria in the person specification. Please ensure that both documents contain your full name.

As part of the application process, you will be asked a number of diversity-related questions. If you do not wish to provide a declaration on any of the particular characteristics, you will have the option to select 'prefer not to say'. The information you provide when submitting your application is confidential and will not be shared with the panel but will help us monitor our progress towards the Civil Service becoming the most inclusive employer by 2020. See the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy for more information.

Should you encounter any issues with your online application please get in touch with us.

Shortlist

You will receive an acknowledgment of your application via email.

A panel, will then assess your application to select those demonstrating the best fit with the role by considering the evidence you have provided against the criteria set out in the ‘Person Specification’ section and your CV.

Interview Assessment
Candidates invited to interview will also be required to undertake a written test and presentation followed by an interview to a panel. At interview you will be tested on strengths, experience and the following behaviours Managing a quality Service, Leadership, Working Together and communicating and influencing. 

Appointments will be made in strict merit order.
In the event of a tie the following order of evidence will be used to appoint.

• Total behaviours questions score
• Presentation score
• CV score
• Sift score

Successful candidates who are not appointed may be placed on a reserve list for 6 months.

Location

The location of these posts can be based in the following locations: London, Swansea, Reading, York, Leeds, Newcastle and Sheffield

Relocation costs will not be reimbursed.

Although new entrants to the civil service are expected to join at the minimum of the salary range, we have limited discretion to agree a higher starting point dependent on skills, experience and current salary.

Annual pay awards are made in line with current civil service directives.

Existing civil servants will be appointed in line with the normal civil service pay rules

Contract Type

These roles are being offered on a permanent basis.