Head of Regional Internal Audit Service

About the role

• Job Description

  Job Title: Head of Regional Internal Audit Service

  Post Reference: W-RM-AU001

  Pay Details: Head of Service Point 1 - 5 £75,117 - £83,250
  Hours of Work / Working Pattern: Full Time

  Directorate: Directorate of Corporate Resources

  Location: Civic Offices, Barry and to work across the geographical area of Bridgend, Merthyr, RCT and the Vale of Glamorgan

   

  Responsible to: Chief Officer/Section 151 Officer

• Job Purpose

  This post is a critical position within the shared service, helping partners to achieve their objectives by giving assurance on their risk management, governance and internal control arrangements and playing a key role in promoting good corporate governance.

   

  This role is key to helping to further develop a strong innovative service and to take advantage of potential commercial opportunities. Excellent working relationships have been developed across the four Councils served by the Service and the post is becoming vacant due to the planned retirement of the current post holder.

   

  This unique opportunity offers a competitive salary and a flexible working environment that will enable you to grow and develop your career.

  Main Purpose of Post

  • To lead the Regional Internal Audit Shared Service and play a leading role in the Regional Internal Audit Service Senior Management Team.

  • Strategic management responsibilities for the Vale of Glamorgan Council’s Internal Audit Service including provision of a Regional Internal Audit Shared Service to Bridgend, Merthyr Tydfil and Rhondda Cynon Taf Councils and any other partner organisation that may be determined from time to time.

  • Work closely with the Head of Finance/S151 officers in the strategic management of the Service in each local authority and with the Board for the Regional Internal Audit Service.

  • Work closely with both Lay & Elected Members of the Governance & Audit Committees of each Council, in particular the Chairs and Vice Chairs.

  • Develop and maintain excellent working relationships with Senior Officers, Councillors and Lay Members of each Council and their External Auditors. 

  • Develop and deliver effective and clear operational management arrangements to ensure that the Council’s statutory obligations and policy objectives are met.

  • Develop an effective commercial element and drive of the team to enable the service to provide a specialist audit service for other Local Authorities outside the shared service and/or tender for audit work in other public/voluntary sector organisations.

  • Attend and contribute to the strategic work and responsibilities of the Council’s Strategic Leadership Team as required. 

  • Deputise for the Head of Finance in the Vale of Glamorgan when necessary/appropriate, considering the need to maintain the independence of the role of Head of the Regional Internal Audit Service.

• Duties and Responsibilities

  Corporate Responsibilities and Objectives

  • Work in partnership with all Council services and other organisations to deliver common objectives in accordance with the Corporate Plan, Annual Delivery Plan, and Well being Strategy.

  • Contribute to the strategic management of the Directorate and promote and represent the work of the Council and partner agencies.

  • Work with and support Governance and Audit Committee Members, Cabinet and Scrutiny Members and all Elected Members in their Ward roles across the four Local Authorities.

  • Manage the Regional Internal Audit Service in order to achieve improved performance and encourage creativity and innovation in service delivery.

  • Manage services in line with each Council’s performance management framework, ensuring planning and monitoring of performance in order to achieve targets and objectives.

  • Plan, manage and control operational budgets, ensuring that services are provided cost effective and delivered within the resources available.

  • Remain aware of changes which could affect the Service, both nationally and locally, including legislation and policy changes.

  • Prepare strategic plans/reports as necessary and ensure that these are produced to a high standard in and accordance with corporate requirements.

  • Attend and contribute to meetings of Cabinet, Scrutiny Committee, Governance and Audit Committee and other Council meetings in each collaborating authority as necessary.

  • Comply with all corporate plan strategies, including the Human Resources Strategy, Workforce Plan, develop and deliver Service Plan in each collaborating authority and respective Team Plans.

   

  Operational Responsibilities

  • Lead the drive to deliver a successful Regional Internal Audit Service (RIAS) into a centre of excellence, co-ordinate with other Audit providers to ensure a consistent and coherent service model and ensure that it is effective and commands a high standard of respect both internally and externally.

  • Lead on client/customer relations at senior management level, ensuring productive and positive working, maintaining high visibility with clients/customers, offering sound guidance and advice to officers and members.

  • Determine audit needs for individual clients/customers, including in respect of ICT, Project Management, Contract, Procurement, Systems, Regularity, Counter Fraud and investigation audit work. Ensure the appropriate focus of coverage for each client/customer.

  • Lead on the development of a commercial element of the team to enable the service to provide a specialist audit service for other Local Authorities outside the shared service or to tender for audit work in other public sector/voluntary organisations.

  • Be responsible for the production of audit plans with audit areas prioritised according to risk.

  • Ensure compliance with the requirements of the Public Sector Internal Audit Standards or any other relevant standards that may be introduced from time to time.

  • Ensure that the RIAS is managed such that audit plan is achieved on time, to budget and to appropriate levels of quality standards.

  • Participate in multi-functional/multi-disciplinary projects and tasks.

  • Be responsible for ensuring that all allegations of fraud irregularities, fraud and corruption are promptly and fully investigated and to ensure appropriate liaison with the appropriate law enforcement authorities as necessary.

  • Be responsible for ensuring that Counter Fraud related polices are in place and kept up to date at the Vale of Glamorgan and other clients as agreed.

  • Establish, develop and maintain good working relationships with external auditors and other review agencies, so as to ensure optimum audit coverage and engagement with the audit process.

  • Be accountable for the continuous improvement of the Service, contributing to the Service Plan and Team Plans, identifying and implementing new ways of working in the interests of more effective provisions. Contribute to the achievement of Service objectives and performance targets.

  • Adopt best practice principles within the Service, including compliance with relevant legislation, Council Policies, processes and procedures and perform all audit work in accordance with the Public Sector Internal Audit Standards.

  • Provide support and guidance to Council Members, Service Managers and staff, to development and maintenance of effective financial management, corporate governance and internal control systems

Working at the Vale of Glamorgan Council

• About us
  In 2021 we published our Culture Book. This book was been designed as an alternative to an employee handbook, as a guide to ‘how we do things around here’ with a focus on the ethos of the organisation - our vision and values.

   

  It reminds us, and tells future employees, who we are, what we do, how we do it and why we do it. Our culture is defined through the contribution of every single one of us. It illustrates what it means to be an employee of the Council through shared values, beliefs, and behaviours. Sharing our stories in this book brings these things to life and gives us the opportunity to reflect on the way in which we are influenced by our four organisational values: Ambitious, Proud, Open, Together.

• About our vision

  Councils play a pivotal role in ensuring essential services reach every member of our society and our Corporate Plan sets out an ambitious agenda for the Vale of Glamorgan Council for until 2025.

   

  Our plan places great emphasis on collaboration and working in partnership. It is only by working together, listening and respecting each other that we can successfully meet the many challenges facing our communities and public services today. Our commitment to partnership working is wide ranging, including working with families, children and young people, our partners in health, the police and the fire service as well as other public sector bodies, the third sector, town and community councils and our communities.

   

  In delivering our plan and building on what we have already achieved we are confident we can successfully deliver the Council’s vision of - ‘Strong Communities with a Bright Future’.

• About the Vale of Glamorgan

  The Vale of Glamorgan is home to the most southerly point in Wales. It includes vibrant towns, rural villages, and is fringed by the spectacular Heritage Coast.

   

  Barry is a vibrant coastal town with a bustling High Street and the Goodsheds and Innovation Quarter - a shopping, eating and relaxing destination. Barry Island is famous for golden beaches, family amusements, and its colourful beach huts.

   

  Penarth sits opposite Cardiff Bay and is an elegant seaside town with a Victorian pier, Art Deco Pavilion, and modern Marina. Splendid parks link the coast to the traditional town centre with its independent shops and arcade.

   

  Cowbridge is considered one of Wales’ most fashionable places and features independent shops and cafés, historic buildings and a Physic Garden. Nearby are historic castles and the beautiful countryside beyond is home to award-winning food and drink producers.

   

  The historic market town of Llantwit Major is packed with interesting buildings and a fine collection of Celtic carved stones at St.Illtud’s Church. Nearby, 14 miles of unspoilt Glamorgan Heritage coastline offer cliff-top walks and beaches fit for rockpooling, surfing and sandcastles.

How to apply

For an informal conversation about this role please contact: 

Matt Bowmer - Head of Finance

• mbowmer@valeofglamorgan.gov.uk

Mark Thomas - Head of Regional Internal Audit Service (Current Post-holder)

• cmthomas@valeofglamorgan.gov.uk

You can apply for this role online:

Apply online