Senior Audit and Assurance Specialist

As an organisation we recognise the value of a healthy work-life balance. When applying, speak to us about how we might be able to accommodate flexible working, so your work life fits around your home life.

We particularly welcome applications from Black, Asian and minority ethnic candidates as they are under-represented within the Trust.

Click on this link to find out about our values https://www.uhbw.nhs.uk/p/about-us/our-trust-values

Job overview

As organisations look for audit and assurance services to provide added value through the use of audit and assurance specialists, the purpose of this role is primarily to undertake audit work and prepare audit reports in line with internal audit’s statutory responsibility to independently and objectively review, evaluate and report on the adequacy of clients’ systems of internal control.

The post holder will support the Senior Audit and Assurance Manager in the delivery of the internal audit service to organisations within ASW Assurance by:

• Performing a large range of audit assignments of a complex/ad-hoc and non-financial nature in addition to a broad range of routine financial, governance and operational audit assignments in line with Public Sector Internal Audit Standards and the ASW Assurance Audit Manual, to agreed timescales. This may be based upon an overall generic supervisory and support role or acting as a Consortium expert lead for a defined specialist area.
• Responding to a broad range of requests for advice and assistance and queries from clients including sensitive, confidential and complex issues from all levels of client staff.
• Taking extensive responsibility for the operational audit management of substantial allocated elements of client audit plans in support of the Senior Audit and Assurance Manager’s overall responsibility to deliver all client operational audit plans.

• Contribute to the delivery of ASW Assurance’s Business Plan.
• Ensure the delivery of client operational internal audit plans.
• Ensure assignments, including those where the post holder is supervising junior staff and/or where post holder has responsibility for substantial elements of the operational audit plans, conform to the expectations of the quality standards and professional expectations (e.g. duty of care, independence etc.) as stated in the Public Internal Audit Standards, ASW Assurance Audit Manual and NHS Managers Code of Conduct.
• Ensure that assignments, including those where the post holder is supervising junior staff and/or where post holder has responsibility for substantial elements of the operational audit plans, are completed within timescales as stated in the operational audit plan of the client/agreed with the Senior Audit and Assurance Manager.
• Achieve personal and business-related objectives and targets set as part of the annual appraisal process and documented in the agreed personal development plan.
• Undertake any training required in order to maintain competency, including mandatory training.
• Ensure an understanding of the client’s business activities is maintained and to keep abreast of current issues within the NHS and internal audit profession.
• Contribute to and work within a safe working environment.

Working for our organisation

University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust (UHBW) is one of the largest acute Trusts in the country, bringing together a combined workforce of over 13,000 staff and over 100 different clinical services across 10 different sites, serving a core population of more than 500,000 people across South West England.

Anonymous information will be used from your application in order to ensure we’re meeting our pledge.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

For a more detailed job description and main responsibilities, please refer to the job description document attached to this vacancy.

Person specification

Qualifications and Training

• Minimum of 5 GCSE to include English Language at Grade C or above

• Full CCAB/IIA membership or equivalent

Knowledge and Experience

• Detailed, demonstrable and expert specialist knowledge of the NHS and /or the business sector such that post holder is able to act as ASW Assurance lead for this e.g. clinical governance, risk management, commissioning environment, contract/procurement audit
• Significant audit experience covering a wide range of financial and operational audit areas.
• Significant experience in governance, risk management and assurance matters

• Knowledge and strategic understanding of the NHS organisational structure and client organisations
• Previous experience in NHS finance/administration
• A full understanding of professional audit standards e.g. the Public Sector Internal Audit Standards

Skills and Abilities

• Inputting and manipulation of various data both financial and non-financial into a range of IT packages, where speed and accuracy are necessary
• Ability to use PCs and work with spreadsheets and word processing software
• Valid and current driving licence and reliable access to car as frequent requirement to travel to a range of sites relating to agreed workplans. This may include travel to sites throughout Devon, Cornwall and Avon. Where the agreed workplans include nationally based clients, there may be a requirement for national travel
• Flexible office / home based. The post holder will be required to work in a range of environments, occasionally challenging and of a less than conducive nature for fulfilment of the job requirements.

• As an equal opportunities employer actively working towards a diverse workforce we aim to recruit and retain a workforce which represents the rich diversity of the local population at all levels and are committed to designing our services around the needs of individual patients and those around them. Anonymous information will be used from your application to ensure we’re meeting our pledge.
• The Trust is committed to investing in and caring for all our staff. We will support you in maintaining and improving your health and wellbeing, as well as your career development through management and training support - developing exceptional people for exceptional careers.
• UHBW is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people, and vulnerable adults.
• To comply with Part 7 of the Immigration Act 2016 all applicants must be able to speak fluent English to an appropriate standard which will be assessed at Interview.
• If you require sponsorship for a visa to work in the UK, to avoid disappointment, please check to ensure you are eligible under the UKVI points based system.
• The Trust uses electronic new starter forms on Trac to collect personal details. Information collected is securely stored and used to set up the employee record on the ESR HR system.
• By applying for this post, you are agreeing to University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust transferring the information contained in this application to its preferred applicant management system. If you are offered a job, information will also be transferred into the national NHS Electronic Staff Records system.
• Please be aware of scams – unless specified above, we will only communicate with you via @recruit.trac.jobs or nhs.net e-mails and we will never ask you for any payments.

IMPORTANT:

Please note that if you apply for a position with this Trust, you may be contacted via Trac or via email. This includes invites for job interviews. We therefore recommend that you regularly check your Trac account and email accounts. We may also contact you by texting the mobile number, if provided, on the application form.

Due to the high number of applications that are received for some posts we may close this vacancy before the advertised closing date. Therefore, please apply for this post as soon as you can, if you are interested and you meet the requirements of the Person Specification

Only those candidates who clearly demonstrate how they meet the person specification will be shortlisted for this job.

As a guide interviews should usually take place within 3 weeks of the closing date.

When providing employment reference details, please provide correct work-related email addresses so references can be sought promptly when we are looking to progress your application. Your referee must all be known to you in a line manager or professional lead capacity.