About the job

Job summary

The Government People Group exists to work with departments, professions, and functions to build a modern, effective Civil Service. We support the government workforce with the right skills and capability. We are working with leaders to get the right people in the right jobs, with the right skills and continuous learning to excel in their roles. We provide leadership, and in turn, create leaders with exceptional line management capability across departments, influencing partners in the wider public sector and beyond. This involves getting our retention and reward strategy right, to nurture specific skills, and create pride and resilience in our workforce.

Our role is also to provide system leadership across central government in pulling together back office services. Collectively, we help support the Cabinet Office’s priority to drive efficiencies, and reforms that will make government work better, to ultimately provide a better service to the public.

Job description

The role holder will be based within the Service Delivery team which sits under the Shared Services Strategy Directorate within the Government People Group (GPG). The role of the Service Delivery team is to work with various Government departments and our outsourced Shared Service Provider (SSCL) to deliver ‘business as usual’ services, process improvements, audit and assurance and to support the wider Shared Service Strategy for Government through sharing knowledge and expertise.

SSCL delivers shared services to a number of key Government departments including Cabinet Office, Defra Group, Department for Work and Pensions, Home Office and Ministry of Justice. The Service Delivery team oversees the delivery of services by SSCL

in its role as Framework Authority, supporting 15 public sector organisations and more than 265,000 employees through the departmental contracts with SSCL. This is a gold-tier framework which departments spend millions of pounds on each year. 

The Audit & Assurance Lead Support role is an integral part of the ongoing management of the Shared Services Framework Agreement. This role requires extensive engagement and collaboration across a wide range of stakeholders from Grade 7 to Director level (and equivalents) including the SSCL Audit team and Functional Leads, Customer Department representatives, outsourced audit partners (including the Government Internal Audit Agency), the National Audit Office (NAO), and Internal Audit functions in Customer organisations. 

The role holder will support the Grade 7 Audit Lead in managing the Annual Audit & Assurance Programme on behalf of the Framework Authority including:

• Sourcing and analysing insights from across multiple data sources and stakeholders to support the annual audit planning and scoping process.
• Reviewing and challenging auditor outputs to ensure factual accuracy and quality.
• Obtaining audit progress updates and identifying and escalating any real/potential risks to timely delivery of the annual audit programme.
• Managing the monthly audit recommendation tracking process in conjunction with SSCL Audit through obtaining action owner updates and maintaining the joint action log.
• Reviewing evidence to support audit recommendation closure and subsequent follow-up activity.
• Supporting the cross-Government Audit & Assurance Sub-Committee through coordinating meetings, taking minutes and managing the action log.
• Maintaining internal documentation including audit trackers, process notes and guidance.
• Deputising for the Grade 7 including attending senior cross-Government Governance Boards and chairing the Audit & Assurance Sub-Committee where required.

The role holder will also support implementation of the Shared Services Strategy and transitioning to new operating models by mapping the existing (and planned) audit landscape within Departments and across the Clusters to understand the arrangements currently in place and to gain assurance over Shared Service activity. This will include determining:

• Processes for developing, managing and delivering Shared Services Audit plans and associated risks, currently and during the transition to the cluster operating model.
• Governance structures in overseeing, scrutinising and monitoring /  reporting audit activity.
• Deadlines and requirements for end-of-year audit activity (Letters of Assurance or other), including Accounting Officer responsibilities.
• Department specific audit requirements (if any).

The role holder will support the G7 in identifying gaps and opportunities for efficiency and standardisation in order to develop ways of working for Audit across the Clusters in line with the Shared Service Strategy and best practice.

Person specification

Ability to support the Framework Authority Audit and Assurance functional processes through:

• Using data, insight and service performance to develop audit requirements to provide assurance to cross-government Departments.
• Taking a risk-based approach to audit strategy and using stakeholder management and influencing to deliver effective audits.
• Engaging with the Shared Service Supplier (SSCL).
• The review and where appropriate challenge of audit reports prior to distributing.
• Engaging with the Shared Service Supplier to seek management comments and validate quality of response.
• Liaising with auditors to monitor progress against audit report Recommendations and Management Action Plans.
• Supporting the lead in drafting of the ‘Annual Letter of Assurance’ to Customer Chief Executives and/or Accounting Officers.
• Analysing outcomes to feed into continuous improvement activities/initiatives.
• Supporting the G7 Lead on ad hoc work to support the wider Shared Service Directorate and GPG priorities, and Framework Authority obligations.
• Managing and responding to audit queries and interactions on behalf of the Framework Authority.
• Delivering update reports and presentations to the Framework Authority Governance Boards as required.
• Managing audit recommendations through engagement with action owners and review of supporting evidence.

Skills and Experience (Essential/Desirable)

Essential:

• Knowledge and experience of internal audit including planning, managing and delivering audits within a complex environment to time and quality.
• Proven strong senior stakeholder management (internal and external) in a complex environment. Able to establish professional relationships with a range of stakeholders, influence and collaborate, using networking to feed into audit strategy.
• Knowledge and understanding of the Public Sector Internal Audit Standards.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Experience of effective risk management and continuous improvement.
• Ability to successfully manage a range of reporting tools and produce reports.
• A self-starter who works well independently with limited supervision.
• Ability to manage high workloads and competing deadlines.
• Comfortable working with a high degree of ambiguity and changing priorities.
• Strong interpersonal skills.
• Attention to detail.
• Commercial awareness.

Desirable:

• Basic understanding of Contract Management in order to be able to engage and challenge the Service Provider and departments as required.
• Hold or willing to work towards an Audit qualification such as Certified Internal Auditor (CIA) or Accounting qualification ICAEW, ACCA, CIPFA, ICAS, Chartered Accountants Ireland or CIMA.
• Member of an audit profession or equivalent.

• Additional information:

  A minimum 60% of your working time should be spent at your principal workplace. Although requirements to attend other locations for official business will also count towards this level of attendance.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £40,850, Cabinet Office contributes £11,030 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

Things you need to know

Selection process details

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours and Experience.

Application process

To apply for this post, you will need to complete the online application process which includes providing the following:

1. A CV outlining your previous experience, with key responsibilities and achievements. Please ensure you have provided reasons for any significant gaps within the last two years. You will add your information into a structured form rather than attaching a document.
2. A Statement of Suitability explaining how your skills and experience are relevant to the role. This should include examples showing how you have completed similar responsibilities and activities. You should focus on the essential criteria listed in the responsibilities section of the advert. The statement is limited to no more than 750 words.

 An initial sift of your CV and Personal Statement will be conducted against the Essential Criteria outlined in the job description.

Should a large number of applications be received, an initial sift may be undertaken using the CV.

Selection process
Candidates successful at the sift stage will be invited to interview. Interviews will be held virtually and more information will be provided once you progress to the interview stage. The success profiles to be assessed at the interview are listed in this advert.

Expected timeline (subject to change)
Expected sift date – TBC
Expected interview date/s – TBC
Interview location - Online.

A reserve list will be held for a period of 12 months, from which further appointments can be made.

Any move to the Cabinet Office from another employer will mean you can no longer access childcare vouchers. This includes moves between government departments. You may however be eligible for other government schemes, including Tax Free Childcare. Determine your eligibility at: https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk

If successful and transferring from another Government Department a criminal record check may be carried out.  

Reasonable adjustments
If a person with disabilities is put at a substantial disadvantage compared to a non-disabled person, we have a duty to make reasonable changes to our processes.

Contact Government Recruitment Service via cabinetofficerecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk as soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs. 

Complete the ‘Assistance required’ section in the ‘Additional requirements’ page of your application form to tell us what changes or help you might need further on in the recruitment process. For instance, you may need wheelchair access at interview, or if you’re deaf, a Language Service Professional.

In order to process applications without delay, we will be sending a Criminal Record Check to Disclosure Scotland on your behalf.

However, we recognise in exceptional circumstances some candidates will want to send their completed forms direct. If you will be doing this, please advise Government Recruitment Service of your intention by emailing Pre-EmploymentChecks.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk stating the job reference number in the subject heading. 

For further information on the Disclosure Scotland confidential checking service telephone: the Disclosure Scotland Helpline on 0870 609 6006 and ask to speak to the operations manager in confidence, or email Info@disclosurescotland.co.uk

Further information
If you are experiencing accessibility problems with any attachments on this advert, please contact the email address in the 'contact point for applicants' section.

New entrants are expected to join on the minimum of the pay band. 

Applicants who are successful at interview will be, as part of pre-employment screening, subject to a check on the Internal Fraud Database (IFD). This check will provide information about employees who have been dismissed for fraud or dishonesty offences. This check also applies to employees who resign or otherwise leave before being dismissed for fraud or dishonesty had their employment continued. Any applicant’s details held on the IFD will be refused employment. 

A candidate is not eligible to apply for a role within the Civil Service if the application is made within a 5 year period following a dismissal for carrying out internal fraud against government.

Please note that this role requires SC clearance, which would normally need 5 years’ UK residency in the past 5 years. This is not an absolute requirement, but supplementary checks may be needed where individuals have not lived in the UK for that period. This may mean your security clearance (and therefore your appointment) will take longer or, in some cases, not be possible.

For further information on National Security Vetting please visit the following page https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/demystifying-vetting 

Please note terms and conditions are attached. Please take time to read the document to determine how these may affect you.

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check. Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is security check (opens in a new window).

See our vetting charter (opens in a new window). People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Nationality requirements

This job is broadly open to the following groups:

• UK nationals
• nationals of the Republic of Ireland
• nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
• Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service

Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.

We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window). The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria. The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.