Senior Auditor (Fraud and Investigations) - Audit Services

Human Resources & Development - Form 35a Version 16 - Issued February 2025 JOB DESCRIPTION AND PARTICULARS OF APPOINTMENT ▪ Job Title: Senior Auditor - Fraud and Investigations ▪ Post Number: P10621 ▪ Grade and SCP: Band 12 (SCP 34 to 38) ▪ Directorate: Resources Where your role fits at Shropshire Council As Shropshire Council we are rightly proud of our achievements and we have proven to be a resilient local authority in our response to the many challenges we overcome, particularly over recent years. We will be continuing this momentum with ambition and a focus on delivering our four key priorities outlined within the Shropshire Plan: Healthy People, Healthy Environment, Health Economy and Healthy Organisation. We are committed to achieving this by aligning everything we do to our vision 'Shropshire - living the best life'; to tell everyone that Shropshire Council is a great place to be. We will enable a skilled, happy, healthy, diverse, inclusive, empowered, and proud workforce that influences and leads change, addressing any inequalities. As a member of the Internal Audit Team within (Resources), you will support the achievement of these key priorities, making a real difference to the lives of people in Shropshire. Internal Audit Services provides an Internal Audit Service for the Council and external clients, ensuring probity, regularity and efficiency in all our clients financial and managerial affairs. The service also provides consultancy and assurance support to its colleagues both within the Council and its delivery bodies as the business is transformed. Internal Audit plays a vital part in advising the Executive Management Team and senior management in their establishment and maintenance of appropriate risk management processes, control systems, accounting records and governance arrangements. In addition, Internal Audit review, appraise and report on the proper efficiency, effectiveness and economy of these arrangements. Overview of your role You will be responsible for carrying out a range of duties within the agreed programme of work for Audit Services. You will be responsible to the Internal Audit Management team dependent on the nature of the work undertaken and will cover the whole spectrum of audit duties, taking the lead Internal Audit Role (supporting the Internal Audit Manager) in delivery of the Counter Fraud, Bribery and Anti-Corruption Strategy. Under the guidance of the Internal Audit Management team, you will deputise for them and take a lead on large audit projects, as deemed appropriate. Who will your manager be and what will you be responsible for? You will be: ▪ Reporting to the Internal Audit Manager who is in turn responsible for your health and safety, training and development. ▪ Expected to lead and/or contribute to a range of audit engagements and build relations with both internal and external partners in order achieve specified outcomes, but will not have direct authority over those involved. ▪ Deputise under the guidance of the Internal Audit Manager and take a lead on a number of key major projects including delivery of services at Audit Committees. ▪ Expected to lead and/or contribute to a range of projects and build relations with both internal and external partners in order achieve specified outcomes but will not have direct authority over those involved. ▪ Responsible for preparing responses in line with Shropshire Council's corporate processes and national/regulatory/statutory processes (e.g. complaints, MP enquiries, Information Governance requests, customer enquiries, media enquiries, HR staff investigations etc..). These responses should be in line with the quality and timescale expectations set out within Shropshire Council's published procedures and/or case allocation emails and discussions. ▪ Responsible for completing within expected timescales all mandatory corporate and role specific training. Training requirements will be detailed in your corporate induction and Personal Development Plan (PDP). Courses are accessed via the council Learning Management System via the Intranet. What will you be doing? ▪ Deputise and support the Principal Auditor / Internal Audit Manager, as appropriate, at programme and project groups for major initiatives; and at some Audit Committees and member led events, such as training. ▪ Take the lead Internal Audit Role (supporting the Internal Audit Manager) in delivery of the Counter Fraud, Bribery and Anti-Corruption Strategy. ▪ Undertaking investigation of frauds and irregularities allocated by the Head of Policy and Governance and Internal Audit Manager. ▪ Helping to provide a comprehensive internal audit service to the Council and our external clients. ▪ Making a significant contribution to the improvement of the Council's financial, managerial, risk, governance and control systems in all areas. ▪ Maintaining standards of audit preparation, recording and reporting consistent with the appropriate professional standards. ▪ Undertaking and assisting the Internal Audit Manager and Principal Auditor in the implementation of the audit plan. Implementing that part of the audit plan directly allocated. ▪ ▪ Undertaking key projects in and helping to contribute to the wider risk management, control and corporate governance agenda as required. ▪ Carrying out systems and establishment/regularity audits of the services allocated. ▪ Complying with the Internal Audit Manual and the Global Internal Audit Standards (GIAS as applied in the UK public sector) when undertaking audit work. ▪ Preparing working papers and documenting evidence to support findings, conclusions and recommendations. ▪ Continually appraising and helping to develop improved standards in respect of the Quality Audit Improvement Programme. ▪ The completion of audit assignments within the agreed target time and day allocations. ▪ Working as part of a team or working individually. Mentor and review the work of auditors as allocated. ▪ Providing advice on risk controls and sound financial practice. ▪ Participating in project teams or working groups as directed or on behalf of the Principal Auditor / Internal Audit Manager. ▪ Being familiar with the legal and financial framework in the areas in which you are involved and to keep up to date with current developments in those areas. Provide advice and support to colleagues in the interpretation of these. ▪ Have a sound working knowledge of Contract and Financial Rules and provide practical advice and support in their application. ▪ Keeping up to date with current developments in internal audit and in Local Government finance in general. ▪ Participating fully in the training programme for the team and keeping abreast of developments in the field of information technology. The above duties are an illustrative outline and are not an exhaustive list. You will be expected to become involved in a range of work to enable the service to respond effectively to the changing requirements of the Council and changes affecting the workforce. What we expect of you You will: ▪ adopt a customer focused approach when delivering your service, ensuring engagement with service users and maintenance of an appropriate personal profile, ▪ act as an advocate for your service and work collaboratively with colleagues across the whole Council to meet the needs of the people of Shropshire, ▪ meet individual, service and personal development targets agreed through the Personal Development Review Process, learn from experience and are committed to continuous improvement individually and as an employee of the Council, ▪ work with colleagues to meet your team's key performance indicators, support a culture of team working and ensure the team functions successfully in support of the Council's corporate and service objectives. ▪ meet the behaviours and competencies adopted by the Council in the way in which they achieve their objectives and carry out their work. ▪ A priority for the Council is the protection of vulnerable people, ensuring they are able to live as independently as possible. The post-holder will promote and engage with Council's responsibility to safeguard the welfare of children, young people and adults, and protect their right to be safe from harm. ▪ Expected to undertake all relevant training requirements specifically to the role including formal Hearing / Investigating Officer training relating to Disciplinary / Grievance policies and procedures. What are your conditions of Service The conditions of service are those laid down by Shropshire Council, which have been adopted and amended as necessary from those laid down by the National Joint Council for Local Government Services. Your primary work base will be at Guildhall Shrewsbury with the requirement to regularly work from home. Your post is subject to the following: ▪ The post is permanent, for 37 hours per week, ▪ Normal office hours are 9:00am to 5:00pm Monday - Friday with a minimum lunch break of 30 minutes. Occasional flexibility outside office hours is required. ▪ The post is subject to the Council's annualised hours scheme as implemented within the specific work area. This post carries eligibility to join the Local Government Pension Scheme. Information about this will be sent with any formal offer of appointment. Annual leave entitlement is a pro rata flat rate scheme of 207 hours (28 days) annual leave plus bank holidays, with five days extra awarded to those staff with five years local government service giving an entitlement of 244 hours (33 days). Two days of an employee's allowance (pro rota for part time staff) must be taken at Christmas for any potential Christmas closures. Employees who work in a building/service which is required to open over the Christmas period, the two days leave (pro rota) can be ...