If you’re keen to take on greater responsibility and progress your audit career in an evolving environment, this is an exciting time to join The Children’s Society (2006/7 turnover £41M). We have restructured our Business Effectiveness and Audit function to support our work with children who face danger, discrimination or disadvantage.

Our audit team ensures compliance with statutory legislation, and helps ensure safe practice in our direct work with children and young people as well as seeing that internal controls and risk management are in place throughout the workplace.

You will be required to plan and carry out audits and and take ownership of findings, making informed recommendations and forming contingency plans, you’ll offer advice and guidance to the business, share ideas and bring any concerns to the attention of the Head of Audit.

Part CCAB or MIIA qualified, you’ll have sound knowledge of audit processes and risk assessment. A first-class communicator, you’ll be able to build trusting relationships with other members of the audit team and, indeed, across the business.

Hours for this role are 35 per week

Title:

Audit Officer

Location:

Edward Rudolf House, Margery Street, London  WC1X 0JL

Reward Band:

Finance Work (Specialist Staff C - FG)

CRB Level Required

Enhanced

Reporting to:

Head of Audit

Numbers of posts:

1 

Job purpose:

• At the direction of the Head of Audit to audit projects and operations, ensuring they are safe for children and young people and maintain exemplary standards.
• To work with the Head of Audit to enhance the capacity of The Children’s Society in becoming a learning organisation
  Key activities:
• To agree with the Head of Audit a schedule of announced and unannounced visits to operational locations
• To liaise with external inspectors and auditors in regard to the proceedings they carry out within their regions/areas of scrutiny .
• To liaise with appropriate operational line managers and other relevant managers in order to share learning from the auditing process and ensure exemplary practice and control compliance.
• To recommend to the Head of Audit policy developments that promote confidence in the organisation’s safe practice and stewardship
• To contribute to the development of audit and risk assessment systems that monitor and evaluate operations
• To provide verbal & written reports as required by the Head of Audit
• To work with the Head of Audit and other relevant staff in order to continuously improve the effectiveness of the quality assurance processes
• To advise immediately the Head of Audit and Assistant Director - Business Effectiveness and Audit of any concerns regarding the welfare and safety of children and young people arising from organisational operations
• To champion the organisation’s commitments to safe practice and diversity
  

Attainments:

In order to be considered for this post you will have to demonstrate that you already have:

Experience

• Extensive audit experience.
• Experience as a first line manager/supervisor of staff
• Experience of methodologies (e.g. audit, inspection) which promote organisational effectiveness

Qualifications

• Part CCAB qualified Skills
• Excellent communication skills, including interpersonal & written communication
• The ability to work co-operatively with internal groups/teams and external contacts
• IT skills in word processing, spreadsheets and email.
• The Children’s Society uses Microsoft Office applications

 
Core competencies:

In order to be successful in this role you will be able to demonstrate that you have the ability to:

• Present findings from audit activities that are logical, practical and take account of the views of others
• Express views and proposals persuasively, making recommendations that reflect sensitivity to other people’s wants and needs
• Take ownership of audit findings, following up action points and making contingency plans
• Formulate views on how to improve services and processes, using own experience and seeking the views of others
• Build collaborative relationships with others to establish a high level of trust

Other Competencies:

• Give clear direction, offering support and guidance, taking swift corrective action when required
• Identify and challenge where The Children’s Society values are not met
• Contribute to the budget planning process for audit with reference to the resources required to achieve plans

Special Job Circumstances:

This post has the following special circumstances:

• Travel across England, visiting regions, clusters of work, support services and fundraising activities.
• The Children’s Society covers the cost of work related travel.
• Anti social hours which arise from travel and the geographical spread of The Children’s Society’s work
• Attendance when required at external forums in order to ensure our external analysis audit is up to date and informed by key events and developments.

(Please note: if you have difficulty meeting these conditions because of a disability or family circumstances the appointing manager will discuss it with you in order to consider reasonable adjustments to the job or working conditions)

Relevant Personal Characteristics:

So that you personally can succeed in this role and in The Children’s Society you will require:

• An understanding and acceptance of the principles and values of the organisation
• At all times to carry out your responsibilities with due regard to the Children’s Society’s commitment to keeping children and young people safe.
• The ability to cope with demanding situations and tight deadlines
• Flexibility in your response to individuals and situations
• A commitment to diversity and equality in working relationships and practice.