Principal Internal Auditor - West Yorkshire Combined Authority

Kirklees Council are advertising this role on behalf of West Yorkshire Combined Authority.

Are you a dynamic audit professional? Then we’re looking for you to help lead our Internal Audit function here at the West Yorkshire Combined Authority.

The Organisation

This is a great opportunity to help shape the West Yorkshire Combined Authority at an exciting time as it becomes a Mayoral Combined Authority, following the agreement of a landmark £1.8bn devolution deal that will put us at the forefront of the Government’s Northern Powerhouse delivery agenda. 

Through devolution we will be working to drive up living standards through better transport, improved skills and stronger businesses, while tackling the climate emergency. This will include taking on responsibility for the £63 million Adult Education Budget (AEB) in August 2021.

The Combined Authority brings together district council partners, the business community via Leeds City Region Enterprise Partnership, and the Passenger Transport Executive (branded Metro). Overall, the Combined Authority covers a population of around 2.5 million people and represents one of the largest economies outside London. We have ambitious plans to unlock the vast potential of the region by building a strong, successful economy where everyone can build great businesses, careers and lives. 

The role

We have an opportunity for an exceptional person who wants to play a leading role in reshaping our region and supporting our teams in forging better futures for millions of people by ensuring we have effective and efficient systems of governance, risk and control to support the achievement of corporate objectives. 

As one of our two Principal Internal Auditor’s you will be working with the Head of Internal Audit to help shape and develop a small team carrying out audit assignments across the range of Combined Authority and Leeds City Region Enterprise Partnership (LEP) activities.

Your duties will include producing high quality information and reports to a range of stakeholders that will help to drive higher standards of governance, transparency and accountability. You will also be a source of expert advice/ consultancy on a wide range of projects and risk management arrangements.

The person

You will report to the Head of Internal Audit, deputising for them as necessary, and will also be accountable to the Governance and Audit Committee and therefore need to be a strategic thinker with a focus on providing both assurance and value for money work. 

You will have strong analytical, evaluation and communication skills and be a qualified CCAB accountant or CMIIA with significant practical experience in a similar role.

Extensive understanding of Public Sector Internal Auditing Standards and their application is required, as is a track record of working with other teams.

As this is a time of transformational change for the organisation knowledge of project management methodologies and quality management systems would also be an advantage.

You will help to develop the internal audit function to enable it to provide objective, high quality assurance, advice and opinion that improves internal control, risk management, corporate governance and counter-fraud arrangements.   

Our offer

Alongside a competitive salary, we offer an excellent benefits package including:

• 28 Days Holiday plus bank holidays
• Generous Employer-Contribution Pension Scheme,
• Free Travel on rail and buses with the M-Card,
• Flexible Working Practises with Health & Wellbeing initiatives to ensure you achieve the best work/life balance and career goals.

What next?

To submit your application form online please visit http://www.westyorks-ca.gov.uk/jobs/ by 23:55 09 July 2020. 

Further Information

If you would like an informal conversation about the role please contact Bronwyn Baker, Head of Internal Audit on 0113 251 7368.

For more information about the work of WYCA, please visit www.westyorks-ca.gov.uk

The Combined Authority’s aim is to attract people from diverse backgrounds to build on our inclusive culture. We welcome applications from everyone regardless of age, race, gender, religion or beliefs, disability, gender identity or sexual orientation.

Applicants with a disability are guaranteed an interview, subject to the minimum criteria being met.

We also offer an encouraging environment that will allow you to achieve your best work/life balance and career goals. We are committed to inclusivity and will consider requests for flexible working including part time and job share arrangements.

We are committed to inclusivity and will consider requests for flexible working including part time and job share arrangements.

Candidates will be notified of invitation to interview by e-mail and interviews will be carried out either by phone or video interview.

Please note that whilst it is our policy to recruit at SP1 for all appointments, each role includes career salary progression, with incremental increases applicable in most cases, on an annual basis. The annual pay award for the financial year 2020/21 is still pending and could result in a positive change to the salary brackets.

Given the high volumes of applications we receive we are unable to respond to every applicant, therefore if you have not heard from us within four weeks of the closing date, please assume that your application has not been successful on this occasion.

Candidate information will be retained by the Combined Authority for six months unless you make a request for this to be deleted.