Service Manager - Audit & Risk Management Services

All of our job vacancies are advertised at www.fife.gov.uk/jobs

Interview Date: Thursday 26 August 2021

Supporting Statement

As part of your application, you must provide us with a Supporting Statement which outlines to us how your skills and experience make you a good candidate for this vacancy. For more information, check out the How to Apply section of our Career Site. Without a Supporting Statement, your application will not be progressed. Please upload your Supporting Statement at the section marked ‘upload resumé’. Your Supporting Statement must not be a CV.

For this opportunity, your Supporting Statement should specifically tell us about your experience of leadership of a corporate governance function, building effective working relationships with multiple stakeholders, and shaping and driving best practice across a diverse organisation. We recommend that you refer to the Role Profile and our How We Work Matters behaviours.

Job Details

Reporting to the Head of Finance, the Service Manager, Audit & Risk Management Services, is a key position in the provision of professional advice and support to senior management and Elected Members on audit, risk, insurance, fraud and corporate governance. The remit covers internal control and governance arrangements relating to Fife Council, the Fife Council Pension Fund, and the integrated joint board of the NHS Fife/Fife Council Health & Social Care Partnership. Leading a team of around 20 staff, you will shape, plan and drive delivery of the audit and risk management function, ensuring co-ordination of strategies, plans and reporting that evidence performance, controls and governance and influences improvements to service delivery.

Key areas of work include:

• Shaping, leading and driving delivery of an audit, risk management and insurance function, developing strategies, action plans and monitoring and reporting arrangements.
• Providing an objective and evidence-based assessment and independent opinion on internal control and governance arrangements for Fife Council, the Fife Council Pension Fund, and the integrated joint board of the NHS Fife/Fife Council Health & Social Care Partnership.
• Engaging with managers, the Council Executive Team, Elected Members and other stakeholders to provide clear and focused advice, guidance and support for governance, including the Annual Assurance Statement, and ensuring compliance with all appropriate legislation and requirements such as the Public Sector Internal Audit Standards (PSIAS). Ensure the Council discharges its statutory functions.
• Promoting and raising the standard of an anti-fraud and anti-corruption culture, ensuring the provision of a professional and effective Corporate Fraud and Continuous Auditing function and contribute to a corporate response to serious organised crime risks.
• Leading, managing and developing employees within the Audit and Risk Management function by promoting an open, supportive and positive culture which supports team working, healthy challenge and innovation across professional boundaries.

A link to the Role Profile is provided at the bottom of this advert. It provides more detail about the key activities of the role.

This is a permanent, full time position. The grade is CO29, £79,541 per annum. The Service is based in Fife House, Glenrothes, providing support to managers across Fife, but working at home arrangements are currently in place. We are reviewing our Future Workstyles to take account of new ways of working.

This post is regarded as a Politically Restricted Post under sections 2(3)(a) & (b) of the Local Government and Housing Act 1989.

The post requires a Standard Disclosure from Disclosure Scotland.

The Person

You must have experience of managing an audit or risk management function for an organisation of comparable scope and complexity, with a record of success in translating strategies and emerging issues into assurance maps, audit needs assessment and audit plans. You must be CCAB/IIA qualified.

In addition, you must be able to demonstrate:

• The ability to think and act strategically, bringing a clear sense of shared purpose, leadership, creativity and innovation.
• The ability to manage a broad portfolio, lead a diverse team, drive change, and rise to challenges.
• The ability to work proactively and collaboratively across Services and partners, building effective working relationships and knowledge sharing to ensure understanding on key issues, limitations and opportunities.
• The ability to exercise sound professional judgement, assess risks, identify opportunities, influence, persuade and secure the confidence of senior stakeholders, and act to protect the integrity of the Council in its decision making, standards and governance.
• An understanding and appreciation of the role of Elected Members in local government decision-making and scrutiny.

You can find more information on the essential and desirable skills in the Role Profile.

Further Information

Role Profile: Role Profile Audit and Risk Services Manager (fife.gov.uk)

How We Work Matters: Our leaders are expected to promote and display certain behaviours in the performance of their role. Please see our How We Work Matters behaviour framework for more information. OD12 How We Work Matters Framework.doc (fife.gov.uk)

Key Documents:

• Council Structure - Council departments | Fife Council
• Plan For Fife - Plan-for-Fife-2017-2027.pdf
• Audit Scotland Best Value Assurance Report 2018 - Best Value Assurance Report: Fife Council | Audit Scotland (audit-scotland.gov.uk)
• Fife Council Budget Brief 2020 – 2023 - Budget-Brief-2020-2023.pdf (fife.gov.uk)
• Fife Council Elected Members and Committees - Politicians and committees | Fife Council

Selection Process: Those shortlisted will be invited to complete online Executive and Psychometric testing and will be invited for panel interview with the Head of Finance, the Executive Director, Finance & Corporate Services, and a representative of the HR Service. Delivery of a presentation to that panel will be required.

Interviews will take place in person, with COVID safe arrangements in place. We will require educational certificates and evidence of right to work in the UK to be presented at the Officer interview.

Key Terms and Conditions for Chief Officers: An attractive package of terms and conditions includes four-weekly pay periods, access to the Local Government Pension Scheme, 8 public holidays each leave year and 24 days personal holiday each year, increasing to 29 days personal holiday after 5 years’ continuous local government service.

Employee Benefits: Fife Council employees have access to a benefits package that offers discounts on a wide range of products and services.

Social Media: Search for more Fife Council jobs on Facebook or follow us on Twitter @FCJobsOfficial

For an informal discussion on this opportunity contact Elaine Muir, Head of Finance, by email at elaine.muir@fife.gov.uk