Lead Auditor Provider Audit Team

Salary: 68720 - 72004 plus London weighting 3566 (where appropriate)

Location: Bristolor London (with regular travel to Bristol)

Generous Civil Service defined benefit pension

About us

We are the independent regulator of higher education in England. We aim to ensure that every student whatever their background has a fulfilling experience of higher education that enriches their lives and careers.

Were proud of our people our culture and the benefits we offer. We care about supporting and developing our staff. At the OfS we want to create a welcoming and engaging working environment which is free from discrimination.

Were looking for skilled committed people who care about students and their experience of higher education. Join us and youll be part of an energetic forward-looking organisation with high ambitions and big opportunities for our people.

About the role

The Lead Auditor role is based in the Provider Audit Team which delivers an assurance programme aimed at ensuring risks are anticipated and addressed including risks relating to provider data and other key operational processes. The OfSs regulatory approach utilises data obtained from higher education providers so it is important data is fit for this purpose.

You will work alongside the Head of Provider Audit to develop and deliver an annual programme of work. You will deputise as required as line and activity manager for the Provider Audit Team and will coach and support team members ensuring they perform to a high standard.

You will be responsible for overseeing audits and reviews of data accuracy and to explore how key processes impacting on students are designed and implemented contributing to the OfSs approach to regulating providers compliance with our regulatory expectations. You will be responsible for leading on the more complex audits undertaken by the team. Youll work closely with staff at providers and will report findings both to the providers and to colleagues at the OfS.

The role involves regular travel to providers across England including overnight stays.

About you

Youll have worked in internal audit as a manager overseeing the delivery of audits and developing effective approaches to audit. Other similar roles managing assessments of the effectiveness of systems and processes or compliance may also demonstrate appropriate be experienced in assessing risks and designing innovative approaches to testing these and to changing your approach when necessary to ensure you can reach a robust audit opinion.

Essential experience required for the role:

• Experience in designing managing and conducting exercises to test compliance and/or the effectiveness of systems and processes such as internal audits similar assurance work or investigations.
• Excellent numerical and data literacy skills. Experience of working with data and an ability to understand new data definitions.
• A proven ability to communicate complex technical issues both verbally and in writing. Experience in reporting findings from audits or similar exercises and effectively tailoring communications to different audiences.
• Experience of planning the work of a team including responding to emerging and changing priorities.
• Experience of working with a range of stakeholders and managing potential conflict while maintaining effective working relationships.
• Line management experience and experience in coaching staff.

Desirable experience:

• An understanding of regulation and/or the higher education sector.
• Experience of contributing towards investigations or similar activities.

Application process

There are 4 online application questions to complete alongside providing a copy of your CV.

Reasonable adjustment

We are committed to ensuring our recruitment process is accessible to everyone. If you require any reasonable adjustments to support you through the application stage please contact us at and we will be happy to help.

Working for us

The OfS regulates the higher education sector on behalf of all students. We value diversity and the wealth of perspectives experience and ideas that it brings to our work and we strive to embed equality of opportunity in everything we do.

We recruit based on fair and open competition and welcome applications from candidates regardless of age disability race and ethnicity gender reassignment marriage and civil partnership pregnancy and maternity religion or belief sex or sexual orientation.

Flexibility is important to the OfS as we recognise that it can enable people to work more effectively. A set of organisation-wide principles shape our approach to flexible and hybrid working which our teams then use as guidance on how they deliver their business goals. This would usually mean working from the office for two or three days in a typical week.

To attract the widest possible field of qualified applicants flexible working for example job share and part time working (with a minimum 0.8 FTE) apply to this role.

Closing date for applications: Monday 26 January at noon

Interviews: from week commencing Monday 9 February

As part of the interview process candidates will be asked to prepare and give a short presentation.

For information: the OfS does not hold a UK Visa & Immigration (UKVI) Skilled Worker Sponsor Licence.