Strategic Audit and Assurance Business Partner

Overview

Help us redesign how Buckinghamshire Council understands risk, gains assurance and delivers good governance.

The Business Assurance team are looking for a Strategic Audit & Assurance Business Partner. 

We're looking for an ambitious and forward-thinking assurance leader to help design and embed a new approach to integrated assurance across the Council. This is a rare opportunity to influence how one of the country's largest unitary authorities understands risk, gains assurance and makes strategic decisions.

As a key pillar of good governance, assurance sits at the heart of the Council's ability to deliver for residents. In this role, you'll help reimagine how assurance, risk and insight come together to support better decision-making, stronger governance and successful delivery of our priorities.

You'll be joining at a pivotal moment for the Business Assurance function as we build a more integrated, insight-led and strategically focused service. With investment in specialist capabilities and a strong ambition to provide greater insight and foresight, you'll help shape how assurance adds value across the organisation.

Salary of up to £78,453 per annum dependant on experience.

This role is offered initially as a 9-month fixed-term contract or secondment opportunity. We anticipate extending this to 12 months, with the potential for a permanent appointment as our Business Assurance integration programme develops.

About us

Buckinghamshire Council is a Proud, Ambitious, Collaborative and Trustworthy organisation with a strong commitment to innovation and continuous improvement.

This is an opportunity to help shape the future of Business Assurance in a large, complex and high-profile organisation. You'll have the chance to influence at the highest levels, work on issues that matter to our residents and communities, and help create a modern, integrated assurance function that delivers real organisational value.

 

About the role

This is a rare opportunity for an experienced assurance leader to step into a Deputy Chief Auditor role. As our Strategic Audit & Assurance Business Partner (Deputy Chief Auditor) you will provide leadership across Internal Audit, Risk Management and Integrated Assurance, helping shape the future of Business Assurance at Buckinghamshire Council.

Acting as a trusted adviser to senior leaders and Members, and a key link between the Business Assurance Management Team and the Head of Business Assurance (Chief Auditor), you will help redefine how assurance supports strategic decision-making across the Council. Leading the development and implementation of the Integrated Assurance Framework, you will bring together risk, control and assurance activities to provide clearer insight, stronger governance and better-informed decision-making, while helping to build a positive assurance culture across the organisation.

What you'll be doing

• Leading the design and implementation of our Integrated Assurance Framework and helping shape the future direction of Internal Audit, Risk Management and Business Assurance across the Council.
• Providing leadership across the Council's Internal Audit, Risk and Assurance activities, ensuring they work together to deliver insight, challenge and organisational value.
• Supporting the design and implementation of a fresh approach to integrated assurance, assurance mapping and strategic risk management.
• Providing trusted advice and constructive challenge to senior leaders and Members.
• Supporting the Corporate Management Team, Members and governance boards with insight on risks, assurance coverage and audit performance.
• Delivering insightful, risk-based audit and assurance work that drives improvement.
• Developing integrated assurance reporting that helps leaders understand risks, assurance gaps and emerging trends.
• Championing innovation, continuous improvement and new approaches to assurance.
• Deputising for the Chief Auditor and Head of Business Assurance at senior leadership and governance forums.

About you

We're looking for a strategic thinker and experienced audit and assurance professional who can influence at senior levels and thrive in a complex environment.

You'll bring:

• Significant experience in audit, assurance, governance and risk management.
• A strong understanding of integrated assurance and risk-based decision-making.
• The ability to build trusted relationships and influence across the organisation.
• Excellent communication skills and the confidence to work with senior leaders and elected Members.
• Experience of influencing senior leaders and operating confidently in complex and politically sensitive environments.
• The ability to translate complex assurance, governance and risk information into clear strategic insight.
• A track record of leading improvement, innovation and change programmes.
• A relevant professional qualification (e.g. CIPFA, CCAB, IIA) or equivalent experience.
• A commitment to our organisational values: Proud, Ambitious, Collaborative and Trustworthy.

A full driving licence is required.

Please refer to the job summary attached for full details about the role.

Other information

If you would like to have an informal conversation with the recruiting manager, please contact: Russell Heppleston ([email protected])

Any-Desk: As an ‘any-desk’ worker, you’ll need to be connected to our network to access digital folders and resources, but this can either be from home or an office location when required. You will be required to work from the office a couple of times a week. This is especially important as we bring the Business Assurance functions together and design our ways of working.

This post is covered by the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and therefore applicants are required to declare:

• All unspent cautions and/or unspent convictions

For further information on how long it takes for cautions and convictions cautions to become spent, please refer to our guide on the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (updated 2023) | Nacro

We reserve the right to close the vacancy once we have received sufficient applications, so please be advised to submit your application as early as possible.

We understand that candidates may use AI tools to assist with their applications. While we welcome innovation, we expect all submissions to reflect your own experience, skills, and achievements accurately. Please ensure your application is truthful and demonstrates your personal capabilities, as this will be assessed during the selection process.

Buckinghamshire Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and adults at risk.

Our values and culture

We have a set of values, which our employees have chosen, that represent what we are – Proud, Ambitious, Collaborative and Trustworthy.

By joining Buckinghamshire Council, you can expect:

a fair and inclusive culture

• the chance to really make a difference to those around you
• health and well-being initiatives including an Employee Assistance Programme, Mental Health First Aiders and mindfulness workshops
• a unified voice through our Employee Representative Group
• ongoing support, and the opportunity to develop and progress in your career with us
• opportunities to take part in fun activities such as fundraising and social events

At Buckinghamshire Council, we know that our biggest strength comes from the people that work for us, and that’s why we’re working hard to ensure we continue to be an accessible and inclusive organisation.

From dedicated staff networks overseen by our Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Steering Group, to proudly standing as a Disability Confident employer, it’s important to us that all our colleagues feel engaged, listened to, and valued. Our offer of flexible working empowers a productive and happy workforce and allows employees to combine work with other responsibilities and commitments.

We believe our workforce should reflect the diverse communities we service in Buckinghamshire, and are looking for like-minded individuals to join us in promoting equality, fairness, and inclusion for everyone.

About the Business Unit

The Assistant Chief Executive directorate is central to Buckinghamshire Council’s journey to establish itself as one of the best councils in the country. With a clear focus on service improvement through transformation and a drive to build better relationships with the local community, the directorate is fast-paced; but extremely rewarding. Our teams are not only proactively delivering on projects and plans but also reacting to developing situations. If you are ambitious, innovative, and would relish the opportunity to influence change - a role within our service area could be your next career move.

The team includes exciting areas of work, including our Policy and Communications, Legal and Democratic Services teams – innovating the way we communicate with our colleagues, Members and the local community, and role-modelling best practice through policy, planning and legal services. If you think you can help us achieve our goals, and want to be a part of this exciting journey, we would love to hear from you!

We recognise and reward you

Hard work and success deserves recognition. That’s why we pride ourselves on the benefits we give our people. We actively encourage a good work-life balance and promote flexible and agile working arrangements. We provide discounts on various Cafés, restaurants, shops and auto enrolment onto our generous Pension Scheme. In addition to the opportunity to gain membership to Costco, we have discounted gym memberships, travel discounts with Arriva and much more.

https://jobs.buckinghamshire.gov.uk/working-buckinghamshire-council/