Senior Internal Audit Manager - Science Capability and Animal Health (SCAH) Programme

This role is being offered on a fixed term basis for 2 years. As Head of Embedded Assurance for the SCAH Programme you will be responsible for leading a portfolio of assurance across the SCAH programme and will have a unique opportunity to build an audit function embedded in the heart of one of the Government's most significant and critical infrastructure projects. Defra is the UK government department responsible for safeguarding the UK's natural environment, supporting its world-leading food and farming industry, and sustaining a thriving rural economy. Its broad remit means it plays a major role in people's day-to-day life, from the food they eat, and the air they breathe, to the water they drink. The Science Capability in Animal Health (SCAH) programme is an ambitious, 10-15-year programme working towards safeguarding and future-proofing the UK's animal health science capability. The programme has recently secured significant funding towards transforming the Animal and Plant Health Agency's (APHA) Weybridge scientific campus. This is an exciting opportunity to work on a priority Defra programme on the Government's Major Projects Portfolio, of significant national importance. This role will reside within the GIAA PPM Specialism, reporting to the Deputy Director, Internal Audit Specialisms, but day-to-day you will be working to the SCAH SRO and the programme's governance structure to provide the assurance that this complex and ambitious programme needs. The work will be high profile and challenging and you will be expected to work independently and at pace whilst ensuring that customer service standards and expectations are met or exceeded. In this role you will design and lead an assurance plan and will also deliver audit reviews yourself. An ability to build good relationships with a variety of stakeholders at all levels whilst delivering efficient and robust assurance work is essential for the role. Candidate Qualifications Mandatory:

• You will have a relevant specialist PPM qualification (e.g., APM, PRINCE2); or
• You will be able to demonstrate extensive experience in delivering or providing assurance to projects and programmes, including infrastructure programmes.
Desirable Qualification/Experience: Not Essential
• In addition to the mandatory qualifications, candidates will benefit from holding an audit or accountancy qualification at Chartered level.
Responsibilities
• Develop and implement an approach to internal audit assurance for the SCAH programme, which reflects the priorities and risks of the programme and other sources of assurance.
• Engage effectively with senior stakeholders to support the identification and management of key risks and to promote effective governance, risk management, control and assurance arrangements.
• Deliver the overall assurance plan and individual reviews in line with quality, time and budget requirements to support robust assurance opinions and other agreed stakeholder requirements. Lead very high risk or complex audit and assurance assignments and manage external partners, as required, on individual assignments.
• Deliver robust, evidence-based, independent assurance opinions to the clients and programme governance bodies, in accordance with the agreed timetables.
• Lead continuous improvement activities to enhance audit practices, products and customer service. Translate the vision, culture and values of the GIAA into leadership behaviours and action.
• Work productively with colleagues in the Defra internal audit team and the GIAA PPM specialism, to ensure SCAH audits reflect the wider Defra context and GIAA PPM best practice in line with GIAA audit methodology.
• Develop strong relationships with the wider assurance community, including the Infrastructure and Projects Authority, Association of Project Management, and the National Audit Office, to leverage best practice and develop integrated assurance plans.
• Establish and embed means of sharing insights arising from PPM assurance and advisory work with GIAA colleagues and customers.
Person specification You will be required to write a statement of suitability of up to 1000 words setting out how your skills and experience meet the following criteria

1. Experience of delivery or assurance of change projects and programmes underpinned by a detailed understanding of the challenges and associated governance, risk and control requirements. 2. Experience in the key PPM disciplines including: planning; dependency management; stakeholder engagement; reporting; financial management; and benefits realisation. 3. Experience of delivery or assurance of projects or programmes underpinned by substantial infrastructure or construction. 4. Experience of developing and delivering a risk-based Internal Audit assurance and consultancy programme, including through others, with sound judgment in responding quickly to fast moving priorities across multiple customers. 5. Establishing relationships with and taking account of the work of other internal and external assurance providers to ensure maximum value and minimum overlap in providing assurance. 6. Demonstrate resilience and tact in the face of challenge from senior staff, including negotiation to overcome such situations. 7. Experience of managing individuals and teams, including demonstrable ability to inspire, coaching, challenging and develop future managers / leaders . 8. An excellent communicator, with ability to successfully adapt communication approach for different stakeholders and audiences. Further guidance on how to complete your statement can be found within the application form on Civil Service Jobs Proud member of the Disability Confident employer scheme Disability Confident About Disability Confident A Disability Confident employer will generally offer an interview to any applicant that declares they have a disability and meets the minimum criteria for the job as defined by the employer. It is important to note that in certain recruitment situations such as high-volume, seasonal and high-peak times, the employer may wish to limit the overall numbers of interviews offered to both disabled people and non-disabled people. For more details please go to Disability Confident.