Assistant Auditor

Coventry City Council; Royal Leamington Spa; On-site; GBP 26,000 - 38,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Guaranteed Interview Scheme

Accessibility support

Job summary

Coventry City Council invites applications for a role in its Internal Audit Service. You will join a small, adaptable team responsible for independent assurance across the Council’s operations, supporting governance, risk management and internal control improvement.

The role offers a structured development pathway, combining practical experience and professional training, with progression toward senior audit responsibilities and qualifications.

Qualifications

• Degree-level (or equivalent) with strong analytical capability.
• Willingness to engage in professional qualifications.
• Excellent written and verbal communication across stakeholders.
• Organisational skills with ability to manage competing priorities.

Responsibilities

• Provide independent assurance and insight to improve Council operations.
• Evaluate governance, risk management and internal control processes.
• Support the Audit and Procurement Committee with findings and recommendations.
• Contribute to audit reviews and build long-term capability within the team.

Skills

Analytical thinking

Problem-solving

Attention to detail

Communication skills

Education

Bachelor's degree or equivalent

Job description

In line with our One Coventry Values, we want to ensure that our communities are represented across our workforce. A vital part of this is ensuring we are a truly inclusive organisation that encourages diversity in all respects, including diversity of thinking. We particularly welcome applicants from minority ethnic, LGBT+, disabled and neurodiverse communities to make a real difference to our residents so that equity and respect remains at the heart of everything we do.

Our Values are:

• Open and fair: We are fair, open, and transparent.
• Nurture and develop: We help and encourage everyone to be their best and do their best.
• Engage and empower: We talk and listen to others, working together as one.
• Create and innovate: We embrace new ways of working to continuously improve.
• Own and be accountable: We work together to deliver the best services for our residents.
• Value and respect: We put diversity and inclusion at the heart of all we do.

We value diverse perspectives and experiences and are striving to create a workplace culture that is inclusive, is accepting of all and is free from discrimination and bias.

Coventry City Council’s Internal Audit Service are a small, self‑motivated and adaptable Team responsible for providing independent assurance that the Council’s risk management, governance and internal control processes are operating effectively. We report the outcomes of our work to the Council’s Audit and Procurement Committee.

We carry out audit work across all of the Council’s services, and the remit of our work ranges from operational and corporate risks to audits of key financial systems and local authority schools. Its fair to say that our work is varied and supports the achievements of all the Council’s objectives outlined in the Council Plan, giving management insight and advice around what’s working well and highlighting areas for improvement.

Internal Audit are also responsible for the Council’s Fraud and Corruption Strategy, leading on the Council’s participation in the National Fraud Initiative run by the Cabinet Office, undertaking corporate fraud investigations and helping services to manage the risk of fraud through the internal control framework.

Our quality improvement programme means that we are constantly looking at ways in which we can improve both what we do and how we do it, including extending our use of data analytics and exploring ways to adopt agile auditing.

Protecting the public purse is at the heart of everything we do to ensure Council funds are spend effectively and efficiently to deliver services to the citizens of Coventry

What is the job role?

The Internal Audit Team at Coventry is responsible for providing independent assurance and insight in order to add value and improve the Council’s operations. We evaluate governance, risk management and the internal control environment to help services achieve their objectives efficiently and effectively.

This is an exciting opportunity to join a team and build a long term career in Internal Audit. The role offers a structured development pathway, combining practical experience, professional training and support. You will initially work alongside experienced auditors, developing your understanding of governance, risk management and internal control while contributing to audit reviews. As your skills develop, you will take on greater responsibility and progress through a professional qualification programme leading to a Senior Auditor role, where you be carrying out a range of audit work across the Council, including complex and high‑profile reviews to provide assurance to senior management and add value to the organisation.

All candidates must have the Right to Work in the UK. We are currently not offering sponsorship for this role.

Who are we looking for?

We are looking for someone with the potential, motivation and aptitude to succeed in this interesting, but challenging profession. Previous audit experience is not required; however, this is a role that requires a willingness to engage in a complex, varied and challenging workload. You will be educated to degree level (or equivalent).

The successful candidate will be able to demonstrate:

• Strong analytical and problem‑solving skills, including the ability to assess information, identify inconsistencies and reach balanced conclusions.
• Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal, with the ability to build positive relationships with a range of people.
• Good organisational skills, attention to detail and the ability to manage competing priorities effectively.
• Resilience, adaptability and a commitment to learning, improvement and responding positively to feedback.
• Initiative, sound judgement and the confidence to ask questions, challenge information appropriately and work independently when required.
• A genuine interest in developing a career in Internal Audit, and commitment to undertaking studies to achieve professional qualifications.
• The ability to work collaboratively and contribute positively within a diverse and inclusive team environment.

Please note that the recruitment process will consist of three stages: an application sift, an assessment exercise, and a formal interview. Candidates who are successful at sift stage will be invited to complete the assessment exercise, which is designed to evaluate the skills, behaviours and aptitude required for a career in Internal Audit. Following this, successful candidates will be invited to attend an interview.

Assessment shortlisting 19th to 23rd October

Interviews 2nd – 6th November

If you need help or support to complete your application, please visit our accessibility page to see how we can assist you.

Guaranteed Interview Scheme - As part of our commitment to inclusion, we offer guaranteed interviews for specific groups of people. To qualify, you'll need to meet the minimum requirements for the role and identify with one of the below criteria:

• Members of the Armed Forces and veterans
• Are currently in care or have previously been in care
• If you consider yourself to be disabled or if you have a long‑term health condition

We recognise that you might use AI tools to help with your application. While these tools can be useful, please make sure that all information you provide about your experience, skills, and qualifications is accurate. What matters most to us is hearing about your experience and the achievements that truly reflect you

About Coventry

Coventry has a proud, innovative and creative spirit that throughout its history has seen communities come together to tackle problems and bring about real social change.

We are cutting-edge, challenging, youthful, vibrant and diverse.

At Coventry we are committed to excellence in everything we do.

To deliver the best services to our residents, we need the best people working for us to make a difference to our communities.

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