Audit & Counter Fraud Lead

St John Ambulance; Birmingham; Hybrid; GBP 40,000 - 46,000; Full time

Job summary

A national charity for emergency services is seeking an Audit & Counter Fraud Lead to oversee the Internal Audit function. This pivotal role involves ensuring independence in assurance activities and managing counter-fraud operations effectively. Candidates should possess professional qualifications and experience in Internal Audit while demonstrating leadership capability and excellent communication skills. The position offers a hybrid working model and a supportive work environment focused on diversity and inclusion.

Benefits

Competitive salary and pension scheme

33 days holiday increasing to 38 days

Health and Wellbeing portal

Discounts on various services

Qualifications

• Substantial experience leading Internal Audit or Assurance within a recognised framework.
• Ability to operate autonomously to high standards with multiple stakeholders.
• Solid understanding of risk, assurance, and governance best practice.

Responsibilities

• Lead the Internal Audit and Counter Fraud functions.
• Develop a robust counter-fraud framework and promote fraud awareness.
• Oversee relationships with co-source partners to deliver the audit plan.

Skills

Leadership capability

Excellent communication

Planning and organization

Analytical attention to detail

Understanding of risk and governance

Education

Professional qualification (e.g., CCAB, CIA, CFE, ACFS)

Tools

Microsoft applications

Job description

Audit & Counter Fraud Lead

Hybrid - This role can be based at any St John Office. Occasional travel to London will be required.

Full Time / Permanent

£40,443 Rest Of England / £45,339 London

Our offer to you

We pride ourselves in being a great place to work, providing a supportive culture with opportunities to grow and develop your career, achieve a healthy work life balance and to be recognised for the great work you do. You will receive :

• Competitive salary and pension scheme
• 33 days holiday (inclusive of bank holidays) - increasing to 38 days over 5 years
• Hybrid, Flexible working
• Cycle to work scheme Electric Vehicle Scheme
• Health and Wellbeing portal – access to financial, health and wellbeing support and an Employee Assistance Programme
• Discounts – you will have access to Blue Light and NHS Discounts as well as discounts on mobile phones, gym membership, cinema tickets, restaurants, holidays and shopping

About Us

This is a fantastic opportunity to join a team of over 1,400 employees and over 28,000 volunteers, united by our goal of saving lives through essential first aid services, training and campaigning. As a charity with rich heritage and a long history of serving humanity, we are proud of our past and excited about creating a healthier, safer, more resilient future.

St John Ambulance works at the heart of communities, supporting and enabling them to access and receive physical and mental health first aid. We do this through developing and providing effective community response and outreach services (e.g. Ambulance response) and using our longstanding expertise to empower people with vital clinical skills and the confidence to use them (e.g. our Volunteers and Community Advocates, and Young Responders programmes).

Job Summary

This is a pivotal role in leading St John Ambulance’s Internal Audit function, ensuring the independence and integrity of our assurance activity. Reporting to the Head of Integrated Assurance and Internal Audit, you will take day-to-day responsibility for delivering a high-quality, independent audit service that is clearly separated from second-line responsibilities.

Working closely with our co-source partner, you will shape and oversee an audit plan aligned to the priorities of the Risk and Assurance Committee, ensuring effective delivery and a strong collaborative relationship. You will also partner with senior leaders across the organisation, building trusted relationships, offering insight and guidance on best practice, and acting as a supportive yet robust critical friend. As a trusted and independent function, Internal Audit also receives whistleblowing concerns; you will lead our counter‑fraud framework and manage related investigations where required.

About You

• Professionally qualified (e.g., CCAB, CIA, CFE, ACFS) with substantial experience leading Internal Audit or Assurance within a recognised framework.
• Proven ability to operate autonomously to high standards, managing multiple stakeholders and building effective partnerships with senior leaders.
• Strong leadership capability, including improving control environments and influencing teams at all levels.
• Excellent communication, planning, organisational and critical‑thinking skills, with strong analytical attention to detail.
• Solid understanding of risk, assurance and governance best practice, supported by confident use of Microsoft applications.

About the Role

• Lead the Internal Audit and Counter Fraud functions, providing subject matter expertise and ensuring alignment with Internal Audit Standards.
• Develop and embed a robust counter‑fraud framework, promoting a strong speak‑up culture and proactive fraud awareness.
• Oversee the day‑to‑day relationship with the co‑source partner to deliver the audit plan and identify emerging risks.
• Manage follow‑up of audit actions, highlighting systemic issues and supporting improvements to control weaknesses.
• Work closely with senior leaders to advise on risk and control considerations, offering constructive challenge as a trusted critical friend.

Please see the job description for more detail (this can be viewed on our website or once you click apply)

St John Ambulance are committed to increasing the diversity of our team and making sure we best reflect the diversity of the communities we serve. At St John, everyone is valued and supported to thrive, we have several networks including Multi Culture, Disability and Accessibility, Pride, Family and Carers and Women’s groups. We do not tolerate any form of discrimination and engender a sense of belonging for all, by creating an environment of mutual respect, where we value unique differences and demonstrate authentic allyship. We believe passionately in equality, diversity and inclusion.

St John Ambulance is committed to safeguarding and we promote safe recruitment practice. Therefore, all successful applicants will undergo pre‑employment checks, including DBS Clearance, as part of the onboarding process, if applicable to the nature of the role.

Please note : St John does not accept speculative CVs and will only review CVs sent in application for an advertised vacancy.