Audit Specialist

Cedar; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 70,000 - 85,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading public sector organization is seeking an Audit Specialist at Manager level. This role involves providing technical expertise in local government audit, focusing on ethics, independence, and regulatory compliance. The ideal candidate will have significant experience in audit regulation, excellent communication skills, and the ability to liaise confidently with senior stakeholders. This position offers a salary between £70,000 and £85,000 with excellent benefits, and supports hybrid working arrangements.

Benefits

Excellent benefits

Qualifications

• Strong and current technical knowledge of the local government audit regime.
• Experience working in or alongside local authority audit or audit regulation.
• Ability to explain complex technical matters clearly.

Responsibilities

• Provide technical leadership on local government audit matters.
• Lead discussions with audit firms, providing expert advice.
• Monitor audit quality for allocated firms and support governance.

Skills

Strong analytical skills

Excellent written and verbal communication skills

Confidence engaging with senior stakeholders

Confident engaging with senior stakeholders

Education

Fully qualified accountant (CCAB or equivalent)

Job description

Audit Specialist

Industry: Public Sector

Location: London based, hybrid working

Salary: £70,000 – £85,000 plus excellent benefits

We are supporting a public sector body with the appointment of an Audit Specialist at Manager level.

The role

This role sits within a team of audit subject matter experts and works closely with senior finance leaders, contract management colleagues and the wider leadership team. The Audit Specialist provides technical expertise across local government audit.

The post holder will act as a trusted technical adviser, providing clear, timely and pragmatic guidance on audit quality, ethics, independence and regulatory compliance. The role also involves close engagement with audit firms, audited bodies and national stakeholders.

Key responsibilities

• Provide technical leadership on local government audit matters, including ethics, independence and regulatory requirements.
• Lead technical discussions with audit firms and support contract management activity with expert advice and briefing.
• Take responsibility for audit quality monitoring activity for allocated firms and contribute to reporting and governance processes.
• Support audit services procurement activity, including quality assessment approaches and evaluation of tender responses.
• Contribute to the maintenance and development of audit related contractual terms.
• Lead or support investigations into audit related complaints, working closely with senior finance colleagues.
• Provide audit technical input into organisational publications, guidance, presentations and external briefings.
• Support engagement with a wide range of stakeholders including audit firms, audited bodies and national professional and regulatory organisations.
• Work collaboratively within the audit specialist team to ensure resilience and continuity of expertise.

Essential experience:

• Fully qualified accountant (CCAB or equivalent).
• Strong and current technical knowledge of the local government audit regime and recent developments.
• Experience of working in or alongside local authority audit, public audit or audit regulation.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to explain complex technical matters clearly.
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to interpret large volumes of information and apply sound professional judgement.
• Confident engaging with senior stakeholders and operating effectively in a small, expert team environment.