Auditor

Local Government South East; Portsmouth; On-site; GBP 33,000 - 40,000; Full time

Job summary

Portsmouth City Council is seeking an Auditor to join its Internal Audit team in Portsmouth. The role focuses on assessing the effectiveness of internal controls, testing key controls, and delivering accurate audit findings across a range of council activities.

The post requires meticulous attention to detail, strong analytical ability, and excellent IT skills, including Word and Excel. Band 7–8, with progression possible, and a total annual salary of £33,119–£40,443, plus benefits, depending on

Qualifications

• Highly motivated with a good educational standard or experience in a compliance background.
• Excellent communication skills and the ability to challenge and persuade positively.
• Strong analytical and report-writing skills with initiative to analyse problems and reach solutions.

Responsibilities

• Plan, scope, risk assessment and testing of audits.
• Evaluate controls and report findings to management and external auditors.
• Liaise with Directors and management; provide sound technical advice and involve in ad hoc investigations.
• Travel to external clients for audits as required; operate within two pay bands with progression on competencies.

Skills

Communication skills

Analytical skills

Microsoft Word

Microsoft Excel

Attention to detail

Education

Degree level

Audit experience

Tools

Microsoft Word

Excel

Job description

Auditor

• Full Time
• Permanent
• Portsmouth
• Posted 1 week ago
• 33000 - 40443 £ / Year
• Closes: 18 September 2026

Portsmouth City Council Local Government

Salary: Band: 7 – 8 depending on experience, £33,119 – £40,443 per annum.

37 Hours per week

Your New Role

Internal audit fulfils a statutory requirement to advise, alert and assure the Council on the effectiveness of its systems of internal control. This means focussing on key risks that prevent objectives being achieved. We test the controls needed to mitigate the risks, and how effectively the controls are working. Being an auditor is not all about finance and numbers. The breadth of a Council’s activities ranges from Libraries and Museums to multi-million pound redevelopment projects. If you have a keen eye for detail, a desire to understand how things work and a methodical approach then you have the skills to be an auditor. You will be responsible for specific audits relating to operations along with any work as at the direction of the Audit management. For each area to be reviewed you will identify the scope, risk assess, plan the work, carry out the testing and evaluate controls, reporting on findings. You will liaise and collaborate with some levels of management including Directors and external auditors; give sound technical advice and may get involved with ad hoc investigations. You will also conduct operational audits at PCC’s external clients which may involve some travel. The role is spread over two pay bands which means once certain competencies are met the candidate can progress to the higher band. The team has progression opportunities and professional training may be offered should the successful candidate show promise within the role.

Who Is The Person Summary

We are looking for a highly motivated individual with a good educational standard or experience in a compliance background. You will have excellent communication skills and a good understanding of customers’ needs but still be able to challenge and persuade positively. With good analytical and report writing skills you will be able to use your initiative to analyse problems to enable you to reach agreement on solutions whilst managing your workload and working to deadlines. In addition, you will have excellent IT skills especially with Microsoft Word and Excel. In addition, for the Band 8 role you will need to be educated to degree level or have previous audit experience and be able to identify and prioritise organisational risks without relying on established audit programmes. You will demonstrate professional judgement that influences audit conclusions, research complex operational services, assess governance and risk beyond control testing. You will have the ability to work independently with minimal managerial direction, manage resistance and challenging client conversations, and evaluate risks across unfamiliar service areas.