IRATA Audit Compliance Officer 10/06/2026

IRATA International; Ashford; On-site; GBP 35,000 - 50,000; Full time

Job summary

IRATA International in Ashford is looking for an Audit Compliance Officer who will play a crucial role within its Quality Department. The successful candidate will assist the Quality Manager in internal auditing processes, ensuring compliance with IRATA's standards while driving improvements across the organization.

The ideal candidate will have experience in audit methodologies and a strong background in quality management systems. The position is full-time with potential for regional and international travel.

Qualifications

• Minimum of 3 years experience in a lead audit role.
• Ability to prioritize workload and manage time effectively.
• Excellent attention to detail and organizational skills.

Responsibilities

• Conduct audits according to standards and policies.
• Produce clear and concise audit reports.
• Manage the audit team and ensure audits are performed effectively.

Skills

Audit lead experience

Internal/third-party audit methodologies

Data analysis and presentation

Excellent communication skills

Quality Management Systems

Time management

Education

Degree or equivalent qualification

Professional Internal Auditor qualification

Professional Lead Auditor qualification

Tools

Quality management software

Microsoft Office Suite

Job description

Join IRATA International as our Audit Compliance Officer.

Location : Ashford, UK (Head Office)

Contract: Permanent, Full-Time

Salary: Commensurate with experience

IRATA International is the leading worldwide authority on industrial rope access today. The IRATA rope access method has set the standard for safe working at height over the past 30 years with an unrivalled safety record. Its pioneers continually strive to promote global awareness of its efficient, safe and environmentally advantageous methods.

IRATA has over 850 member companies currently operating across 68 countries ranging across industry sectors such as oil and gas, construction, renewable energy, geo-technical and non-destructive testing. IRATA certification is widely recognised as the industry standard for rope access personnel and has over 140,000 qualified technicians worldwide who are trained to the highest standard based on the IRATA Training, Assessment and Certification Scheme (TACS).

The Role

Audit Compliance Officer is a key member of the IRATA Head Office team, working across the Quality Department and Corporate Membership Services Department with a focus on the internal and third-party audit services. This position assists the Quality Manager with the internal audit programme, implementing a risk-based approach and producing reports and recommendations for management thereby ensuring a timely and reasonable assurance that internal control systems are adequate and effective.

This position is fundamental in insuring that IRATA’s established third-party audit programme remains effective, robust and professional, recommending key areas for improvement and driving change where approved.

Main Duties and Responsibilities

• Ensure that all audits are conducted in accordance with IRATA governance, policy and procedure, maintaining ISO 17024 standards.
• Ensure audit team objectives and performance is monitored and objectives are met.
• Collate and analyse audit performance data against defined parameters.
• Produce regular audit related bulletins for shared learning.
• Perform quality review of audit reports and where amendments are required communicate these effectively to Auditors.
• Coordination and management of IRATA’s global audit team to ensure audits are performed to the documented standards and resolve audit related queries.
• Produce and review audit related documents and procedures.
• Produce clear and concise audit reports highlighting concerns and providing potential solutions.
• Conduct trend analysis and use audit outcomes to drive improvement.
• Provide regular audit reports for management as required.
• Perform internal audits and document audit findings, ensuring that audit issues are communicated and resolved in a timely manner.
• Ensure that internal audit assignments focus on key risk areas and are performed efficiently and on time.
• Manage feedback processes and follow-up of reported internal audit findings.
• Promote quality performance improvement across the IRATA audit team.
• Identify and immediately report significant findings which could adversely affect risk to IRATA.
• Ensure that IRATA membership policies and procedures are upheld.
• Manage the audit team recruitment programme.
• Guide Auditors (internal and external) and relevant staff in audit practices and provide general/targeted training as appropriate.
• Perform research e.g. make recommendations for improvement to the audit management system, software, reporting etc.
• Manage ad hoc projects as requested.

Knowledge, Skills and Responsibilities

• A minimum of 3 years’ experience in a lead audit role.
• Strong experience of internal/third party audit methodologies and techniques to include:
• allocating resources in accordance with skills and schedules
• audit report writing
• identification and classification of audit outcomes
• Experience in managing auditors and audit teams.
• Experience in Quality Management Systems.
• Experience in collating, analysing and presenting data and metrics.
• Experience of continuous improvement methodology.
• Ability to read, analyse and interpret technical standards and reports.
• Can work autonomously and as part of a team.
• Ability to prioritise workload, exercise good time-management and the ability to work to deadlines, and excellent organisational skills.
• Excellent interpersonal skills to work with staff and auditors at all levels, including senior colleagues.
• Experience in providing training to personnel.
• Excellent written and verbal communications skills.
• Proficient in verbal and written English
• Experience in supervision and/or management of a team.
• Excellent attention to detail.
• Familiarity with risk assessments.
• Good numeracy and statistical analysis skills.
• Experience of working with external quality assurance agencies, professional bodies and/or collaborative partners.
• Excellent IT skills, including the use of Word, Excel, PowerPoint, email, internet, video conferencing and virtual learning environments, alongside quality management software.
• Working knowledge of ISO 19011.
• Experience of ISO 9001, ISO45001, ISO 17024 and ISO 17021 (advantageous).

Qualifications

• Degree or equivalent professional or vocational qualification.
• Hold a recognised professional Internal Auditor qualification (essential).
• Hold a recognised professional Lead Auditor qualification (essential).
• Member of professional audit related body (e.g. IRCA/CQI) (preferrable).

Personal Characteristics

• Highly motivated individual displaying drive and determination to succeed.
• Analytical thinker with the ability to monitor processes and suggest innovative improvements.
• Ability to communicate, develop and sustain excellent working relationships at all levels with internal and external stakeholders.
• To always represent the Association in a positive and professional manner.
• Be flexible in their approach to working hours, to include regional and international travel from time to time.