Principal Auditor

Derbyshire County Council; East Midlands; Hybrid; GBP 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid working

Professional learning & career dev

Supportive team culture

Job summary

Derbyshire County Council's Internal Audit team is evolving into a data-driven function that combines continuous auditing, digital innovation and modern methodologies to strengthen governance across the organisation.

As a Principal Auditor, you will lead high-profile reviews, mentor colleagues and collaborate with senior managers to deliver independent assurance and drive service improvements in a complex local government environment.

Qualifications

• Significant internal audit experience in large organisations.
• Strong knowledge of governance, risk management and control frameworks.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills.
• Ability to lead complex audits and present findings to senior audiences.
• Experience coaching, supporting or supervising colleagues.
• Proactive approach to problem solving and continuous improvement.
• Interest in innovation, data-led assurance and modern audit techniques.

Responsibilities

• Lead complex and high-profile audits across diverse services.
• Develop and support the next generation of auditors.
• Champion the use of technology and data analytics within audits.
• Provide independent assurance, challenge and advice to senior managers.
• Help shape audit methodologies and approaches.

Skills

Internal Audit experience

Governance & risk management

Stakeholder management

Audits leadership

Coaching & supervision

Problem solving & continuousImproment

Data analytics interest

Job description

Closing date: 20 September 2026

Shape the future of assurance in a modern, ambitious Internal Audit team

Are you an experienced audit professional looking for more than a traditional audit role?

At Derbyshire County Council, Internal Audit is evolving. We are investing in data-driven assurance, continuous auditing, digital innovation and modern audit methodologies to help the organisation navigate an increasingly complex risk landscape. As a Principal Auditor, you will play a key role in shaping that journey.

This is an opportunity to join a high-performing and ambitious team that is committed to continuous improvement, embraces innovation and is actively transforming the way assurance is delivered. Our work goes far beyond traditional financial systems audits. We provide assurance and insight across governance, risk management, major projects, digital services, information governance, transformation programmes, fraud prevention and service delivery.

About The Role

As a Principal Auditor, you will lead complex and high-profile audit reviews across a diverse range of services while helping to develop and support the next generation of auditors.

You will work closely with senior managers, directors and strategic leaders across the Council, providing independent assurance, challenge and advice that helps improve governance, strengthen controls and support better decision-making.

Alongside leading audits, you will contribute to the development of our audit approaches, champion the use of technology and data analytics, support service improvement initiatives and help ensure we continue to deliver a professional, modern and value-adding Internal Audit service.

What makes this role different?

Our Internal Audit Service is:

• Forward-thinking and innovative.
• Actively embedding Continuous Auditing techniques.
• Expanding the use of data analytics and digital assurance.
• Committed to the Global Internal Audit Standards.
• Supporting major organisational change and Local Government Reform.
• Investing in staff development, professional learning and career progression.
• Focused on delivering insight and improvement, not simply compliance.

We are looking for someone who is curious, commercially minded and motivated by making a difference. Someone who enjoys exploring how things can be done better and who is comfortable challenging established thinking whilst building positive relationships with stakeholders.

What we're looking for

You'll bring:

• Significant Internal Audit experience, ideally within a large and complex organisation.
• Strong knowledge of governance, risk management and control frameworks.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills.
• The ability to lead complex audits and present findings confidently to senior audiences.
• Experience of coaching, supporting or supervising colleagues.
• A proactive approach to problem solving and continuous improvement.
• An interest in innovation, data-led assurance and modern audit techniques.

Why join Derbyshire?

We're proud of the flexible and supportive culture we've created within Internal Audit. Our team works on a hybrid basis, combining the benefits of home working with regular opportunities to collaborate in person. The current expectation is that colleagues attend the office for a minimum of two days per week.

This approach helps us maintain strong team relationships, support learning and development, encourage innovation and provide opportunities for collaboration, whilst still offering the flexibility and work-life balance that modern professionals value.

You’ll be joining a supportive and collaborative team that values professional curiosity, innovation and development. We are passionate about helping our people grow and providing opportunities to influence both the future of Internal Audit and the wider organisation.

Whether it’s developing Continuous Auditing, expanding the use of data analytics, supporting major transformation programmes or helping shape assurance arrangements for the future, you’ll have the opportunity to make a genuine impact.

Join us and help shape the future of assurance.

Provisional Interview Date: 25 September 2026