Resource Manager (Audit Services and Performance Audit & Best Value) - 420868

Overall purpose of the role

Through our audit work for the Auditor General for Scotland and the Accounts Commission, we provide independent assurance to the people of Scotland on the use of public money. Through our Audit Services Group (ASG), we are directly responsible for the audit of almost 160 public sector bodies, and our Performance Audit and Best Value (PABV) programme offers insight into key policy areas to support Parliamentary scrutiny. We report our findings and conclusions in public and make recommendations to support improvement.

The Resource Manager has a key role in helping Audit Scotland deliver excellent audit work that makes a difference to public services in Scotland. You will be responsible for developing and managing the resourcing system to support the delivery of all planned audits. Our resourcing system is key to ensuring that the right people are carrying out the right tasks at the right time to support our audit delivery. You will be responsible for reporting on how we could improve the resourcing of our work using the management information from the system. You will be expected to identify wider opportunities for improvement and contribute to the delivery of improvement projects.

The Resource Manager post sits within a small Business Management Team and reports directly to the Business Manager.

What you will be doing

The Resource Manager will primarily oversee the day-to-day management of the resourcing and management information system for ASG and PABV. As Resource Manager, your key responsibilities will include, but are not limited to:

Resource management and development

1. Establishing consistent resourcing principles and approaches that can apply across both ASG and PABV.
2. Implementing the new resourcing and management information system (RMIS) and liaising with colleagues across Audit Scotland to ensure audit delivery is appropriately reflected and prioritised.
3. Preparing robust resource plans that balance staff wellbeing with the needs of audit delivery for both the ASG annual audits and the PABV dynamic work programme, and make best use of the skills available.
4. Participating in / leading on development and improvement projects as appropriate. This will include modelling of workforce scenario needs for the future.
5. Using strong interpersonal skills to drive change, both within the Business Management team and throughout Audit Scotland.

Support to audit staff

1. Advising and training audit staff to comply with resourcing principles, policies and procedures.
2. Providing administrative and technical support for the resourcing and time recording systems and reporting of management information from the RMIS system.
3. Responding to ad hoc resource requests and reacting to specific pressures due to unexpected absences and / or delivery challenges.

Corporate reporting

1. Preparing key resource information to support the delivery of business group objectives and bring wider cross-organisational insight, including making recommendations for future improvements in using resources.
2. Reviewing establishment levels, monitoring staffing and non-staff budgets and supporting the People Leads in ASG and PABV in their engagement with key recruitment and finance processes.
3. Engaging with corporate services colleagues to contribute ASG and PABV perspectives on key development areas.

Knowledge & Experience

You will have experience in managing resourcing systems and maintaining efficient and effective data management processes.

You may be educated to degree level and / or have other relevant professional qualifications. This should include an understanding of the public sector, how it works and the challenges it is facing.

Self-aware in your own abilities, you can plan and manage your own work to time and quality. You will have enthusiasm, commitment and drive and a plan for your own development.

You will also have:

1. Strong knowledge of resource management system requirements and software applications.
2. Strategic and creative thinking, with the ability to troubleshoot resourcing problems and present solutions.
3. The desire to continuously improve, develop and automate systems and processes to the benefit of the organisation.
4. The ability to work on multiple projects simultaneously, effectively prioritise workload and allocate sufficient time.
5. Ability to make sound technical decisions based on the task requirements and in consultation with appropriate stakeholders.
6. The ability to work under pressure in a calm, professional and efficient manner.

Person specification - specific knowledge and experience

Essential

1. Educated to a degree level in a relevant subject area or holds the equivalent experience. (S)
2. Experience in managing and maintaining resource and management information systems. (S&I)
3. Excellent data analysis skills and the ability to present complex information in a clear and balanced manner, with accuracy and conciseness. (S&I&A)
4. An understanding of the importance of data quality and the impact on business objectives. (S&I&A)
5. Excellent project management and time management skills. (S&I)
6. Strong verbal and written communication skills. (S&I&A)
7. Experience at developing and maintaining effective working relationships with internal stakeholders at all levels. (S&I)

Desirable

1. Knowledge and understanding of the business of Audit Scotland and the challenges and opportunities arising. (I)
2. Experience using data visualisation software (for example, PowerBI). (I)

*S = Shortlisting criteria I = Interview criteria A = Assessment / Exercise

Interested? Next steps

1. Click the apply button to complete an application form. If you wish, you can also share your CV. We offer a range of benefits, please visit our careers page for more information at http://www.audit-scotland.gov.uk/careers.
2. Our application deadline is 5 May 2025 at midnight.
3. Interviews will be scheduled to take place week beginning 12 May 2024. In advance of the interview, you will be asked to complete a short analytical task. We would like you to present the conclusions of your analysis in a short presentation at the start of the interview.

Audit Scotland

Our vision is that public money is well spent to meet the needs of Scotland's people.

To achieve this, we support the Auditor General for Scotland and the Accounts Commission to provide clear, independent and objective assurance on how effectively public money is being managed and spent. Our work covers about £59bn of public spending, almost 300 public sector accounts, and the services and projects that affect all people and communities in Scotland.

As well as what we do, how we do it is integral to delivering our vision and critical to our wellbeing and our organisational success. We put our organisational values of equality, independence, innovation, integrity, and respect at the heart of everything we do.

We employ around 340 staff in a wide variety of roles, working from our main offices in Edinburgh, Glasgow, Inverness, and Aberdeen.

There has never been a more interesting or important time to join us. We offer a rewarding place to work, a supportive and open culture, and a wide range of professional development opportunities. Benefits include 42 days of annual leave including public holidays, an attractive local government defined benefit pension scheme with 17.6% employer contributions, personal development allowances, and flexible working hours.

Diversity and Inclusion

We value the unique perspective a diverse workforce brings to what we do. Therefore, we're keen to increase representation in our workforce and support the progression of minority ethnic groups. We are also a proud disability confident employer.

Reasonable Adjustments

Audit Scotland's recruitment process may include various stages and activities including application forms, online assessments, and interviews, to assess whether you meet the requirements of the role.

As a Disability Confident employer, we are committed to providing inclusive and accessible recruitment where everyone is supported to perform at their best.

When applying for a job with Audit Scotland, you will be asked in the application form if you need an adjustment at any stage of the recruitment process. Please include the reason you require an adjustment and details of what adjustment/s might help.

Some examples of adjustments that have been given to candidates include changing the time, location, or format of interviews and providing additional time in any assessments and interviews. This is not an exhaustive list, and we will consider any adjustments that you might need.

As part of our commitment to equality and diversity, our equality network groups would be delighted to offer an insight into Audit Scotland's culture of inclusivity. If you consider yourself to have a visible or hidden disability and wish to hear more about life at Audit Scotland or wish to speak with someone about the possibility of any adjustments, please contact Careers@audit-scotland.gov.uk or call 0131 625 1500 for further information and a member of the HR team will be in touch.

How we work

We employ around 340 staff in a wide variety of roles. They work in a hybrid environment, covering time in the office, at home as well as at client sites across Scotland. This isn't your typical work from home or work from office type job. We're flexible about working patterns and we've transformed how we deliver high-quality public audit. We support you to work in the ways that achieve the best results for you, your team, and the business, including your physical location and how you manage your hours. Put simply, we trust you to do your job, and want you to have the ability to have a rewarding work-life balance and best support your individual circumstances, be that childcare, adult carer responsibilities, or managing disabilities.

Other conditions

Audit Scotland is committed to ensuring that:

• We minimise our impact on the environment in accordance with Government policy affecting public sector organisations.
• We uphold the principles of equality, fairness & diversity.
• We all work within a safe environment and adhere to good standards of health & safety.
• All information is protected and managed appropriately.
• We maintain independence and political neutrality.