Value for Money Assistant Manager

Grant Thornton; Leeds; Hybrid; GBP 40,000 - 55,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading auditing firm in Leeds is seeking a Value for Money Assistant Manager to lead audits and manage projects within a collaborative team. The role emphasizes strong analytical and communication skills, experience in project management, and the ability to mentor junior staff. This is an opportunity to influence public sector improvement while enjoying flexible working arrangements. The ideal candidate will have a background in auditing or assurance with a passion for public sector value creation.

Benefits

Flexible working options

Inclusive culture

Development opportunities

Qualifications

• Recent experience in audit or assurance, ideally within a VFM or public sector context.
• Strong project management and stakeholder engagement skills.
• Ability to coach and support junior team members.
• High attention to detail and commitment to quality.

Responsibilities

• Lead end-to-end VFM audits for lower-risk clients.
• Manage delivery within agreed budgets and timelines.
• Prepare and lead client interviews.
• Ensure compliance with internal deadlines and quality standards.

Skills

Analytical skills

Communication skills

Project management

Stakeholder engagement

Attention to detail

Education

Experience in audit or assurance

Familiarity with audit methodologies

Tools

Microsoft Office tools

Job description

Job Description

Join Our National Value for Money Team

We’re recruiting for Value for Money Assistant Managers to join our growing national team. These roles are ideal for individuals with strong analytical and communication skills, experience in project and people management, and a talent for producing impactful reports. Whether you come from a background in value for money auditing, performance auditing, internal audit, or analytical roles in sectors like the NHS or Local Government, we welcome applications from those with transferable skills and a passion for public value.

As an Assistant Manager, you’ll lead or support the delivery of VFM reviews from planning through to client fieldwork and reporting. You’ll apply both quantitative and qualitative analysis, work closely with sector specialists and financial statement teams, and communicate complex findings clearly to a wide range of audiences. These roles offer the opportunity to shape meaningful insights, influence public sector improvement, and grow your career in a collaborative and inclusive environment.

Role Purpose

As a VFM Audit Assistant Manager, you will support the delivery of high-quality Value for Money reviews across a diverse client portfolio. You will take ownership of allocated projects or sections, manage delivery within agreed budgets and timelines, and contribute to impactful reporting. You will coach and support graduates, engage with stakeholders professionally, and uphold quality standards. This role is ideal for someone ready to take the next step in their audit career, with a focus on leadership, development, and continuous improvement.

Life is about more than work

The things you do, and the people you’re with outside of work matter, that’s why we’re happy to look at flexible working options for all our roles, whether that’s reduced or condensed hours, job shares, we’ll always do our best to keep your work and life in balance. Everyone in the firm is encouraged to work in a hybrid way, want to go for a run at 3pm, or collect children from school? That’s fine with us if it fits with your client work. Our framework for how we work underpins our approach, giving us all the confidence to make decisions that work for us, and our teams.

Knowing we’re right for you

Embracing uniqueness, the culture at Grant Thornton thrives on the contributions of all our people, we never settle for what is easy, we look beyond to deliver the right thing, for everyone. Building an inclusive culture, where we value difference and respect our colleagues helps our people to perform at the best of their ability and realise their potential.

Our open and accessible culture means you’ll interact with leaders who are interested in you and everything you bring to our firm. The things that set you apart, we value them. That’s why we give you the freedom to bring your whole self to work and pursue your passions inside and outside of work.

A look into the role

As an Assistant Manager within our Value for Money Audit Team, you will :

Project Leadership & Delivery

• Lead end-to-end VFM audits for lower-risk or straightforward clients, or manage sections of more complex reviews.
• Define project scope and deliverables in collaboration with the VFM Lead and stakeholders.
• Develop and manage individual project plans, proactively identifying risks and managing overruns.
• Deliver work to a high standard, ensuring integrity between documentation, findings, and evidence.
• Draft sections of the Auditor’s Annual Report (AAR), including recommendations and insights, with minimal review points.

Team Management & Development

• Support others, fostering a positive team culture, and ensuring shared goals are met through teamwork and mutual support.
• Support graduate work when assigned to you, ensuring clarity on roles and responsibilities.
• Coach and support graduates, providing feedback and development opportunities.
• Review work completed by graduates, ensuring quality and consistency.
• Lead scoping meetings and elevate key issues appropriately.

Stakeholder Engagement

• Manage complex scheduling across internal and external stakeholders.
• Prepare and lead client interviews, supporting team members where needed.
• Communicate professionally and effectively with clients and colleagues.
• Provide regular updates to the VFM Lead and Audit Team throughout the review.

Quality Assurance & Compliance

• Ensure work is delivered efficiently and within budget, justifying any overruns.
• Review work completed by graduates, ensuring integrity between documentation, key findings and evidence.
• Address review points to a satisfactory standard and ensure cohesive team contributions.
• Ensure compliance with internal deadlines, mandatory training, and time recording policies, achieving the required quality grading each year and contribute to continuous improvement initiatives.

Strategic Contribution

• Understand the pipeline of work and contribute to team goals.
• Support Managers and Senior Managers in identifying and mitigating risks.
• Promote the VFM team internally and externally, identifying opportunities for growth.
• Apply VFM methodology and tools effectively, contributing to best practice development and identifying and applying efficiencies where appropriate.

Inclusion & Culture

• Lead inclusively, ensuring all team members are supported and heard.
• Champion the firm’s Inclusion policy and contribute to initiatives that foster a respectful workplace.
• Escalate and address inappropriate behaviour in line with firm’s policy.
• Role model inclusive and collaborative behaviours, contributing to a positive team culture.

Knowing you’re right for us

It would be great if you had some of the following skills, but don’t worry if you don’t tick every box, we’ll help you develop along the way.

• Recent experience in audit or assurance, ideally within a VFM or public sector context.
• Strong project management and stakeholder engagement skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication.
• Ability to coach and support junior team members.
• High attention to detail and commitment to quality.
• Familiarity with audit methodologies including documentation and Microsoft Office tools.
• Ability to work independently, managing priorities flexibly and delivering high-quality work, while actively contributing to a collaborative team environment.

Beyond the job

The impact you can make here will go far beyond your day job. From secondments, to fundraising for local charities, or investing in entrepreneurs in the developing world, you’ll be giving back to society. It’s that drive to do the right thing that runs through our every move, grounded in our firm’s values – purposefully driven, actively curious and candid but kind.

We’re looking for people who want to contribute, spark fresh ideas and go beyond expectations. People who want to be able to proudly do what’s right, for the firm, our clients, our people and themselves. It’s how it should be.

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