Recruitment pack – Performance Project Officer, Fixed Term

Introduction

The Wales Audit Office, a statutory corporation responsible for providing staff and
other resources to the Auditor General for Wales, would welcome applications for Performance Project Officers. There are three vacancies and the rolesare offered on a two year fixed term basis.

As a Performance Project Officer within the Wales Audit Office there is an exciting opportunity to develop and contribute to a range of local and national performance audit work.

Around 250 Wales Audit Office staff support the Auditor General across Wales.These staff comprise financial auditors (who examine the accounts of public bodies), performance auditors (who examine value for money in the use of public bodies’ resources and improvement arrangements) and corporate staff (in services such as Human Resources).The Wales Audit Office and the Auditor General have an overarching strategic aim –
‘The people of Wales know whether public money is being managed wisely, and public bodies in Wales understand how to improve outcomes’.

In total, the Auditor General is responsible for the annual audit of approximately £14 billion of Welsh public funds through his work as the statutory external auditor of most of the Welsh public sector, including the Welsh Government, its sponsored and related public bodies,
the NHS and local government bodies in Wales.

More information about the Wales Audit Office is available at .

What will I be doing?

This two year programme of planned and structured learning and development is designed to equip the PPO with the skills and confidence to undertake a wide range of audit and other activities in support of our objectives.

Working in the Performance Audit Group, you will be involved in the development and delivery of work that examines the efficiency, effectiveness and economy of public services in Wales. Within the Performance Audit Group there are three teams which are responsible for undertaking work in health boards and trusts, local government and bodies and central government. Successful candidates will spend time working within each team, gaining knowledge and experience of the different aspects of performance audit work.
The Wales Audit Office has created the post of PPO in order to contribute to the resilience of the organisation’s succession and workforce planning. The objective is that PPO’s should by the end of the two year programme have developed the competencies required to undertake an entry level performance auditor role within the public audit field. Although there is no automatic entry to these roles, if such vacancies arise, they will be advertised through the WAO website where you will find details of how to apply.

Although the successful candidate could be based in one of the Wales Audit Office offices located in Cardiff, Swansea or Ewloe; postholders are expected to travel throughout Wales, and will be required to stay away from home overnight. Therefore, candidates should have a current driving licence and the use of a car. Travel and subsistence costs are paid in line with the Wales Audit Office’s rates.

Further information on the main requirements of the Performance Project Officer role is set out below.

Key responsibilities

The responsibilities of the role include:

  • To contribute to a range of local and national performance audit work in accordance with WAO quality standards and processes. Usually accountable to the Performance Audit Lead or Manager. Work programme will include:
  • undertaking discrete tasks as part of scoping projects as directed by managers and performance audit leads;
  • undertaking fieldwork as directed;
  • inputting to IA/DC meetings internally and externally;
  • preparing records of evidence, and supporting report drafting and other outputs that convey the findings from our work; and
  • keeping SharePoint sites up to date.
  • Work must comply with WAO operational requirements and be delivered to agreed standards, within agreed timescales and budgets.
  • Typical roles include project team member who undertakes specific tasks as directed relating to the project scoping and research, set up and delivery of surveys, data collection and analysis, undertaking fieldwork, and providing support during report writing.
  • Required to undertake discrete tasks of work requiring a basic understanding of audit methodologies and of particular subjects.

In supporting specific performance projects, the post-holder should agree developmental project objectives for learning and development opportunities, under project manager or performance audit lead supervision.

Development objectives may include:

  • working closely with managers and performance audit leads in a more substantive role in agreeing the scope and focus of the work
  • assisting in the design of audit tools / templates (e.g. checklists, interview schedules) of relevance to the theme researched, and guidance for their use
  • setting up fieldwork
  • supporting and facilitating effective IA/DC meetings internally and externally
  • drafting sections of reports
  • presentation of findings to audited bodies

What do I need to be effective in this role?

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE

  • Educated to degree level or equivalent relevant experience
  • Post graduate or professional qualification in a relevant discipline is highly desirable
  • A basic understanding of the Welsh public sector and the related political environment
  • An understanding of basic audit methodologies and research skills
  • Previous experience of working in audit, research or a related field is highly desirable
  • Willingness to continually acquire new and relevant technical, statutory and specialist knowledge and skills
  • Proficient in use of Microsoft Office packages
  • May have experience of working in, or with, public sector bodies
  • Ability to work flexibly and mange own time effectively
  • Effective writing skills
  • Sound analytical skills

COMMUNICATION

  • Ability to develop and maintain positive and professional working relationships with people in audited and inspected bodies and within the WAO
  • Demonstrate good written skills, for the production of clear, accessible and succinct notes and briefing papers
  • Sound questioning and listening skills to understand views that other people have on an issue
  • Good verbal communication skills for use in interviews and meetings

MANAGEMENT AND DELIVERY

  • Sufficient drive and pace of work, coupled with effective personal organisational skills, to ensure each piece of work is completed to appropriate standards and timescales as set out by others
  • Experience of juggling competing demands on one’s time is desirable
  • Ability to work alone and as a member of a group of staff

AUTONOMY, ANALYSIS & DECISIONS

  • Work will be largely directed by others but will require the use of sound judgement and initiative to resolve any unexpected problems, alerting the project manager or project audit lead to any problems in good time
  • Works according to agreed WAO processes, such as IADC, and those set out in the Performance Audit Delivery Manual
  • When delivering audit work as directed, the job holder will need to make decisions about the reliability of evidence, issues to follow up and conclusions to draw in records of evidence.
  • Generate ideas on the shape of performance audit projects and corporate work
  • Keep abreast of issues relating to their work area
  • Committed to continuing self-development and learning

What competencies do I need to demonstrate in undertaking this role?

Each member of staff of the Wales Audit Office is required to demonstrate competencies which fall into the following categories:

Competency area / Group
Communicating and influencing / 1
Results delivery/continuous improvement / 2
Teamwork / 1
Understanding and developing the business / 1
Technical/job knowledge / 2
Analysis, problem solving and critical thinking / 1
Personal effectiveness and leadership / 1

Further information on the Wales Audit Office competency framework is provided here.

What are the benefits of working with the Wales Audit Office?

Excellent training and personal development opportunities

We recognise that people are our chief asset and continue to make a substantial investment in people development. Our aim has been to create a working environment that captures the potential of all of our staff; and uses their skills and talents to add the maximum possible value to our work.

We have developed a planned and structured approach to meet the learning and development needs of the person appointed to the PPO role. We will provide a balanced programme of work that is underpinned by a structured learning and development programme.

An important aspect of the two year programme will be the identification of a learning profile encouraging you to take responsibility for your own personal and professional development and progression within the role and in the organisation. You will also complete a development log that will enable you to reflect on your progress in working towards developing a specific set of performance audit skills and behaviours thus demonstrating a record of your personal learning journey.

Salary

Range: £27,065 to £34,674. Salary on appointment is at the minimum of the range. In addition, this role carries a Transport Allowance (TA) of £4,440 per annum which is paid, (subject to the vehicle meeting the criteria of the TA scheme), monthly with salary and is taxable and subject to National Insurance deductions.

Holidays

Holiday entitlement is 33 days per annum. In addition, there are eight days’ public holidays.

Pension scheme

Wales Audit Office staff are entitled to join the Principal Civil Service Pension Scheme (PCSPS).

New entrants to the PCSPS can join either Nuvos, which is a high-quality, index-linked, defined benefit occupational pension scheme, or Partnership, which is a defined contribution stakeholder scheme.

Flexible benefits

The Wales Audit Office allows staff to create their own benefits package through purchasing additional annual leave or selling annual leave for additional monthly pay, or purchase childcare vouchers through salary sacrifice.

To apply

For an informal discussion, please contact Lisa Williams on 029 2032 0671 or 07970 246975

Please complete an application in English or Welsh.

If you require this form in an alternative format and/or language, then please contact .

Send all of the following documents:

  • an application form is mandatory and CVs will not be considered without it;
  • candidates may want to include a copy of their CV and a covering letter together with the application form; and
  • candidates are encouraged to complete an Equality and Diversity Monitoring Form.

to the following address:

Private and Confidential
Wales Audit Office
HR Department
24 Cathedral Road
Cardiff
CF11 9LJ

or alternatively to:.

Post Reference – PPO 03

The closing date for applications is 12 noon on Friday 10 October 2014. No late applications will be accepted.

Assessment centres will take place w/c 20 October and w/c 3 November 2014.

The Wales Audit Office is working to promote equality of opportunity and diversity, encouraging an inclusive working environment. In doing so, the Wales Audit Office welcomes applications from anyone with the necessary skills and experience and does not discriminate on the grounds of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief,
sex or sexual orientation.

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