Location
Wandsworth Town Hall or Partner Location, London

Hours
Permanent - Full Time (36 hours per week), working in the office 3-5 days a week

Salary
£47,730 - £61,176 per annum

About the Role
The Southwest London Audit Partnership is a shared service providing internal audit to five London Boroughs: Richmond, Wandsworth, Kingston, Merton, and Sutton. We deliver an effective and cost-efficient service while building positive relationships to improve and maintain the quality of services delivered to residents and service users.

As a Principal Auditor, you will manage internal auditors and lead audits across a wide variety of financial and non-financial essential council services. You will support and mentor junior team members, ensure compliance with the Global Internal Audit Standards, and deliver high-quality work on time and within budget.

You will escalate non-compliance issues, recommend improvements, and provide assurance on governance, risk, and control. Your audit findings will be meaningful, addressing root causes, and you will compile clear, professionally written audit reports for Heads of Services and Directors to implement changes, improve controls, and ensure compliance.

Key responsibilities include:
- Leading and managing a team of two or more auditors, supporting and mentoring them in their roles
- Conducting technically challenging audits with thorough understanding of end-to-end internal auditing in local government or similar public sector settings
- Communicating effectively at all levels, both verbally and in writing
- Building strong professional relationships with service leaders and auditees to gain trust, credibility, and access to necessary information
- Prioritising a varied workload to meet tight deadlines while maintaining high standards

Experience
- At least 5 years’ experience auditing in Local Government or other public sector bodies
- Proven experience managing a varied workload and handling conflicting and changing demands
- Strong leadership skills with the ability to coach and motivate a small team
- Experience communicating effectively with colleagues at all levels
- Experience with SQL, Python, Power BI, or other data analytics and visualisation tools is highly desirable

About you
- IIA qualified or holding CCAB, AAT, or similar professional qualification
- A ‘can do’ attitude and team player who actively supports and uplifts colleagues
- Embraces values: Embrace Difference, Think Bigger, Put People First, Lead by Example, and Connect Better
- Commitment to continuous professional development and improving service quality
- Ability to build trust and credibility with service leaders and auditees

Qualifications
- IIA qualification or CCAB, AAT, or equivalent professional qualification required