Principal Internal Auditor

Principal Internal Auditor

£52,466 per annum - Grade 9

Leeds / Hybrid Full time - 37 hours per week

Closing date: Sunday 12 April 2026 at 11:55pm

Please note that the Combined Authority will consider requests for part-time working and/or job share. We currently have a vacancy for a Principal Internal Auditor to join our Internal Audit Team.

This vacancy has arisen from an internal promotion within the Internal Audit team following the redesign of the Internal Audit function to support increasing levels of audit coverage across the organisation.

The team sits within our Corporate Centre and provides the assurance services to the Combined Authority by delivering a robust audit and investigation programme each year. The focus of the work includes strategic assurance across the breadth of activities of the Combined Authority and particularly supports the major programmes and projects including key deliverables around Mass Transit, Bus Franchising, Better Homes and Adult Skills to name a few.

Our Offer·

Work your way – From flexible and agile working options, including a generous flexi-time scheme to help you balance your personal life and career.

· Time to recharge – Enjoy 28 days of annual leave (with increases based on length of service), plus all Bank Holidays.

· Free greener travel across West Yorkshire – Cover your commute sustainably with unlimited free bus and rail travel using the MCard (Zones 1–5).

· Secure your future – Benefit from a highly competitive Local Government Pension Scheme.

· Investing in you – Take advantage of fully funded professional development, regular training, and up to 3 paid volunteering days per year.

· Grow with us – Incremental salary progression for most roles and annual cost of living increases.

· Family first – We offer enhanced parental and bereavement leave, plus other family-friendly policies to support you when it matters most.

· Your wellbeing, our priority – Access 24/7 free confidential counselling services and the Headspace app for you and up to 5 family or friends.

· Modern workspace in a prime location – Work in bright, contemporary offices just a 2-minute walk from Leeds Train Station, fully equipped with the latest tech.

The Role

Please review the Role Profile for more information about the responsibilities.

Reporting into the Internal Audit Manager your key responsibilities will include:

· Taking the strategic lead for the development and delivery of a range of internal audit work, relating to regional priorities e.g. Mass Transit, Bus Franchising and Adult Skills

· Managing and supporting a team within a defined area of responsibility, ensuring high quality delivery and continuous improvement

· Contributing to the delivery of the five year Internal Audit Strategy, helping to embed a forward looking and innovative audit approach.

· Providing a source of expert advice/consultancy, including attendance at relevant boards and working groups, on a wide range of internal control, corporate governance and risk management arrangements.

About You

You will have the following key skills, attributes, education, and experience:

· Relevant professional qualification e.g. CCAB qualified accountant or CMIIA with significant internal audit experience

· The ability to think strategically and deliver assurance work that adds value and drives improvement.

· Strong analytical, evaluation and communication skills, with the confidence to engage and influence at all levels

· Experience of managing people in line with organisational policies

· A thorough understanding of Global Internal Audit Standards.

To Apply

If this sounds like your next role, please complete the application form on our website and tell us within the supporting statement why you would be a great fit for our role and how your skills, knowledge and experience align with the requirements within the Role Profile. Please visit our Advice for Candidates webpage and review the guidance on this page for support in completing your application form.

Further Information

The Combined Authority is passionate about creating an inclusive workplace that promotes and values diversity. We know through experience that different ideas, perspectives and backgrounds create a stronger and more creative work environment that delivers better outcomes. We welcome applications irrespective of people's age, disability, neuro-divergence, sex, gender identity and gender expression, race or ethnicity, religion or belief, sexual orientation, pregnancy or maternity, or other personal circumstances. We have policies and procedures in place to ensure that all applicants are treated fairly and consistently at every stage of the recruitment process, including the consideration of reasonable adjustments for people who have a disability and/or who are neuro divergent. To find out more about inclusivity at the West Yorkshire Combined Authority please visit our dedicated webpage.

Under the Disability Confident Scheme, applicants with a disability are guaranteed an interview, subject to the minimum criteria being met.

Please note that whilst it is our policy to recruit at SP1 for all appointments, which is the salary stated above, each role includes career salary progression, with incremental increases applicable in most cases on an annual basis