Location: Barking, East London (2 days per week onsite)
Contract: Interim Assignment (Up to 9 months)
Rate: £450 - £550 per day (negotiable for right experience)
Working Pattern: 4 or 5 days per week (flexible)
Start Date: August 2026
Lead Internal Audit for a Forward-Thinking London Borough
We are seeking an experienced Audit Manager to lead a high-performing Internal Audit function within a large London local authority. This is a critical interim leadership role, responsible for delivering the Council's Internal Audit Plan, strengthening governance and risk management arrangements, and providing assurance across a diverse range of services.
Reporting to the Head of Assurance, you will play a key role in supporting effective corporate governance, internal control and risk management across the organisation.
The Role
You will:
Lead and manage the Council's Internal Audit Service.
Manage a team of 2 Principal Auditors and 2 Auditors, providing strong leadership, coaching and development.
Oversee external audit partners delivering approximately 10 outsourced audits.
Deliver the 2026/27 Internal Audit Plan efficiently and on schedule.
Undertake and oversee complex, strategic and high-profile audit reviews.
Advise senior managers and elected members on governance, risk and internal control matters.
Quality review audit reports and present findings to senior stakeholders and committees.
Support the review and implementation of the Global Internal Audit Standards.
Deputise for the Head of Assurance where required and act as Head of Audit when necessary.
About You
To be successful in this role, you will have:
Significant Internal Audit experience within the Public Sector, ideally Local Government.
A recognised professional qualification such as IIA, CCAB or equivalent.
Experience managing and developing audit teams.
Strong knowledge of governance, risk management and internal control frameworks.
Excellent stakeholder management and influencing skills.
The ability to work at pace, manage competing priorities and deliver against demanding deadlines.
Experience operating in complex organisational and political environments.
A proactive, solutions-focused approach with the ability to quickly build credibility and trust.
Key Deliverables
A major objective of this assignment is to ensure successful delivery of the 2026/27 Audit Programme, with all draft reports issued by 16 April 2027 and all final reports completed by 30 April 2027.
Why Apply?
This is an excellent opportunity for an experienced Audit Manager, Principal Auditor, Head of Audit or Internal Audit professional to take on a high-profile leadership role within a large and ambitious local authority. You will have the opportunity to influence governance improvements, support organisational transformation and lead a well-established audit team through a critical period
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Salary description
£450.00 - £500.00 per hour