Job Specification

Purpose of Position :

To perform complex and supervisory professional auditing work. Work involves conducting and supervising complex performance, value for money, financial, and compliance audit projects and special projects; providing risk and assurance consulting services to the organization's management and staff; providing key input to the development of the Annual Audit Plan; leading, coaching and training a team of audit staff on a project basis.

Duties / Responsibilities :

Within a service team environment that has either large complex audit projects or projects that are multi ministry or enterprise in nature, the position:

1. Carries out complex audit planning tasks and plans and coordinates complex audit projects in conformance with professional and OIA audit standards. Performs individually and/or supervises Risk and Assurance Consultants and other audit staff in completing audit procedures, including identifying and defining issues, developing criteria, reviewing and analyzing evidence and documenting client processes and procedures.

2. Provides expertise, advice, and consulting services to assist clients in the development, use and evaluation of risk management and control strategies for current or proposed operations, processes, policies and programs. Applies group problem solving and facilitation skills in conducting stakeholder consultations and in the development of action plans to address organizational performance, governance, control, risk and quality assurance issues.

3. Supervising staff or individually, uses appropriate risk assessment and risk management techniques and methodologies to assist clients in operational and strategic planning, the selection of policy options, the implementation of new programs and services, and the ongoing monitoring, evaluation and reporting of risks to senior executives. Designs and implements risk assessment and quality assurance tools to meet the needs of the customers. Designs and facilitates effective, creative interventions, in both large and small group settings, to address the problem solving and risk assessment needs of a wide range of clients throughout the ministry at the branch, district, regional, divisional and senior management level.

4. Evaluates client needs and identifies and markets consulting and education services to improve strategic/operational planning, business processes, organizational design, change management, performance measurement, quality assurance, risk management, controllership and related policies and procedures. Supervising staff or individually, develops training materials and provides educational sessions for clients in areas such as fraud awareness, risk analysis, mitigation and action plan development, financial management and accountability systems and governance.

5. Supervising staff or individually, plans, conducts, co-ordinates and leads multiple complex audit projects (e.g. compliance, financial management, value for money, forensic, special investigations). Consults with audit management and clients to develop the frameworks to be used in describing the ministry's risk management strategies; conducts assessment of the control strategies, structures and systems of the ministry and establishes/documents the ministry's operative control strategies and structures in identified risk areas.

6. Provides team leadership to multi-disciplinary teams through resource allocation and monitoring of projects, provision of technical guidance, training and coaching, review of peer files and the resolution of problems within the broad framework of ministry and OPS strategic plans and directions. Develops audit methodology, scope of assurance projects, resource requirements, terms of reference and work plans to identify ministry risks and measure the achievement of ministry business objectives. Ensures work plans are appropriately aligned with branch priorities, projects are completed within budget and target date and are in accordance with appropriate professional standards.

7. Manages relationships and networks with clients, ministry management and service team colleagues including identifying, defining, and fostering alliances across the areas. Maintains ongoing contact with clients throughout consulting and assurance projects. Coordinates and oversees the work of external consultants.

8. Contributes to ongoing continuous improvement in the branch through involvement in a quality assurance program and continuous improvement activities. Ensures projects are in compliance with OIA/branch standards and professional standards. Supports a best practices and professional culture within the function. Assesses project performance against branch and divisional objectives/performance targets and initiates corrective action to improve branch performance.

9. Leads and/or contributes to the communication and negotiation of audit findings through the review of draft reports with clients and audit management, presenting issues to clients and negotiating appropriate, cost-beneficial and practical recommendations.

10. Performs expert review of work by staff auditors and participates in the evaluation of staff auditors.

11. Participates as a member of various ministry committees and government wide committees to provide ministry input to government and ministry audit, business and financial planning and policies.

12. Represents OIA on organizational project teams, at management meetings and with external organizations.

13. Pursues professional development opportunities, including external and internal training and professional association memberships, and shares information gained with co-workers.

14. Prepares briefing notes, House Book notes, issues analysis and responses to FOI requests

15. Assumes the responsibilities of the Senior Audit Manager in his/her absence.

16. Performs other related work as assigned by audit management.

Knowledge :

Position requires knowledge of generally accepted auditing standards, accounting principles, audit practices and methodologies to plan, co-ordinate and lead such audit projects as: compliance, financial management, value for money, forensic and special investigations, to establish/document the ministry's operative control strategies and structures in identified risk areas and to participate in strategic and operational planning for the audit function. Position requires knowledge of generally accepted risk management frameworks and principles, practices, standards, methodologies, and contemporary advancements in the field to manage the ministry's risk management services and to provide advice and expertise to senior management in such principles and practices as: governance and risk management and accountability, performance management and quality management systems and mitigation strategies. Expert knowledge of project management methodology to manage the planning and conduct of several concurrent projects within budget and target date. Knowledge of the business, programs, policies and legislative authorities unique to client groups to ensure the legislative and statutory requirements that effect client business, programs and services are addressed in all audits. Knowledge of consulting and education techniques to provide consulting and educational services to clients and to provide expertise and advice on various control and risk assessment strategies and processes. Ability to apply various analytical techniques and methods to issues/problems. Knowledge of computer applications, controls and computer assisted audit techniques to extract and analyze information contained in computer programs; PC skills for word processing, spreadsheet, graphics, e-mail and database applications. Negotiation skills to negotiate cost beneficial and practical recommendations resulting from audit findings. Consultative and customer service skills to provide strategic advice, expertise and communications to senior management. Team leadership and coaching skills to lead multi-disciplinary teams through all phases of audit projects. Oral and written communication skills to prepare audit reports and present findings, prepare briefing notes, House Book notes, issues analysis and responses to FOI requests. Relationship management skills to build and sustain positive client relationships.

Judgement :

Position works under the general direction of the Manager, Risk and Assurance Services/Audit Manager or Senior Audit Manager and within generally accepted standards, principles and practices for auditing, accounting, and risk management and quality systems. Position exercises judgement in describing and implementing the ministry's risk management and control strategies with consideration to needs of clients, professional standards and trends/issues which impact the audit function. A high level of judgement is required to apply risk evaluation techniques to suit client needs and to identify risk mitigation strategies as well as monitor future trends within the environment which impact customer business directions. Judgement is exercised in providing proactive advice and recommendations to senior management regarding the adequacy and effectiveness of the organization's risk profile and strategies, and supporting structures and systems for the identification of risk. Judgement is exercised in planning audit projects, providing technical guidance, training and coaching to assigned team members and resolving all problems during the course of an audit. Position exercises judgement in determining scope of assurance and resource requirements and developing terms of reference and work plans for all assigned risk management and assurance projects in an environment of constant change and competing priorities. Judgement is required in seeking out opportunities to add value, improvement and suggestions regarding the audit function and to address trends and issues which impact positive client relationships. Position exercises judgement in identifying and implementing service delivery approaches to communication information and advice to client management including audit findings and methods of increasing cost effectiveness of client business.

Accountability - Programs :

Accountable for planning, co-ordinating and leading large, complex and multiple audit projects including compliance, financial management, value for money, forensic and special investigations for the ministry, consulting, education and quality assurance projects consistent with the Memorandum of Agreement including provision of expertise and advice on risk management techniques, mitigation strategies, barriers to effective risk management, quality assurance and supporting structures and systems. Ensures work plans are appropriately aligned with branch priorities, projects are completed within budget and target date and are in accordance with appropriate professional standards. Provides input/validation for the development of ministry risk profiles and implementation of corporate policy on risk, carries out the annual program of risk assessments and provides expert advice on quality systems. Develops and markets the communication, marketing, and education strategies in alignment with business objectives and government direction.

Accountability – Personnel :

Project Management skills to lead others in timely completion of audit projects. Provides team leadership to multi-disciplinary teams including monitoring projects, providing technical guidance, training and coaching. Provides orientation and training to new staff members. Oversees the work of external consultants involved in assigned projects.

Accountability - Impact of Errors :

Ineffective planning and project management of assurance and risk management projects would seriously impact the functioning and adequacy of the ministry's control strategies, structures and systems resulting in ineffective and inefficient business operations, potential risks and liability. Failure to provide effective advice to senior officials could result in inability of the Director, ADM's, Deputy and Minister to anticipate and respond to issues, which may be high profile and cause criticism by the media and the public.

Contact - Internal :

Frequent contact with senior management clients to build and sustain positive client relationships to promote the credibility of the internal auditing function; to provide advice, expertise and recommendations regarding the functioning and adequacy of the organization's control strategies and systems and to negotiate cost-beneficial practical solutions to assist the program area in meeting its business objectives. Participates as a member of various ministry committees and government wide committees to provide ministry input to government and ministry audit, business and financial planning and policies.

Contact - External :

Regular contact with external audit professionals to manage projects conducted or resourced by external suppliers. Regular contact with other governments and counterparts in the public and private sectors to monitor future trends in the field.