WHEATLEY
GROUP
JOB PROFILE
Job Details
Job Title
Assurance Manager
Location/
Section
Assurance
Service Area
Finance Division, Group Support
Report to
Director of Assurance
Grade
SCP 57-60
Date
Completed
September 2013
Job Summary
To support the Director of Assurance in providing an integrated assurance service to the Wheatley Group combining
audit, performance reporting and quality assurance as a seamless support function. To promote effective working
between assurance team members with regards to staff development and the resulting benefits in achieving
organisational goals.
To support the Director of Assurance in the strategic leadership of an internal audit and quality assurance services and
the development and embedding of a risk management culture across the Wheatley Group, including Board,
Executive Team and managers throughout the Group’s subsidiaries
To support the development and implementation of quality management frameworks that promotes continuous
improvement and provides the Group and subsidiaries with assurance that we are delivering our strategic purpose and
improving services. The control environment focussed assurance to be provided by producing draft reports and
finalising reports with Audit Clients which can be supported by detailed audit working files which can be passed to
the Director of Assurance for review. The Assurance Manager will be responsible for attending Group Subsidiary
Board meetings (eg YourPlace, Cube, GHA Legal and Lowther Homes) to report on audit plans and findings.
This role will support the development of a robust internal control environment across the Group by focussing the
assurance teams’ work on areas of risk to the Group and by assessing the design and operating effectiveness of
systems on internal control in key operations across the Group. The Assurance Manager will support the control
enivornments development by recommendation improvement in business practices to ensure value protection and
value enhancement through identifying recommendations in relation to good practice.
Behaviours & Competencies
Our Organisational Competencies
 Delighting our customers
 Achieving excellence
 Communicating effectively
 Using professional judgement
 Taking personal pride
To demonstrate the following behaviours and competencies:
 Strong leadership and management skills
 Adept at removing the barriers that get in the way of delivering excellent customer service
 Creating an environment of trust
 Ensure two way dialogue with teams
 Finding creative solutions for customers
 Good listener
Wheatley Group is committed to Equality and Diversity

Excellent communication, negotiation, presentation and interpersonal skills
Ability to communicate complex information clearly and concisely
 Ability to ensure that staff are confident using their own initiative
 Self aware and self motivated to realise your full potential
 Inspire others to achieve their full potential
 Excellent time management skills

Computer literate
 Ability to take responsibility for own learning and continuous improvement
 Ability to represent Wheatley Group in a positive and effective manner
 Take responsibility for managing excellent performance results
 Building appropriate and effective networks, locally and group-wide for the benefit of our communities
Person Specification

Experience
Essential
 Management experience in internal audit roles, including coaching on audit assignment
 Through knowledge of International Standards for the Professional Practice of Internal Auditing and best practice
 Skilled at evaluating systems of internal controls and determining appropriate testing strategies
 Understanding of quality management frameworks and areas of good practice
 Experience in negotiating with senior management in agreeing audit objectives, scope and final
reports/recommendations/action plans
 Excellent analytical and evaluation skills
 A thorough understanding of performance and developing performance framework
 Experience of interacting in positions of trust with senior and/or board level executives
 High level of interpersonal skills
Desirable






Experience of leading improvement in customer services
Knowledge of the Scottish Housing Regulator’s Regulatory Standards of Governance and Financial Management
and the Scottish Government’s
Track record in successfully delivering change
Substantial project management experience and ability to manage complex major projects, deploying best
practice
Expert professional knowledge and an excellent track record in the delivery of an internal audit service
Track record in successfully promoting and delivering change
Qualifications
Essential

Degree or equivalent level qualification relating to a financial or audit profession
Desirable


Qualified membership of an accountancy or audit professional body
Qualification in Systems Thinking, EFQM or similar quality management approach
Job Outputs
Role output
Includes the requirement to:
Wheatley Group is committed to Equality and Diversity
Lead the assurance element of the
service to deliver group objectives
Lead fraud/irregularities
investigations
Lead an integrated, professional
and effective assurance team
service to deliver organisational
objectives
 Prepare a strategic and annual assurance plan with key interdependencies to
identify priorities
 Deliver the annual plan of assurance focussed reviews including internal
control spot checks, keeping the group safe and quality assurance reviews
 After an initial brief from the Director of Assurance, manage, plan, organise
and carry out assurance reviews against legislation and regulatory
requirements of the audited area to provide the Group Audit Committee with
assurance on internal control environment through detail internal audit
reviews, spot checks and “keeping the business safe” activities with a high
level of autonomy and within a set timescale
 Understand thoroughly the requirement of each assurance review
 Assign elements of the assurance plan to team members and ensure the
completion of individual assignments by coaching the team through the
assurance process, assign areas of responsibility, review their work, provide
feedback
 Ensure all files supporting findings and recommendations which provide
assurance to the Group Audit Committee and Subsidiary Boards are fully
compliant with the International Standards for the Professional Practice of
Internal Auditing and internal audit’s methodology
 Draft and present Assurance/Audit reports for reviews undertaken, agree
findings and recommendations with senior management across the business
and finalise audit reports in preparation of presentation to Executive Team,
subsidiary Audit Committees, Board meetings and the Group Audit
Committee
 Able to lead the team and change focus or direction when necessary
 Attend all Subsidiary Boards to present assurance plans and reports to the
Subsidiary Boards along with recommendations to address control
weaknesses
 Ensure internal control environment work is directed to provide assurance on
compliance with data protection, Whistleblowing, business continuity,
disaster recovery and other relevant legislation and regulatory requirements.
 Investigate and respond to suspected frauds or irregularities, identified by
Management, management Board or through Whistleblowing (both internal
and external). Ensure all such investigations are documented in accordance
with legislative requirements, report findings to the Director of Assurance,
Executive Team and draft reports to Group audit committee
 When required, work closely with the Group Executive Team in providing
advice on key assurance and risk advice and keeping the Group Executive
Team apprised of progress of agreed interventions
 When required, to lead on any special or suspected fraud investigations and
report, both verbally and in writing, findings back to Director of Assurance
and appropriate Group Executive Team members.






Lead an integrated assurance service to the Wheatley Group combining
audit, performance reporting and quality assurance as a seamless support
function
Ensure a joined up approach of identifying opportunities for business
improvement, supporting managers in making service improvements and
reviewing results are compliant with all relevant policies and regulation
Promote effective working between assurance team members with regards
to staff development and the resulting benefits in achieving organisational
goals
Develop process redesign and review to drive out organisational waste /
failure demand and design in value to these business areas. This will
include spot checks on areas that have been identified during elements of
the assurance team’s work.
Responsible for leading the Assurance Team’s work in terms of providing
assurances on achievement of strategic objectives (eg Technology Strategy,
Digital Inclusion and Older People’s Strategies)
Lead on the development of the Group subsidiary risk management process
Wheatley Group is committed to Equality and Diversity
management




Provide advice and support on best
 Fulfil a business advisory / value enhancement role in supporting
Implementation of risk
Draft and develop a risk strategy to implement across the Group
Embed risk management practice across the Group
Draft, develop and implement Group wide risk framework
Consult with senior managers on business projects to ensure appropriate
consideration of risk is given
 Consult with Group and Subsidiary Board Members to ensure appropriate
consideration of risk is given
 Draft Group Audit Committee and Subsidiary Board papers
management across the group in the development of their internal control
environment
practice and performance
Improving the assurance service
 Review and regularly update relevant policies which are the responsibility of







Assurance of the Group’s progress

to excellence

Clear and consistent leadership of 
staff


Achievement of agreed targets for
internal audit, i.e. Risk Management Policy, Whistleblowing Policy, AntiFraud, corruption and Bribery Policy
Build relationships across the Group to identify areas for improvement
Share best practice with key interdependencies
Develop of team members by sharing best / good practice and providing
additional coaching when required
Take responsibility for the coach and developing of individual team
members
Keep up to date with developments in internal audit and Corporate
Governance practices
Build relationships across the organisation so that the Assurance team is
approached to seek assistance and guidance
Support senior management across the group to implement recommendations
by providing guidance on relevant procedural or policy changes as required
Support the programme of external validation (e.g. EFQM / external
auditors / SHR)
Negotiate on behalf of the Group in relation to external assessments.
Conduct effective line management of team members including absence,
disciplinary and performance management.
Communicate clearly to employees relevant organisational, divisional and
team aims and initiatives.
Motivate team members and provide regular feedback to ensure their
continual development

As agreed through my contribution process


Value for money delivered on all outputs.
Annual cost reductions and efficiency savings met within workstream.
the Team
Efficient and well managed work
processes across the function

regulatory, statutory and corporate 

Compliance
with
requirements
professional,
Comply with and implement all Group policies and procedures.
Act ethically and with integrity
Promote and implement Group’s business plan.
Interdependencies










Group Executive Team
Director of Assurance
Wheatley Group Board
Directors and managers Group-wide
Scottish Federation of Housing Associations
Chartered Institute of Housing
External accreditation bodies such as Quality Scotland, Vanguard and Customer Service Excellence
Scottish Housing Regulator
External Auditors
Performance Frameworks Manager
Wheatley Group is committed to Equality and Diversity


Senior Assurance Co-ordinator
Assurance Officers
Wheatley Group is committed to Equality and Diversity