Fantastic Audit Scotland Graduate Trainee Auditor Opportunity

Who is Audit Scotland? 

Audit Scotland deliver independent and robust audit of Scotland’s public sector, working on behalf of the Auditor General and the Accounts Commission. They employ more than 340 talented professionals who know that their work helps the efficient delivery of public services in Scotland.  

Their vision is that public money is well spent to meet the needs of Scotland's people. To achieve this, they support the Auditor General for Scotland and the Accounts Commission to provide clear, independent, and objective assurance on how effectively public money is being managed and spent. 

Audit Scotland put their organisational values of equality, independence, innovation, integrity, and respect at the heart of everything they do. They have been named one of the top 25 workplaces in Scotland and the UK’s tenth best accountancy workplace in the 2023 Best Companies awards. 

What is the role? 

Audit Scotland’s Graduate Trainee Scheme includes full sponsorship to become a qualified Chartered Accountant with ICAS. As a Graduate Trainee Auditor, you will help your team to plan and deliver quality audit work across a range of public sector bodies, and in doing so, you will contribute to the development of various audit reports and other outputs. Some responsibilities of the opportunity are outlined below. 

Promoting and developing great audits 

Undertake audit assignments in accordance with professional standards and the Code of Audit Practice. 

Contribute to the development of appropriate audit approaches, audit tools and techniques (e.g. sampling, use of data analytics, research and interviews) tailored to the audit scope and designed to deliver a sufficient and appropriate evidence-base for the audit work. 

Identify key points arising from audits to help form sound judgements, conclusions, and constructive recommendations. 

Contribute to the drafting of accurate, clear, and concise audit reports. 

Build strong relationships with staff in public bodies and utilise these relationships to ensure successful outcomes that add credibility and value to the reputation and strategic aims of Audit Scotland. 

Enabling impact, innovation and improvement 

Undertake a programme of training with a view to becoming a professionally qualified accountant and complement this with a personal development programme to enhance your career prospects in Audit Scotland.  

You may be deployed across the organisation to provide specific expertise and contribute to audit work in other areas - principally between Audit Services Group and Performance Audit & Best Value Group. This will normally be for a defined period or on a rotational basis. 

Use professional and technical expertise and experience to challenge and support public bodies to be accountable, to demonstrate sound governance and to improve. 

Creating the right environment, culture and ways of working that allow people to flourish 

Identify and develop relationships with key stakeholders to maintain an understanding of risks and issues facing public bodies so that their work is valid, and their recommendations are realistic and capable of being implemented. 

Maintain good working relationships across Audit Scotland and participate in collaborative working for the benefit of the Auditor General for Scotland, the Accounts Commission, audited bodies, and other stakeholders. 

Who can apply?  

You don’t need to be an accountancy graduate or have achieved a specific grade in your honours degree to join Audit Scotland. Their trainees come from a variety of backgrounds and have studied a range of degree subjects. Their trainees join us straight from university or later in their careers.  

What matters is that you’ve got great analytical and people skills, are committed to studying for a professional qualification and excel in a challenging and rewarding role.  

The following requirements below outline the essential and desirable criteria to be eligible to apply. These are split into Shortlisting Criteria (S), Interview Criteria (I) and Assessment/Exercise (A). 

Essential Requirements 

You’ll need to have achieved or be on track to achieve an honours degree or equivalent in any subject (S) 

A minimum of National 5 Grade C or GCSE Grade 4/C (or equivalent) in both Maths and English (S) 

Strong verbal and written communication skills to be able to build and maintain relationships in your audit teams, across Audit Scotland and with external stakeholders (S, I & A)  

You’re self-aware and have the confidence to work using your own initiative (S & I) 

You excel working as part of a team (I) 

You will demonstrate a commitment to studying for a professional qualification and be able to divide your time between work and study effectively (I) 

An interest in Audit Scotland and/or the public sector as well as the Auditing and Accountancy profession (S & I) 

Experience of Microsoft Office Packages (I) 

Sound analytical skills to be able to effectively gather, interpret and evaluate data and translate into clear and concise audit reports (I & A) 

Disciplined and organised with good project management skills to plan and carry out audit activities and meet key deadlines (I) 

Desirable 

You will demonstrate an ability to think laterally and creatively. 

Why should you apply? 

You will get a prestigious, internationally recognised qualification, whilst being involved in varied and interesting work, auditing public bodies in Scotland.  

You’ll receive a starting salary of £26,867 per annum. As individuals pass through the ICAS qualification, they receive salary increments and once qualified a final salary of £32,503 per annum. There are also bonuses available for passing exams first time. 

Audit Scotland has been named one of the top 25 workplaces in Scotland and the UK’s tenth best accountancy workplace in the 2023 Best Companies awards. 

They value the unique perspective a diverse workforce brings to what they do.