MEDWAY COUNCIL - JOB PROFILE. Audit & Counter Fraud Officer, Audit & Counter Fraud Intelligence Analyst and Audit & Counter Fraud Assistant

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1 DESIGNATION DEPARTMENT RESPONSIBLE TO RESPONSIBLE FOR GRADE 6 MEDWAY COUNCIL - JOB PROFILE Fraud Shared Service Head of Internal Fraud, Fraud Intelligence Analyst and Fraud Assistant 1. MAIN PURPOSE OF JOB To provide day to day line management and supervision of the Fraud Officers in the delivery of audit work, investigation and proactive counter fraud work as required. To provide day to day line management and supervision of the Fraud Assistant to include support to deliver the SPOC role for the DWP. To support the s with their continuous professional development; through non-professional qualification training at Team days and assistance and advice for professional qualification training. To support the s to plan allocated workloads, supervising them to deliver high quality audit and investigation work within allocated day allocations / timeframes and in line with legislation and the requirements of the Public Sector Internal Audit Standards as appropriate. To provide a robust quality control review for all completed audit, investigation and proactive counter fraud work, ensuring work is complete, accurate and that actions recommended by officers are sound. To advise the s to enable them to produce high quality, compelling reports and to carry out initial quality reviews of reports produced. To support the s to present findings to clients, including agreeing any further action required. To discuss with senior management any findings of a particularly complex or sensitive nature and agree appropriate solutions. To plan and conduct audit, investigation and proactive counter fraud work of a highly complex or sensitive nature, either independently or directing the s to support. This may require interviews adhering to appropriate Codes of Practice and undertaking surveillance in line with relevant legislation. To lead the follow up of agreed recommendations, including: Designing and reviewing A&CF follow-up mechanisms, Monitoring performance and calculating performance outturns, Reporting responses and outcomes of follow up work to senior management To provide high level advice and support to officers on governance, risk, control and counter-fraud matters; including the design of relevant controls. To measure and monitor the performance of own team, reporting any issues to the Head of Internal Fraud To assist the Head of Internal Fraud with designing and maintaining performance measurement mechanisms to measure and monitor the performance of 1

2 the team as well as reporting the outputs of the team to officers as required. To Assist the Head of Fraud with preparing reports for Audit Committee(s) To assist the Head of Internal Fraud to identify key risk areas to be included within future work plans. To assist the Head of Internal Fraud with preparing and reviewing as required the annual A&CF resource budget and plan, including deciding upon and documenting the reasons for allocating individual pieces of work to officers. To liaise with and represent the team at meetings with internal departments, partners and other external agencies as required; including taking positions on corporate working groups, as required, to support the implementation of key policy and procedure changes. To assist with undertaking an annual self-assessment against the Public Sector Internal Audit Standards. To lead on the liaison between Medway Council & Gravesham Borough Council and the Department for Work & Pensions in regards to their investigation of Housing Benefit. 2. PERSON SPECIFICATION Qualifications/Knowledge Demonstrable ability to use advanced theoretical/practical/procedural/organisational /policy knowledge across a specialist area. IIA/CIA qualified or equivalent, commitment to study for Chartered Auditor status AND / OR Supervisory level qualification in counter fraud / investigations or equivalent. Experience Experience in and good understanding of the systems and risk based approach to audit including the ability to produce high quality written reports. Experience in and good understanding of fraud investigation including knowledge undertaking interviews (in line with relevant legislation/guidance), surveillance, preparing court case papers / attending court. Experience of supervising audit and/or investigation work to professional standards within agreed timescales, including giving and receiving positive feedback and constructive criticism. Experience of delivering high quality internal audit / investigation work. Experience of liaison with other local authorities and external agencies to facilitate joint working. 2

3 Skills Demonstrable ability to analyse and interpret very varied and highly complex information and develop strategies and solutions for long term plans. Demonstrable ability to use highly developed communication skills to confidently present complex/sensitive information in an understandable way, adapting the style to a range of audiences. Demonstrable ability to carry out tasks and/or advise on internal procedures, which impact on the health and wellbeing of people. Demonstrable ability to take responsibility for line managing others, providing direction, monitoring progress and empowering them to achieve objectives. Demonstrable ability to work independently within clear guidelines and regularly use initiative to make decisions, referring to more senior officers for advice on policy/resource issues. Demonstrable ability work with dexterity, co-ordination or sensory skills where there is considerable demand for precision in the use of these skills. Desirable Demonstrable ability to carry out accounting for considerable financial amounts accurately and with due care and attention (i.e. up to per day) Or Demonstrable experience of being accountable for large expenditures of up to from an agreed budget or income, with supervision, and including setting, monitoring and ensuring effective spend of budget Or Demonstrable experience of providing general information, advice and guidance on internal policies and procedures relating to finance and interpretation of these in relation to specific circumstances 3. ORGANISATION (i) ORGANISATION CHART See Appendix A. (ii) DESCRIBE HOW AND BY WHOM THE POST IS MANAGED This post is part of the Shared Service providing internal audit and counter fraud services to both Medway Council and Gravesham Borough Council. The post reports to the Head of Internal Fraud. (iii) DESCRIBE THE LEVEL OF INITIATIVE AND/OR INDEPENDENCE EXPECTED OF THE POST HOLDER The post is required to work as a unit with the Head of Internal Fraud to ensure high quality, consistent internal audit and counter fraud services are provided to both Medway Council and Gravesham Borough Council. Initiative is required for effectively investigating, preventing, detecting, analysing, reporting and recovering losses. 3

4 The post-holder will be expected to work independently, with minimal supervision; complying at all times with legislative requirements, policy and good practice guidelines governing the conduct of investigations and audit work. (iv) DESCRIBE ANY SUPERVISORY/MANAGEMENT RESPONSIBILITIES The post will have line management responsibility for the Fraud Officers, the Fraud Analyst and the Fraud Assistant. The role will require duties to be carried out at the offices of both Medway Council in Chatham and Gravesham Borough Council in Gravesend. (v) JOB CONTEXT - DESCRIBE THE MAIN CONTACTS, BOTH INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL AND THE PURPOSE OF THOSE CONTACTS The post-holder will work with management at all levels across the both Medway Council and Gravesham Borough Council. The post holder will have direct contact with members of the public, internal departments of both Partners and other agencies including the Police, DWP and other local authorities. The post-holder will work with the Head of Internal Fraud to prepare and present reports to Medway s Audit Committee, Gravesham Borough Council s Finance & Audit Committee and any other officer and/or Member group or committee as required. 4. FINANCIAL ACCOUNTABILITIES Demonstrable experience of being accountable for large expenditures of up to from an agreed budget or income, with supervision, and including setting, monitoring and ensuring effective spend of budget. 5. WORKING ENVIRONMENT Primarily office based at Gun Wharf, Chatham and Civic Centre, Gravesend but may need to visit any other council location (including schools) across both local authorities or any location in either area for the purposes of investigations. The post holder may be visiting homes and business premises, of varying conditions, and may be exposed to difficult situations and potentially verbal or physically aggressive members of the public. The post-holder may be required to carry out surveillance operations. Some duties may be required to be carried out outside of typical office hours. 4

5 Appendix A Head of Internal Fraud Service Manager Fraud Analyst Audit Counter Fraud Assistant SPOC 2 5