Senior Internal Auditor - 36621

Do you want your work to make a real difference to people, communities and the environment? Joining the Environment Agency’s Internal Audit team lets you undertake challenging work that makes a difference. Every day, our work helps strengthen how the organisation delivers on its mission to create a better place for people and wildlife. If you enjoy variety, interesting topics and seeing the impact of your work firsthand, this role offers a rewarding and meaningful career.  

We provide independent assurance by reviewing the adequacy and effectiveness of corporate governance, risk management and internal control across the organisation. This is a varied and engaging role where no two audits are the same. Our work spans the breadth of the Environment Agency’s activities - one audit could be reviewing flood defences and the next waste enforcement. Auditors value the opportunity to work on novel and complex topics, visit environmental assets and projects, and see first‑hand how their work contributes to protecting and improving the environment.

You will be responsible for proactively and autonomously delivering a suite of complex internal audits from the annual plan, taking assignments from inception through to completion. This includes identifying risks in a terms of reference agreed with stakeholders, designing and delivering testing plans, and clearly communicating findings through exit meetings and formal reports, supported by an Audit Manager. We are a collaborative team that supports one another as needed, and stays connected through regular contact, including monthly in person team meetings.

We encourage innovation and continue to modernise our approach, including the use of data analytics and AI‑enabled tools including risk engines and report‑writing generators.

We are committed to building an inclusive workforce reflecting the communities we serve. We welcome applicants from all backgrounds and support flexible working arrangements. Please indicate preferences regarding your working arrangements.

The Team

We are a team of seven headed by the Deputy Director of Internal Audit, reporting to the Director of Legal and Audit Services. We have a dotted line to the CEO and Chair of the Audit Risk and Assurance Committee and have a good relationship with these roles.

We work closely with the Government Internal Audit Agency who are the professional practice leads in central government and have a wide network with other government auditors.

Experience/Skills Required

• Complete or part‑qualified (>50%) Chartered Internal Auditor (CMIIA), CCAB or equivalent.
• Strong knowledge and practical experience of risk‑based internal auditing, aligned to the Global Internal Audit Standards.
• Proven ability to manage and deliver a portfolio of complex audits concurrently, meeting quality and budget expectations across multiple stakeholders.
• Strong analytical skills, with the ability to apply diverse thinking to develop practical, value‑adding solutions.
• Excellent written skills, translating findings into clear, concise reports with agreed action plans.
• Confident communicator with strong negotiation skills, able to influence stakeholders at all levels.
• Highly organised, able to manage time and resources effectively, proactively identifying issues and driving solutions.
• Collaborative team player, supporting wider team delivery and objectives.

Contact and Additional Information

This role will require some travel to your base office and other Environment Agency locations to support audit delivery and attend monthly team meetings.

If you are part qualified, you will be expected to complete the relevant professional qualification.  

We are aiming to hold interviews w/c 23 of November. If your application is successful you will need to complete a timed online written test beforehand and depending on the outcome, you will then be invited to a face to face interview in Bristol or Birmingham.

Please contact Chloë Tyler-Young at [email protected] for further information.

Competence 1

Achieves Results

Competence 1 Description

Please explain how you manage and deliver audits assigned to you from the Internal Audit plan that meet customer expectation and professional (quality) standards whilst meeting time and cost targets.

Competence 2

Influences and Persuades Others

Competence 2 Description

Please give an example of a complex situation where you were able to effectively negotiate with an audit client to persuade them to your point of view.

Competence 3

Takes Decisions and Solves Problems

Competence 3 Description

Please give an example of when you applied techniques to analyse a complex problem, which generated multiple options and how you selected the best course of action.