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Job description

Secretary to the Accounts

Commission for Scotland
Accounts Commission support team – Band 4

Audit Scotland provides the Auditor General and Accounts Commission with the services they need to carry out their duties. Together we ensure that the Scottish Government and public-sector bodies throughout Scotland are held to account for the proper, efficient and effective use of public money. We employ around 340 staff in a wide variety of roles, working from our main offices in

Edinburgh and Glasgow, and through a network of regional offices across Scotland.

Overall purpose of the role

Accountable and reporting directly into the Chief Operating Officer of Audit Scotland as an Audit Scotland employee.

You will be accountable to the Chair and Members of the Accounts Commission for the services provided directly to them. Your objectives will be set by the Chair of the Accounts Commission.

As the Commission Secretary, the post holder will be responsible for:

• strategic policy, legal and procedural advice to the Commission;
• the governance arrangements of the Commission;
• the administration of and provision of services to meetings and other proceedings of the Commission;
• the communication and engagement strategy of the Commission; and
• safeguarding and promoting the reputation and interests of the Commission.

What you will be doing

This post has responsibility for managing a small team and the post holder will need to achieve results by working with and through others, accessing support from other teams.

The post holder will:

• Provide strategic policy advice to the Commission including the high-level analysis of complex options in relation to the Commission’s duties and responsibilities, as well as advice to the Commission on emerging issues/developments which may have implication for the role and work of the Commission;
• Monitor, evaluate and advise on legislative proposals and the passage of Bills within the Scottish Parliament which may have implications for the role and work of the Commission;
• Provide ethical, legal and procedural advice to the Commission and its Committees either directly or by the use of solicitors or counsel as appropriate, including acting as the Commission’s Standards Officer and liaising with the Audit Scotland ethics partner as appropriate.
• Provide administrative service to members including preparation and circulation of agendas, reports and other papers, attendance at meetings, preparation of minutes;
• Facilitate the Commission’s handling of statutory reports including correspondence with parties, arrangements of hearings, briefing of members and drafting of questions, drafting findings and arranging publication;
• Prepare the Commission’s Strategy, Annual Plan, and Annual Report and monitor and report progress of such plans against agreed timescales;
• Provide and maintain risk management arrangements for the Commission;
• Develop and ensure the delivery of a communication and engagement strategy for the Commission and act as a spokesperson for the Commission;
• Develop and maintain training, development and support arrangements, in conjunction with the Chair and Deputy Chair, to support Commission members;
• Lead and manage a small team of support and specialist colleagues;
• Build, develop and maintain effective relationships with the Chair, Deputy Chair and members of the Commission and the Controller of Audit; the Auditor General for Scotland; Audit Scotland Executive Team and equivalent post holders within partner audit firms; Senior staff within Audit Scotland in the discharge of its role of providing services to the Commission, as well as ensuring the effective performance management of reporting by Audit Scotland to the Commission and its Committees; Chief executives and leaders of councils, directors and heads of departments in the Scottish Government, with senior staff within the Scottish Parliament and in the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities (COSLA, SOLACE and other Stakeholders); Professional associations, the Improvement Services and with scrutiny regulatory and audit bodies within Scotland and within the UK.
• Ensure the Commission’s conduct of its business in all its work meets the highest standards of probity and propriety

Standards Officer duties include:

• Promoting and maintaining high standards of conduct through advice, support and training to members on the Ethical Standards framework, including the Members’

Code of Conduct;

• Maintaining an approach to registering of interests;
• Having an investigatory role if local resolution is attempted in respect of complaints or concerns made about a member’s conduct, or if this fails, reporting any breach to the Commissioner for Ethical Standards in Public Life in Scotland;
• Acting as the principal liaison officer between the Commission, the Ethical

Standards Commissioner and the Standards Commission in connection with any complaints against a member of the body in relation to the Ethical Standards Framework.

Knowledge and experience

Probably qualified to university degree level, you will have extensive experience and understanding of the Scottish public sector. You can demonstrate a track record of understanding how governance works in complex organisations, the role of committees and the way in which committee business is planned and organised, and have experience of maintaining the highest standards of probity and proprietary. .

Person specification - specific knowledge and experience

Essential

• Excellent communication/interpersonal skills
• Developing and managing effective working relationships (senior stakeholder management)
• Ability to think strategically and creatively
• Disciplined and organised with good project management and time management skills
• Ability to present balanced findings to a high standard, both orally and in writing and convincing and persuasive recommendations
• Ability to analyse complex problems and deliver practical, realistic and workable solutions

You will be able to demonstrate a good understanding of:

• Sound governance, proprietary, probity and Committee meeting facilitation
• Corporate and business planning processes
• Policy development, research and report production
• Developing and managing effective reporting mechanisms
• Microsoft Office applications

Other conditions

Audit Scotland is committed to ensuring that:

• We minimise our impact on the environment in accordance with Government policy affecting public sector organisations.
• We uphold the principles of equality, fairness & diversity.
• We all work within a safe environment and adhere to good standards of health & safety.
• All information is protected and managed appropriately.
• We maintain independence and political neutrality.

Job Types: Full-time, Fixed term contract
Contract length: 12 months

Salary: £79,859.00-£91,125.00 per year

Benefits:

• Company pension
• Cycle to work scheme
• Sick pay
• Work from home

Schedule:

• Monday to Friday

Work Location: Hybrid remote in Edinburgh

Reference ID: 0480