Secretary to The Accounts Commission for Scotland

**We’re looking for someone to join us as a Secretary to the Accounts Commission. This post has responsibility for managing a small team and the post holder will achieve results by working with and through others, accessing support from other teams. The ability to build and maintain strong relationships with a wide variety of stakeholders is imperative to this role.**

**You can find more information about the Accounts Commission on our website and more about Audit Scotland’s work, here on our website.**

**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 jointly by the Chair of the Accounts Commission and the Chief Operating Officer of Audit Scotland.

**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:

- 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.
- 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;
- 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 and procedural advice to the Commission and its Committees advice on legislation - sourcing legal advice 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.
- Oversee the 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, often to very tight deadlines, and overseeing publication of reports;
- Oversee the preparation of the Commission’s Strategy, Annual Plan, and Annual Report 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;
- 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;
- 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;
- Liasing with the Ethics Partner at Audit Scotland on any novel or complex standards matters;
- 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 & 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 organis