Opportunities

SAAA is seeking a talented, knowledgeable individual or a small team of individuals or company to deliver part of its Quality and Contract Assurance programme for the next four years SAAA is the sector-led limited company appointed by the then Department of Communities and Local Government as the ‘specified person’ to:

• procure and appoint external auditors to smaller authorities in England
• perform the functions set out in the relevant legislation, and
• monitor delivery of the ongoing audit contracts

Further details about SAAA can be found here – www.saaa.co.uk

There are over 9,800 smaller authorities in England and these include Town and Parish Councils, Parish Meetings and Internal Drainage Boards.

Given the scale of public money managed by these smaller authorities a lighter touch, more proportionate regime of limited assurance reviews was introduced for those smaller authorities with turnover below £6.5m, instead of a full external audit.

These reviews are carried out by external auditors at the four audit firms which were successful in bidding for the work.

SAAA has an important role in ensuring the quality of the work undertaken by the firms is of a good standard to help protect the public purse and provide assurance to taxpayers, local communities, and central government that these smaller bodies are subject to appropriate levels of scrutiny. To do this SAAA has developed a risk based programme of work which is undertaken annually at the four firms.

Therefore, SAAA is seeking a talented, knowledgeable individual or a small team of individuals or company to deliver part of its Quality and Contract Assurance programme for the next four years.

The work will cover reviewing and testing the appointed external auditors’ own internal quality systems and outcomes, grading auditors’ performance, making recommendations for improvement, and reporting this work to SAAA’s Board and the firms.

SAAA anticipates that the successful individual or firm will have experience and understanding of public sector audit and a willingness to learn about the specific requirements of the smaller authorities limited audit regime. They will be able to establish and manage positive professional relationships with audit firms to generate systematic improvement where needed.

Interested parties should contact SAAA’ Chief Executive, Annie Child, to be provided with additional information about this opportunity. The closing date for applications is 12:00 on Fri 29 Mar 2024 and applicants are strongly encouraged to contact the CEO before they apply.

Click here to download a copy of the specification for the quality assurance work

Annie Child
CEO SAAA Ltd
[email protected]
0208 148 7866