Manager:Research and Development at Auditor-General of South Africa

Requirement Overview

• The purpose of the role is to provide insights from research to identified on audit topics that are impactful and auditable, and consistent with the SAI’s mandate. Stay abreast of new developments and trends in performance audit to share insights with the teams to ensure that standalone performance audits, value add projects and integrated audits, are planned, executed, and reported on, in the most economic, effective and efficient manner. Lead innovation, data analytics and other processes to improve audit efficiencies

Roles & Responsibilities

Strategic Function

• Provide inputs and support the implementation of the strategy of the business unit (BU).
• Contribute to the development of plans and ensure alignment with BU BSC.
• Identifying value-add audit opportunities through research, engagement with internal and external stakeholders.
• As research and development will feed into the audit process, ensure all work is done according to the relevant auditing standards and ISQM

Product Management

• Innovation, research and development
• Conduct research (applying applicable/relevant research methods, data analytics, etc) and environmental scanning, to ensure that quality and relevant audit themes and impactful topics have been identified in line with National, sector and AGSA priorities and strategic plans.
• Collaborate with relevant external stakeholders and AGSA business units, to conduct and manage research.
• Regular report back on the progress and results of research conducted.
• Prioritise topics and compile proposals motivating the audits.
• Actively research new developments in auditing, innovation, and tools/aspects/technology for improved audit efficiencies.
• Incorporate research insights and findings into the development of the performance audit products and ensure alignment within the SAS portfolio and Audit portfolio.
• Develop and implement relevant innovative solutions and techniques to guide the performance audit team on rollout of relevant projects.
• Respond to research requests on various topics and produce reports on the insights gained from this research, by actively applying different research techniques or methods, including data analytics.

Development of audits: Standalone performance audits

Planning

• Advise the audit team on risks identified during the research.
• Develop criteria audit questions, and scope in collaboration with the relevant audit team.
• Advise the engagement manager on possible need to appoint external specialists.
• Advise the engagement manager on key audit procedures.

Execution and reporting

• Continue environmental scanning and advise the audit team on risks identified during these stages.
• Compile comprehensive reports after each project including recommended actions/strategies/approaches.
• Development of audits: integration

Planning

• Support PA sector leads in the development of planning.
• Execution and reporting
• Support PA sector leads with specific topic insights.
• Compile comprehensive reports after each project including recommended actions/strategies/approaches.

Training and Development

• Facilitate knowledge sharing sessions of insights, risk and knowledge of the business and industry within the audit team, BU and the AGSA.
• Share the results of research with staff.
• Provide guidance on the execution of data analytics.

Stakeholder Engagements

• Establish, build and maintain strategic and value-adding relationships with key stakeholders (internal and external) to ensure support during the audit process for both integration and stand-alone audits.
• Share insights with internal stakeholders.

People Management (if applicable)

• Manage own and team performance.
• Motivate, coach and mentor staff to ensure maximum productivity and development of the staff to their full potential.
• Manage staff/ teams performance and implement a culture of performance management.
• Implement initiatives for creation of talent pipeline and succession planning.
• Provide support to the senior manager with regard to centre management and other business unit tasks

Financial Management

• Contribute to the compilation of centre budget, and manage project expenditure related to functional area.
• Ensure compliance to AGSA policies and procedures.
• Ensure compliance with internal processes and procedures.
• Manage supply chain processes within scope of work.

Other responsibilities (Applicable to All JD’s)

• Perform and/or manage other projects, tasks and assignments not stipulated on the Job description as and when required.

Skills, Experience & Education

Formal Education

• Post-graduate qualification in relevant field e.g. Education, Health, Economics, Computer Science, Accounting and Auditing etc.

Advantage

• Professional registration with relevant Professional Body would be an advantage e.g. CISA, CIA, ACCA, RGA, CA(SA), CISM etc.

Experience/ requirements

• Minimum of 5 years industry specific experience in the Health/Education/Economics/Public Sector etc. (experience in a management role will be an added advantage).

Public sector knowledge

• Experience in research and development
• Understanding of the audit environment, audit standard practices and reporting
• Knowledge of performance auditing will be an added advantage