Product Champion at Auditor-General of South Africa

Strategic Function

• Contributes to the development of the Business Unit (BU) Balance Score Card (BSC) initiatives.
• Ensure adequate quality assurance processes in the BU for the achievement of the BSC objectives.
• Implement and monitor the BSC initiatives within the BU.

Product Management

Technical developments:

• Provide strategic inputs into the AGSA products and annual scoping decisions for Public Finance Management Act (PFMA) and Municipal Finance Management Act (MFMA).
• Provide technical inputs to the technical audit department on all areas of public sector auditing and reporting as and when required.
• Participate in the technical development projects and contribute to technical discussions during various forums such as the Product champion and State Owned Entities (SOE) forums.
• Obtain and coordinate inputs from ABUs on technical documents to inform inputs to the relevant internal BUs and at technical forums.

Technical support:

• Provide sound technical advice and support to the ABU regarding technical queries raised by different centres within the business unit.
• Prepare, review and oversee all technical queries/matters to be escalated to the relevant internal BUs as per the AGSA approved consultation processes and procedures.
• Lead regular technical discussions and communication within the ABU to ensure a proper understanding of the Public audit manual and related technical guidance issued.
• Liaise with provincial treasuries on technical matters and provide information to the relevant internal BUs, where necessary.
• Provide technical support to the Sections 4(3) audits, monitor and improve the quality of audits being conducted on behalf of the AGSA.

Quality standards and methodology:

• Lead initiatives to design and improve BU approaches to quality management on all audits thereby improving the quality of the audits for the BU.
• Implement systems and processes within ABU to ensure quality audit work including conducting consistency reviews on audit reports as determined by the business unit.
• Ensure an effective and efficient pre-issueance review process for purposes of improving the quality of the audits for the BU.
• Monitor the improvement in the quality of audits conducted including those conducted on behalf of the AGSA.
• Co-ordinate BU submissions for compliance reviews including handling own compliance reviews where applicable
• Collaborate and support audit support BUs and specialized audit BUs in achieving quality and relevant audit products and audit outcomes.
• Provide input and support the methodology development within the AGSA.
• Guide and support audit teams regarding the identification, processing and reporting of MIs.

Reporting:

• Provide comments and inputs on the reporting guide, with emphasis on General Report (GR) blueprint, and GR process.
• Ensure basic level of consistency in reporting with a view to easier consolidate information for general report.
• Review and provide inputs to the management information system for reporting purposes to ensure the quality of the information captured and clear any findings raised by QC or ARD.

Technical training:

• Monitor the identification of employee training needs.
• Oversee that interventions are put in place to address training and development gaps in collaboration with relevant internal BUs.
• Participate, where possible, in the delivery training and evaluation of training material.

Training Officer responsibilities:

• Support the delivery of highly skilled and qualified workforce to the AGSA and the public sector through the trainee auditor programme inclusive of effective recruitment and retention.
• Monitor the trainee auditors scheme, supporting the strategic objectives of the AGSA Trainee Auditor Scheme are achieved, providing support to the trainees and the trainees’ academic progress.
• Take ownership of the assessment process end to end including the review of ANA and SR’s to ensure compliance and adherence to SAICA as well as AGSA requirements
• Ensure that trainee auditor developments plans are in place and in collaboration with the evaluators and assessors, monitor the progress on the plans.
• Ensure that the training office is compliant with SAICA training regulations and complies with AGSA strategic objectives of maintaining our status of being a good training institution.

Stakeholder Management

• Provide technical support and guidance to internal stakeholders on technical matters in order to ensure alignment with the relevant guidelines and AGSA strategy.
• Ensure active participation in various forums such as PC and Training Officer forum.
• Build and maintain positive relationships with internal and external stakeholders such as Trainee Auditor Forum (TAF).
• Communicate technical processes and requirements including strategic goal and objectives to internal stakeholders to ensure understanding.

People Management

• Manage team performance to drive productivity.
• Contribute to transformation/culture plans.
• Motivate, coach and mentor staff to ensure maximum productivity and development of the staff to their full potential.
• Participate in initiatives to attract talent.
• Contribute to effective administration of the BU training office.
• Cascade strategic organisational alignment messages and commitments.
• Implement relevant centre initiatives to bring about an inclusive culture, enhanced employee experience and employee well-being

Financial Management & Operational Management

• Contribute to the compiling of the BU budget and ensure adherence to the required financial performance standards.
• Ensure compliance with internal processes and procedures
• Ensure compliance with supply chain processes

Other responsibilities

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

Formal Education

• This position requires a minimum qualification of CA(SA)

Experience

• Minium of 6 years’ experience post qualification with at least 4 years experience operating at a manager/middle management level