Kirklees Council is at a pivotal moment, with ambitious transformation programmes and a leadership culture built on openness, collaboration and constructive challenge. Internal Audit is already highly respected here, Members expect intelligent, wellpresented assurance, and senior officers actively seek advice. This is a council where your expertise will be listened to, valued and acted upon. 

About the role

As Head of Service – Audit & Risk, you won’t just deliver a statutory audit function. You’ll be a trusted advisor to the Chief Executive, Chief Finance Officer, Monitoring Officer and Members, shaping how the organisation understands and manages risk, governance and assurance. 

You’ll operate as the Council’s Chief Audit Executive, reporting regularly to Cabinet and the Corporate Governance and Audit Committee, and bringing a strategic perspective to major corporate and regeneration programmes, including largescale system transformation. 

Your portfolio is broad and genuinely interesting: Internal Audit, Fraud, Insurance, Corporate Complaints, Risk and Information Governance. These services are technically strong and well regarded; your role is to provide leadership, coherence and confidence, modernising where needed and strengthening accountability in a collaborative, trusted way. 

You’ll also work with external partners, including overseeing internal audit provision to organisations such as West Yorkshire Fire Service. 

About you

This role is for a leader who enjoys influence, complexity and challenge. You may already be leading an internal audit function, or you may be a senior finance, audit or assurance professional ready for a meaningful step up. 

More important than background is how you lead: 

• You think strategically and communicate with impact 

• You build trust quickly with Members and senior leaders 

• You’re confident offering constructive challenge while maintaining strong relationships 

• You can help an organisation mature its risk culture and strengthen ownership 

Local government experience is helpful but not essential. If you can navigate a large, complex organisation and provide calm, credible leadership, you’ll thrive here. 

If you’re looking for a senior role with real influence, genuine support, and the freedom to shape how assurance and risk add value across an organisation – Kirklees is ready for you.