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We are the independent regulator of higher education in England. We aim to ensure that every student, whatever their background, has a fulfilling experience of higher education that enriches their lives and careers. We also care about supporting and developing our staff, working together to achieve more than each of us can do alone.

We’re looking for skilled, committed people who care about students and their experience of higher education. Join us and you’ll be part of an energetic, forward-looking organisation with high ambitions and big opportunities for our people.

Job description

About the role

The Senior Provider Audit Officer role is based in the Provider Audit Team, which delivers an assurance programme aimed at ensuring risks are anticipated and addressed, including risks relating to provider data and other key operational processes. The OfS’s regulatory approach utilises data obtained from higher education providers, so it is important data is fit for this purpose.

You will work closely with staff at higher education providers to explore how they collect and manage data and to assess the accuracy of that data. Broader audits conducted by the team explore how key processes impacting on students are designed and implemented, contributing to the OfS’s approach to regulating providers’ compliance with our regulatory expectations.

You will lead audits and reviews assessing the accuracy of data and the effectiveness of underlying systems and processes at providers. This includes directing and overseeing the work of colleagues working on the audit.

You will work closely with provider staff and often act as the primary point of contact, including conducting face to face meetings. You will report findings both to providers and to colleagues at the OfS.

The role involves regular travel to providers across England, including overnight stays.

Person specification

About you

You’ll have worked as an internal auditor, or in a similar role where you tested compliance and assessed the effectiveness of systems and processes.

Essential experience required for the role:

Experience in leading audits, or similar exercises to test compliance and/or the effectiveness of systems and processes, such as internal audits, similar assurance work or investigations.

Excellent numerical and data literacy skills. Experience of working with data and an ability to understand new data definitions.

Experience in applying high levels of professional scepticism, including designing novel approaches to testing in response to emerging risks.

Excellent communication skills. Experience in managing sensitive or difficult conversations.

A proven ability to communicate complex technical issues both verbally and in writing.

Experience in reporting findings from audits or similar exercises and effectively tailoring communications to different audiences.

Ability to work with high levels of autonomy. Experience of managing own workload, including responding to emerging and changing priorities.

Experience of working with a range of stakeholders and managing potential conflict while maintaining effective working relationships.

Desirable experience:

An understanding of regulation and/or the higher education sector.

Relevant qualification e.g. CMIIA, CIA, ACCA, ACA.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £54,439, Office for Students contributes £15,770 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides (opens in a new window).

Learning and development tailored to your role
An environment with flexible working options
A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity
A Civil Service pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%

Things you need to know

Artificial intelligence

Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance (opens in a new window) for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.

Selection process details

Application process

There are 3 online application questions to complete, alongside providing a summary of your career to date, which will allow you to demonstrate your relevant experience.

Reasonable adjustments

We are committed to ensuring our recruitment process is accessible to everyone. If you require any reasonable adjustments to support you through the application stage, please contact us at recruitmentteam@officeforstudents.org.uk and we will be happy to help.

Working for us

The OfS regulates the higher education sector on behalf of all students. We value diversity and the wealth of perspectives, experience and ideas that it brings to our work, and we strive to embed equality of opportunity in everything we do.

We recruit based on fair and open competition and welcome applications from candidates regardless of age, disability, race and ethnicity, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation and socio-economic background.

Flexibility is important to the OfS, as we recognise that it can enable people to work more effectively. A set of organisation-wide principles shape our approach to flexible and hybrid working, which our teams then use as guidance on how they deliver their business goals. This would usually mean working from the office for two days in a typical week.

To attract the widest possible field of qualified applicants, flexible working, for example job share and part time working (with a minimum 0.8 FTE), apply to this role.

Closing date for applications: Monday 27th July at noon

For information: the OfS does not hold a UK Visa & Immigration (UKVI) Skilled Worker Sponsor Licence.

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Nationality requirements

This job is broadly open to the following groups:

UK nationals
nationals of the Republic of Ireland
nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service

Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)

Working for the Civil Service

Please note this Post is NOT regulated by the Civil Service Commission.The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.

Diversity and Inclusion

The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see theCivil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window).

Apply and further information

The Civil Service welcomes applications from people who have recently left prison or have an unspent conviction. Read more about prison leaver recruitment (opens in new window).Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.

Contact point for applicants

Job contact :

Name : Recruitment Team
Email : RecruitmentTeam@officeforstudents.org.uk
Telephone : 01179317444

Recruitment team

Email : RecruitmentTeam@officeforstudents.org.uk

Further information

Careers - Office for Students

Attachments

Why work for the OfS Feb 2026 Opens in new window (pdf, 425kB)

Salary range

£54,439 - £56,968 per year