Who we are
Our Vision
Better lives for Victorians through our insights and influence
Our Purpose
Helping Parliament hold government to account and assisting the public sector to improve its performance
Living the VAGO
values
Respect, Accountability, Collaboration, Innovation
What is VAGO?
The Victorian Auditor-General's Office, or VAGO, a passionate team of 225 people led by Auditor-General Andrew Greaves. Our role is to evaluate how well the public sector is using resources to provide services to the people of Victoria. We do this by engaging with and examining government agencies, and we report to Parliament and the public on what we find. We also aim to empower the public sector to do things better, and provide detailed recommendations where we see issues or opportunities to improve. At VAGO we see the bigger picture, ask the tough questions and work to create a meaningful impact.
Why we audit
State and local government bodies spend over $90 billion of public money each year to deliver a range of services for all Victorians. We help maintain public trust in the government by enhancing the transparency of, and accountability for, public sector agencies’ financial and operational performance.
About Audit Quality
Audit Quality ensures our engagements meet the highest professional standards and deliver reliable, transparent results for Parliament and the community. The team provides expert oversight, guidance, and reviews across all engagements, supporting continuous improvement in methodology, compliance, and professional practice. By safeguarding the quality of our work, Audit Quality helps maintain trust in VAGO’s role as an independent integrity body.
What you’ll do
Directors at VAGO are dynamic, adaptable leaders with accreditation from Certified Practising Accountants Australia (CPA), Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand (CAANZ) or the Institute of Public Accountants (IPA). Directors have industry leading audit expertise along with expert interpersonal and change management skills. They are motivated by the challenge of promoting continuous improvement in the Victorian public sector and actively direct and coach others to achieve their work goals. Directors are responsible for:
- Implementing the Auditor-General’s strategic vision.
- Overseeing and delivering a work program within an allocated business area, which includes audits and business improvement initiatives.
- Promoting and creating opportunities for collaboration and professional development.
Operations
- Oversee the design, implementation and monitoring of better practice risk-based audit and assurance methodologies and quality control systems in order to ensure compliance with the Australian auditing and/or assurance standards.
- Monitor audit quality through oversight of VAGO’s quality review program covering VAGO engagement leaders and outsourced audit services providers (ASPs).
- Proactively engage with VAGO staff and ASPs to effectively and efficiently manage and resolve any significant and/or contentious audit quality issues that may arise.
- Review all proposed modified audit opinions prior to submission for approval to VAGO’s audit report modification panel.
- Develop, maintain and deliver timely and relevant technical audit training to VAGO staff.
- Demonstrate an expert understanding of auditing and assurance standards and related guidance, audit methodology and processes. This includes overseeing the development and maintenance of audit methodology and processes.
- Keep up to date with relevant industry issues, trends, and emerging audit technologies as they relate to audit quality and be able to explain, assess and recommend any changes required in VAGO’s audit methodology and approach.
- Establish and maintain positive relationships with internal and external stakeholders.
- Manage resources (team members and/or external resources), including delegation and monitoring of work.
- Regularly monitor and report on key outputs, key systems, resources, budget and timelines for delivery.
- Respond to risk, materiality, public interest perspectives and stakeholder sensitivities.
Who we're looking for
You possess a track record of:
Strategic Planning
- Achievement in planning, directing and delivering complex audits, investigations and inquiries on time and on budget in accordance with the relevant auditing and accounting standards (and relevant pronouncements).
- Effectively managing risk, procurement and resources, including finances, contracts, assets and records.
- Leading professional audit teams and effectively managing people and their work performance.
Strategic leadership
- Developing and implementing opportunities for improvement in stakeholder relationships.
- Proactively identifying emerging trends, issues, risks and opportunities to better target audit activity and public sector accountability.
- Internal and external stakeholder focus in delivery quality assurance products and services.
- A passion for driving the adoption of modern auditing practices that facilitate delivery of real audit value to stakeholders.
- Contributing to the organisation's strategic vision and direction.
- Initiating and contributing to plans that address current and future capability requirements.
Operational effectiveness
- Effective communication, providing clear and accurate advice and explanations and conveying complex technical concepts in an easily understandable manner.
- Using initiative and sound judgement when managing very complex and highly sensitive projects and issues.
- Dealing with concepts and complexity comfortably, using analytical skills and professional scepticism to reason through problems.
- Demonstrating innovative thinking and actively embraces and paves the way for change.
- Promoting a culture of inquiry, shares learning and knowledge, and consults and engages with other teams to assist with the conduct of audits and/or projects.
- Using an adaptive and professional approach when establishing and maintaining relationships.
A people focused approach
- Actively leading, motivating and developing individuals and teams using a coaching/mentoring approach.
- Fostering a sense of common purpose and provides direction, connecting employees to the organisation and its vision.
- Leading by example, modelling collegiate, resilient and flexible work behaviours.
- Demonstrating a commitment to continuous professional development.
Don’t tick all the boxes? You don't need to tick all the boxes to be amazing. We’d still love to hear from you.
What VAGO can offer you
We are a diverse bunch at VAGO so you'll be part of an organisation where the different backgrounds, perspectives and life experiences of our people are celebrated. We are committed to building a workplace that welcomes applicants of all ages, genders, sexual orientations, cultural backgrounds, people with disability, neurodiverse individuals, and Indigenous Australians.
We welcome applications from everyone and encourage you to talk to us about any adjustments you may require to our recruitment process or the role itself. If you are a candidate with a disability or access requirement, let us know how we can provide you with additional support.
If you would like to learn more about this role or life at VAGO, we encourage you to contact our Talent Acquisition team via [email protected].
