Application process

The Audit Commission uses a competency based approach to recruitment and selection. As you will see from the job description the Audit Commission has 7 core competencies. A competency is a defined as the behaviour an individual must demonstrate, or must acquire, to input into a situation in order to achieve high levels of performance. In order to increase the chance of being selected for interview please ensure that not only does your CV clearly outline your experience and skills, but you use the additional information field to provide specific evidence of where and how your skill set and experience demonstrates the competency indicators and essential and desirable criteria indicated in the job description.

Application Tracking

Once you have submitted your application online you will be able to monitor its progress. You will need to log into the vacancies section of the Audit Commission’s Everybody-Counts web page and click on the ‘My Applications’ function. This will allow you to track your application through the recruitment process.

The Recruitment Team will endeavour to ensure that this function represents current and up to date information. You will also receive direct communication from the Recruitment Team to advise you on the result of your application.

Qualification Requirements

The Audit Commission often requires qualifications as part of the essential and/or desirable criteria. The application form has been designed to request information on the qualifications specified in the essential criteria. If you do not have the relevant qualification the application form will automatically shut down. Please do not try to re-enter the preferred response to these questions as qualifications and memberships to professional organisations will be checked if an offer of employment is made.

Asylum and Immigration Act

Under the Asylum and Immigration Act 1996, the Audit Commission does not employ anyone without the permanent right to work in the UK and all applicants will need to produce an official document confirming this before commencing employment. The application form has a field which requires you to declare if you need a work permit to work in the UK. If you require a work permit and indicate this in your application the form will automatically shut down. Please do not try to re-enter the preferred response as official documentation will be checked if an offer of employment is made. www.workingintheuk.gov.uk.

Communication Method

The application form gives you the opportunity to choose how whether you would like to receive email or postal communication. We would strongly encourage you to select email communication as this a more efficient and reliable form of communication. If you select this method please ensure that you provide an email address that you can be contacted by at all times. All correspondence relating to the recruitment process shall be emailed to you. If you select email communication please regularly check your email for correspondence from the Audit Commission Recruitment Team: AC-recruitment@audit.commision.gov.uk

Diversity Monitoring

Monitoring is an important way of building an accurate picture of who wants to join the Audit Commission and find out how effective we are at attracting candidates from a wide range of backgrounds and experiences. We want to be an organisation that reflects the communities that we serve.

We use the monitoring information to promote equality and help us to make sure that there is no discrimination in our recruitment processes and we encourage candidates to complete the questions below. If you do not wish to disclose please use the ‘prefer not to say’ option in each of the categories.

Data Protection Act 1998 - The information you provide will be recorded and stored within a confidential database with restricted access for monitoring purposes only. Any information provided will not be used towards a recruitment & selection decision.

The Disability Discrimination Act 1995 - describes a disabled person as anyone “with a physical or mental impairment which has a substantial long-term adverse effect upon their ability to carry out normal day-to-day activities”. “Long term” means the condition has lasted or is likely to last for 12 months. Long term can also mean a condition which is not continuous but is likely to recur. “Day to day activities” can include the following:

  • Mobility
  • Manual dexterity
  • Continence
  • Ability to lift, carry or otherwise move everyday objects
  • Speech, hearing or eyesight
  • Memory or ability to concentrate, learn or understand
  • Perception of the risk of physical danger.

Conditions covered by the Disability Discrimination Act include (Please note that these examples are not exclusive and are provided for guidance only).

  • Visual: registered blind or partially sighted. (If you wear corrective lenses this is not a disability).
  • Co-ordination, dexterity or mobility: polio, spinal cord injury, severe back problems, difficulty with fine motor skills, amputation, need for a cane, crutches, braces, wheelchair, prosthesis or other assistive mechanical devices.
  • Mental health: schizophrenia, depression, severe phobias, severe stress.
  • Speech: difficulty in speaking, speech impairment, difficulty being understood, communicating without speech.
  • Learning difficulties: dyslexia, dysphasia, reading or writing difficulty.
  • Hearing: deaf, hard of hearing.
  • Chronic fatigue syndrome, rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis, cancer, HIV.
  • Other physical or medical conditions: diabetes, epilepsy, cardiovascular conditions, haemophilia, asthma, facial disfigurements, etc

Positive about disabled people

The Audit Commission is a holder of the "two ticks" disability symbol. This means that any applicant with a disability that meets the minimum criteria for a job will be interviewed. The minimum criteria for each vacancy is detailed in the job description. Therefore it is important that you tell us in your application if there are any adjustments and/or particular provisions which you require to assist you during the selection process - please use the equal opportunities section of the application form. We're striving to improve our accessibility. To that end if you require an application form in paper format, Braille, large text or on tape please contact us: ac-recruitment@audit-commission.gov.uk. Tel: 0844 7983122. The Audit Commission, Nicholson House, Lime Kiln Close, Stoke Gifford, Bristol BS34 8SR.