The Scottish Government
Appointment of up to three Members to the Accounts Commission for Scotland
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Role Summary
The Accounts Commission is the independent public body which oversees the performance and spending within Scotland’s 32 councils, 11 local government pension funds, 30 health and social care integration joint boards (IJBs) and other joint boards. We play a significant role in Scottish public life helping to ensure that public money is spent properly, efficiently and effectively. We are responsible for the audit of all local government bodies in Scotland.
Skills/Experience Required
As the Commission holds councils to account on behalf of citizens right across Scotland, the Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Local Government recognises the importance of the Commission representing all communities and encourages applicants from a diverse range of relevant backgrounds and from both urban and rural locations across Scotland.
Applicants will wish to be aware that for these roles on the Accounts Commission for Scotland we are operating a guaranteed interview scheme for disabled applicants.
For further information, please see the applicant information pack.
Responsibilities
Public Appointees are responsible for:
- ensuring that the public body delivers its functions in accordance with Scottish Ministers’ policies and priorities
- providing strategic leadership
- ensuring financial stewardship
- holding the Chief Executive and senior management team to account
Further information about the role and the board can be found in the applicant information pack.
ROLE CRITERIA
Successful applicants must be able to demonstrate by the end of the appointment process:
At Least One Of The Following Priority Criteria
- Experience of finance, accountancy, audit and risk
- Experience of local government
- Experience of overseeing successful strategic change management programmes.
Applicants must also provide evidence of the following essential criteria; the initial application only requires written evidence of the first:
- Commitment to improvement in public services
- Constructive & supportive challenge
- Sound judgement based on good analytical skills and ability to assimilate a large amount of information
- Strong and effective communicator
For further information, please see the applicant information pack.
About Us
Public appointments are made by Scottish Ministers. The appointments process is regulated by the Ethical Standards Commissioner you can find out more about the Commissioner here: Public appointments | Ethical Standards Commissioner
REMUNERATION AND TIME COMMITMENT
The role of member attracts a remuneration rate of £326.96 per day during 2026/27 (non-pensionable) plus reasonable expenses (travel and subsistence).
Members to devote 2.5 days per month, up to a maximum of 30 days in any financial year. This does not include travel time to meetings.
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LOCATION
Commission meetings are held at the Audit Scotland office at 102 West Port, Edinburgh, EH3 9DN (and occasionally in Audit Scotland’s Glasgow office in Nelson Mandela Place).
INTERVIEWS
29 September, 1 and 2 October 2026. In person at the Audit Scotland office, 4th Floor, 102 West Port, Edinburgh EH3 9DN.
INFORMATION SESSIONS
We will be holding two information sessions, both hybrid, on:
- Wednesday 29 July 6pm, West Port, Edinburgh
- Thursday 13 August 6pm, Nelson Mandela Place, Glasgow
Please contact Sarah Watters, Director for the Commission at acsupport@audit.scot, to register for the events.
Prospective candidates can also attend the public session of the Commission meeting on 13 August between 10am and 11:30am, in the Glasgow office. This meeting can also be watched online. You can register to watch this meeting online from Friday 7 August at the below link. You can also find information about our meetings including papers, minutes and recordings at this link.
Accounts Commission meetings webpage
Further information: If you would like to find out more about this role, you are welcome to contact Sarah Watters, Director for the Commission at acsupport@audit.scot.
How To Apply
Download the applicant information pack. This will explain more about the role, the board and the application process. Click the ‘apply now’ link at the top of the advert. As part of the online application process, you will need to complete the personal information section, and then upload the following:
- Complete the questions relating to political activity and any conflicts of interest.
- You will then be asked to supply evidence to answer at least one of the Priority Criteria questions, if you do not complete this, your application cannot be considered.
- You will then be asked to supply evidence to answer Essential Criteria 1, if you do not complete this, your application cannot be considered.
Completed applications must be received on or before 12.00 noon on Monday 24 August 2026.
Please note that we recommend you follow the ‘How to Apply’ section of the applicant information pack as you complete your application.
If you require a reasonable adjustment at any stage of the appointments process or if you require further support with your application, please contact the Public Appointments at public.appointments@gov.scot.
EQUALITY STATEMENT
Scottish Ministers value highly the benefits of diverse Public Body Boards. People from all walks of life are encouraged to apply for public appointments.
Find out more about our commitment to diversity and how we offer and support recruitment adjustments for anyone who needs them.
FURTHER INFORMATION
Find out more about public appointments here: Public appointments - gov.scot
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Security checks
Successful candidates must complete the Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS), before they can be appointed. BPSS is comprised of four main pre-employment checks – Identity, Right to work, Employment History and a Criminal Record check (unspent convictions).
You can find out more about BPSS on the UK Government website, and read about the Government Vetting Charter, or about all of the different levels of security checks in our Candidate Guide.
Internal candidates may need to gain higher security clearance than they currently hold if successful in their application.
Additional Security Information
CTC
Please note: in addition to the standard pre-employment checks for appointment into the Civil Service, all candidates must also obtain National Security Vetting at Counter Terrorist Security Check (CTC) clearance level for this vacancy You will normally need to meet the minimum UK residency period as determined by the level of vetting being undertaken, which for CTC is 3 years UK residency prior to your vetting application. If you have any questions about this residency requirement, please speak to the vacancy holder for this post.
SC
Please note: in addition to the standard pre-employment checks for appointment into the Civil Service, all candidates must also obtain National Security Vetting at Security Check (SC) clearance level for this vacancy. You will normally need to meet the minimum UK residency period as determined by the level of vetting being undertaken, which for SC is 5 years UK residency prior to your vetting application. If you have any questions about this residency requirement, please speak to the vacancy holder for this post.
DV
Please note: in addition to the standard pre-employment checks for appointment into the Civil Service, all candidates must also obtain National Security Vetting at Developed Vetting level.
You will normally need to meet the minimum UK residency period as determined by the level of vetting being undertaken, which for DV is 10 years UK residency prior to your vetting application. If you have any questions about this residency requirement, please speak to the vacancy holder for this post.
Reserved Posts
Only UK nationals may be employed in reserved posts in the Civil Service. Reserved posts are generally those which, due to the sensitive nature of the work, require special allegiance to the Crown such that they can only be held by a UK national. Irish nationals and Commonwealth citizens are also eligible for employment in reserved posts if they were in the Civil Service at 31 May 1996 or before, or were appointed from a recruitment scheme with a closing date for receipt of applications before 1 June 1996.
Under no circumstances may any other nationals be employed in reserved posts.
You can find further details on the posts that fall under Reserved Posts status.
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