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Job Title Head of Risk & Assurance
Directorate Finance and Corporate Services
Reports to Director of Legal Services
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Job Purpose |
To provide strategic and operational leadership for Risk and Assurance, ensuring effective delivery, sound governance, informed decision making and continuous improvement in support of organisational priorities.
Sport England continues to evolve, strengthening its ability to deliver ‘Uniting the Movement’. This role will support effective governance, assurance and decision-making through organisational change, working with senior stakeholders to embed proportionate risk management, internal control and continuous improvement. The post holder will also manage the delivery of internal audit through external suppliers.
To be a successful Head of Risk & Assurance, you will need to display the highest standards of professionalism, objectivity, fairness, expertise, integrity, and vision. You will be responsible for developing, maintaining, and maximising effective working relationships with colleagues through proactive collaboration and advocating the assurance function across Sport England.
As a senior leader, the post holder will role model Sport England’s values, build effective relationships across the organisation, and use evidence and insight to influence good governance, risk management and assurance practice.
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Dimensions |
Direct Reports 1
Location Homeworking / Hybrid in Loughborough or Bisham Abbey
Key Stakeholders Executive Leadership Team (ELT), Senior Management, Audit, Risk & Governance Committee (ARGC), Internal Audit service providers, Investment Management Team.
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Key Duties and Responsibilities |
% Time |
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Risk
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55% |
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Internal Audit
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10% |
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Internal Governance & Assurance
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35% |
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Pervasive
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N/a |
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Organisation Value and Behaviours |
- Ambitious – Determined in pursuit of our goals, prioritising work and partnerships that will most advance our mission, help us succeed and make a positive impact on our nation.
- Innovative – Curious, optimistic, and relentless, we question established ways of working and learn from each other and from our experiences.
- Inclusive – Harnessing our collective strength and respecting difference to create the conditions for everyone to engage and to excel.
- Collaborative – One team, committed to delivering together and working with others to make a difference to people’s lives.
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Person Specification |
The additional skills, knowledge and experience required.
Essential
- A professionally qualified accountant or audit professional with suitable internal audit experience.
- Significant experience in risk management and/or internal audit within a complex organisation (charity, public sector, or regulated environment desirable).
- Proven track record of developing and embedding enterprise risk management frameworks, including strategic and operational risk registers.
- Experience of designing and delivering internal audit programmes, including planning, execution, reporting and follow-up of actions.
- Knowledge, awareness, and ability to incorporate the Public Sector Internal Audit Standards and Government Functional Standard for Internal Audit (GovS 009) into Sport England’s internal audit practices.
- Strong understanding of risk management frameworks and methodologies (e.g. ISO 31000 or equivalent).
- Working knowledge of orange book principles, evidenced by working in a relevant risk environment.
- Strong influencer, who can collaborate with stakeholders at all levels of the business.
- Experience of undertaking investigations and/or proactive reviews autonomously.
Desirable
- Experience of business continuity planning and crisis preparedness, including
testing and assurance activities.
- Ability to design and deliver training, building risk awareness and capability
across the organisation.
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