Job Title

Senior Risk & Assurance Manager

Function

Finance

Reporting to

Head of Finance Transformation

Direct Reports

None

Working Hours

Your basic hours of work will be 37.5 hours per week to be worked between the hours of 8.00 a.m. to 6.00 p.m. Monday through to Friday with one hour for lunch although, the nature of the role may require you to work additional hours for which no further payment will be made.

Job Purpose

The Senior Risk & Assurance Manager is responsible for further developing the risk management and assurance function and will be responsible for delivering the annual assurance plan each year and providing advisory services to the business to promote an effective control environment.

Context of the Role

PPL is seeking an experienced Senior Risk & Assurance Manager to provide independent oversight of the organisation’s risk management and assurance arrangements. 

The role is critical in supporting effective governance, protecting organisational value and enabling informed decision-making. The Senior Risk & Assurance Manager will work closely with senior leaders and the Board, providing insight, challenge and assurance across strategic, operational, financial, regulatory and reputational risk. 

The Senior Risk & Assurance Manager will be responsible for continuing to develop the risk management framework as well as developing and delivering the annual audit plan. They will also seek to add value through promoting an effective risk and control environment by conducting controls testing, supporting the business with other ad hoc projects, such as investigations and advisory services.

Reporting to the Head of Finance Transformation, this role includes direct line management responsibility for two Risk & Assurance Analysts, with accountability for building capability, maintaining high standards of analysis and reporting and ensuring the effective operation of risk and assurance processes.

Key Accountabilities

Risk management

• Lead the operation and continuous development of the organisation’s risk management framework, ensuring alignment with strategic objectives and risk appetite 

• Facilitate the identification, assessment and prioritisation of strategic and principal risks with Executive and senior leadership teams 

• Maintain and oversee the corporate risk register, ensuring risks are clearly articulated, consistently assessed, actively managed and aligned with organisational objectives 

Long-range risk & assurance framework 

• Design, develop and maintain a multi-year Risk & Assurance framework that: 

• Balances risk management, governance and delivery priorities 
• Aligns assurance activity to the organisation’s principal risks 
• Provides clear line of sight from strategy to controls to assurance 
• Design and maintain an assurance map and rolling assurance plan 
• Ensure assurance coverage is risk-based, proportionate, and forward-looking 

Assurance activities

• Develop and deliver the annual audit plan to budget and within the agreed timelines.
• Develop a program of regular controls testing across the business.

• Provide independent challenge on the adequacy and effectiveness of key controls and mitigations 

• Monitor delivery of agreed actions arising from assurance reviews and escalate concerns where progress is insufficient 

Governance and reporting 

• Produce high-quality risk and assurance reports for the Executive Leadership Team and Finance & Audit Committee.

• Translate complex risk information into clear, decision-focused insights, highlighting trends, emerging risks and areas requiring judgement 

• Own and oversee the effective use of the organisation’s risk management system, including Risk Wizard, ensuring: 

• Data quality and consistency 
• Effective engagement, ownership and timely updates by risk owners 
• Reporting supports management and Board needs 

• Support Board and Committee discussions with forward-looking analysis of emerging risks and trends 

Advisory role 

• Act as a trusted advisor on risk and assurance matters for major projects and change initiatives across the business 

• Provide proportionate, pragmatic risk advice that supports delivery while safeguarding organisational objectives. Clearly identify areas for improvement 

Leadership and capability 

• Line manage and develop two Risk & Assurance Analysts, providing clear direction, coaching and performance management. Develop a culture of continuous improvement, respect, collaboration and celebrating success 

• Set standards for risk analysis, assurance documentation and reporting quality 

• Build risk and assurance capability across the organization through guidance, training and constructive challenge 

• Promote a strong, balanced risk culture that supports delivery while maintaining appropriate governance and control  

FACTOR

ESSENTIAL

DESIRABLE

Education & Qualifications

Relevant professional qualification (risk, audit, accounting, governance i.e. ACA, ACCA, CIMA or equivalent)

Certified Internal Auditor (CIA) or Chartered Internal Auditor (CMIIA)

Experience

Significant experience in risk management, assurance, audit or governance ideally with high volume, complex organisation.

Proven experience designing and operating risk-based assurance frameworks and assurance plans.

Strong understanding of controls design, controls testing and audit processes.

Experience engaging with senior executives and Boards or Board committees.

Proven experience leading and developing a team.

Practical experience using a risk management system.

Demonstrable ability to provide constructive challenge and influence at senior levels.

Strong technical background with some experience in an accountancy practice.

Prior exposure to an Internal Audit or Risk Management function covering mass payments.

Experience in driving process and system implementations and improvements.

Skills

Comprehensive technical auditing skills.

Ability to coordinate multiple workflows and internal resources to ensure work is delivered to agreed timelines.

Strong stakeholder management and influencing skills. Ability to develop strong business partnering relationships at all levels across the business, particularly senior managers.

A high level of computer literacy, including Microsoft Excel and Word and the ability to use these applications to produce high quality and clear documents.

Strong analytical skills with the ability to synthesise complex information. 

Clear and effective written and verbal communication skills, at a senior level.  Ability to distil complexity into meaningful insights.

Strong negotiation and presentation skills.

Behavioural Competencies

Professional, committed and organised approach to work with a drive for results.

Ability to communicate clearly and concisely with all levels of management, both orally and in writing, including the ability to interview persons to elicit information.

Strong analytical and problem solving skills combined with attention to detail.

Should be resilient and have the ability to work through problems in a positive and constructive manner.

Other

Commitment to continual professional development