Senior Internal Controls Manager

Job Description

The Internal Control Senior Manager is a new role reporting into the Head of Internal Control. This role will play an integral part in supporting the shaping and ongoing validation of the Group’s financial, operational and compliance control environment, as a growing and ambitious FTSE 250 business.

It will provide excellent exposure to the business working with senior members of  Operations, Product owners, Technology Services and Risk and Compliance. 

What does the job involve?

• Support the establishment of the Internal Control team and help determine and implement the future operating model.
• Developing the Internal Control Project’s governance, communications and status reporting to management.
• Support the development and ongoing monitoring of the Group’s control framework across finance and operational business areas, where appropriate developing and implementing risk and control indicators.
• Support the development and delivery of a control testing programme for the Group’s financial, reporting, operational and compliance controls.
• Lead the end-to-end review of business processes and the creation/review of detailed process maps and where controls are identified or not thought to be fit for purpose work with the business to strengthen or redesign the control.
• Identify processes and controls that have the potential for automation, working with the business and SMEs to drive efficiency, risk reduction and the strengthening of controls.
• Lead Design Effectiveness reviews of the control framework, directing junior members of the team  and working with the business and SMEs to resolve control design failures.
• Review testing outcomes and recommend improvements to address root-causes of control deficiencies and advise the business, including senior management, in internal control / operational best practices.
• Develop clear concise reporting to articulate findings and impact to senior management and Board committees.
• Develop a clear and insightful suite of reporting that can be utilised by management across the business to inform them on the performance of internal controls, utilising this data to drive conversations relating to the assessment of associated risk.
• Provide support, advice and education to the business on the importance of maintaining a robust control environment and enable them to own the controls and contribute to the development of management self assessing their controls.
• Provide support, advice and education to the business on the impact of new UK Corporate Governance Code requirements.
• Providing ongoing coaching and support to junior team members.
• Support and where required lead discussions with key internal and external stakeholders
• Deputise where required for the Head of Internal Control.

Competence, knowledge and skills

• Experience in a similar risk, internal control or audit role, ideally within a regulated industry.
• Strong project and task management skills.
• Excellent communicator who can produce meaningful insights that can help the business better manage their risk and control environment.
• Ability to utilise and identify data sets that can build risk and control indicators.
• A critical thinker who seeks to understand the business, its processes, risks and control environment.
• Ability to formulate proposals and make solid recommendations to risk and control owners to address weaknesses in the control environment.
• Able to build and maintain positive relationships at all levels.
• Actively seek to improve other skills and talents by providing constructive feedback, coaching, mentoring and training opportunities.
• Excellent problem solving and decision-making skills with the ability to compile, evaluate and present data for decision making.
• High levels of organisation and attention to detail.

About us:

AJ Bell is one of the fastest-growing investment platform businesses in the UK offering an award-winning range of solutions that caters for everyone, from professional financial advisers, to DIY investors with little to no experience. We have over 542,000 customers using our award-winning platform propositions to manage assets totalling more than £86.5 billion. Our customers trust us with their investments, and by continuously striving to make investing easier, we aim to help even more people take control of their financial futures.

Having listed on the Main Market of the London Stock Exchange in December 2018, AJ Bell is now a FTSE 250 company.

Headquartered in Manchester with offices in central London and Bristol, we now have over 1,450 employees and have been named one of the UK's 'Best 100 Companies to Work For’ for six consecutive years.

At AJ Bell you can expect a friendly working environment with a strong sense of teamwork, we have a great sense of pride in what we do, and this is reflected in our guiding principles.

What we offer:

• Starting salary £80,000 (DOE)
• Starting holiday entitlement of 27, increasing up to 31 days with length of service
• Holiday buy and sell scheme
• A choice of pension schemes with matched contributions up to 8%
• Discretionary bonus scheme
• Annual free share awards scheme
• Buy As You Earn (BAYE) Scheme
• Health Cash Plan – provided by SimplyHealth
• Discounted private healthcare scheme and dental plan
• Free gym membership
• Employee Assistance Programme
• Bike loan scheme
• Sick pay+ pledge
• Enhanced maternity, paternity, and shared parental leave
• Loans for travel season tickets
• Death in service scheme
• Paid time off for volunteer work
• Charitable giving opportunities through salary sacrifice
• Calendar of social events, including monthly payday drinks, annual Christmas party, summer party and much more
• Personal development programmes built around you and your career goals, including access to personal skills workshops
• Ongoing technical training
• Professional qualification support
• Talent management programmes
• Peer recognition scheme, with rewards including restaurant and shopping vouchers or time off
• Monthly leadership breakfasts and lunches
• Casual dress code
• Access to a range of benefits from our sponsorship deals

Hybrid working:

At AJ Bell, our people are the heart of our culture. We believe in building strong connections by working together. That's why we offer a hybrid working model, where you’ll spend a minimum of 50% of your working time per month in the office. For new team members, an initial period will be full-time in the office to help you immerse yourself in our business and build valuable relationships with your colleagues.

AJ Bell is committed to providing an environment of mutual respect where equal employment opportunities are available to all applicants and all employees are empowered to bring their whole self to work.

We do not discriminate on the basis of race, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, pregnancy, religion, physical and mental disability, marital status and any other characteristics protected by the Equality Act 2010. All decisions to hire are based on qualifications, merit and business need.

If you like the sound of the above, or just want to know more about the company and the role, we'd love to speak to you.