Risk Assurance Officer

Job description

 To support the Director of Risk Assurance in undertaking a range of internal audit and business assurance work designed to enhance the overall efficiency and effectiveness of the College.  

The range of required internal audit assignments will include some collaborative exercises but in the main will be conducted independently of other members of the department.  

Therefore, the successful candidate will need to be comfortable working as a team player but also a confident self-starter, capable of performing end to end audit exercises (including scoping, fieldwork, reporting and follow-up) themselves.  In addition to internal audit and other review work, the post-holder may also be required to undertake other work relating to the department’s activities, such as that relating to the College’s arrangements for  compliance, business assurance and improving efficiency.  

As Risk Assurance is a small team, there may occasionally be some  administrative duties associated with the post.   

The Department of Business Assurance reports into the Office of the Chairman and College Secretariat and has a dual mission within the university.  At one level, it exists to provide assurance on the effectiveness of the management of the university to its governing body, mainly through regular reports to the Audit, Risk and Compliance Committee (ARCC).  At a more operational level, the department also has an important role to play in providing support to management by identifying potential improvements to systems and processes in use at the university.  In this way, the department provides a key link between the operational and governance levels of the university.  

Primarily, this role is based at Somerset House, East Wing, but in the main will be working from home according to the university’s hybrid working policy. Some travel may be required to other London campuses within the university. 

This is a full time permanent role.

Key responsibilities

•        In accordance with the university’s approved strategic audit plan, to take professional responsibility for undertaking specific internal audit assignments covering regularity and systems audits, as well as providing support in relation to value for money, strategic reviews and other investigations.  

•        To undertake follow-up reviews relating to the implementation of agreed management actions. 

•        To assist in the preparation of summary internal audit reports and other relevant documentation for meetings of the Audit, Risk and Compliance Committee (ARCC); 

•        Key outputs for audit and other review work would include the preparation of reports with clear analysis and suggested actions where necessary, as well as their presentation, discussion and agreement with appropriate managers. 

•        The post-holder will be expected to work on their own initiative, which will include responsibility for work planning and day-to-day scheduling of activities, meetings etc., within a broad programme of work agreed by the Director of Risk Assurance. 

•        The Risk Assurance Officer will be expected to keep abreast of relevant financial and audit legislation/developments and will be required to maintain the appropriate professional standards in the conduct of internal audit assignments. 

•        The role holder is expected to engage with stakeholders from across the university at all levels of seniority and will be required to promote a positive attitude towards culture change across the university, including amongst the most senior managers. 

The above list of responsibilities may not be exhaustive, and the post holder will be required to undertake such tasks and responsibilities as may reasonably be expected within the scope and grading of the post.  

Skills, knowledge, and experience 

Essential criteria 

1.      Have a degree level qualification.  

2.      Professional qualification in internal audit, finance / accounting, or risk management  

3.      Demonstrable internal audit, risk and controls experience and knowledge 

4.      Attention to detail 

5.      Good negotiation and influencing skills 

6.      Ability to work independently and as part of a wider team 

7.      Experience in successfully managing audits and team members 

8.      Understanding of the Higher Education sector and the relevant regulatory landscape 

9.      Ability to exercise tact, discretion and display a professional attitude to all work colleagues, both internal and external to the organisation 

10.    Strong IT skills (including Word, Excel, and corporate systems) 

11.    Experience of communicating effectively (both in writing and verbally) with stakeholders at all levels, including the most senior  

12.   Ability to deal with complexity and uncertainty, and explain risk and control issues with clarity 

Desirable criteria 

1.      Experience of working in the Higher Education sector. 

2.      Experience of complex projects and IT reviews.