Senior Business Assurance Manager

Join Ofgem in our commitment to guaranteeing a stable, cost-effective, and eco-friendly energy provision for every UK household and business. As a pivotal contributor to the shift towards Net Zero and a carbon-neutral energy framework, our endeavours bring positive effects to consumers and the environment alike. Embrace a role that shapes a sustainable future for all.

We’re seeking an exceptional Senior Business Assurance Manager to provide leadership and technical expertise in the delivery and continuous improvement of Ofgem’s Business Assurance Strategy. In this role, a primary objective is fortifying the adoption of an effective Three Lines of Defence (3LOD) strategy throughout Ofgem. Accomplishing this entails educating, guiding, and coaching individuals within the organisation.

The successful candidate will bring substantial experience in constructing business assurance frameworks, demonstrating the aptitude and assertiveness to both support and challenge the business in refining its approach, exceptional communication and collaboration skills, and the ability to build effective stakeholder relations and work seamlessly across diverse teams.

Your key responsibilities include providing subject matter expertise to ensure a consistent approach to assurance across Ofgem. You’ll offer independent assurance advice, sharing knowledge to enhance colleagues’ understanding and application of effective assurance and controls. support directorate leadership teams in improving assurance and control knowledge across the business.

The Senior Business Assurance Manager will contribute to the development of the Governance, Risk, and Compliance framework, enhancing the capability of the first and second lines of defence. Oversee the Directors Statement of Assurance process, ensuring a high-quality overview of governance, risk, and compliance oversight. Evaluate and challenge current controls within each business area, manage committee papers, and lead the Business Assurance review plan. Additionally, you’ll mature the assurance monitoring model within the 2LOD, conducting regular assessments of 1LOD assurance activities and ensuring alignment with the Ofgem risk management framework.

You will work closely with key stakeholders, including the Finance, Procurement and Risk Leadership Team, Audit Risk and Assurance Committee (ARAC), Risk and Assurance managers across Ofgem.

Directors, Deputy Directors, and Head of Business Corporate Risk and Assurance staff.

Join Ofgem and contribute to shaping the future of energy regulation and sustainability. Apply now and be part of a dynamic team committed to making a positive impact.

The Senior Business Assurance Manager will provide leadership and technical expertise in the delivery and continuous improvement of Ofgem’s Business Assurance Strategy.  The post holder will play a critical role in the strengthening of the first and second line of defence and be responsible for and delivering supporting the delivery of the assurance review plan annually.  

Strengthening the understanding and implementing a successful Three Lines of Defence (3LOD) approach across Ofgem will be a key deliverable in this role.   This will be achieved through educating, guiding and coaching individuals across Ofgem.

The post holder will have significant experience in building business assurance frameworks and have the skill and confidence to support and challenge the business on their approach.  They will be tasked to guide and support directorates to implement a system of control that meets the need of the directorate and supports our Policy, Principles and Practices.

The role holder will be practised in leading a team of assurance specialists, providing leadership, coaching and support to develop their skills, confidence, and drive. 

Key outputs and deliverables

• Provide subject matter expertise where needed, share good practice, and ensure common approach to assurance, ensuring that processes are applied consistently across Ofgem.
• Providing independent assurance advice. Sharing experience and expertise with colleagues to strengthen the understanding and application of effective assurance and controls. Supporting directorate leadership teams to improve assurance and controls knowledge and skills across the business.
• Support the further development of the Governance, Risk and Compliance (GRC) framework across Ofgem.  Working with key stakeholders to improve the capability of the first and second line of defence.
• Ensuring that the Directors Statement of Assurance (DSoA) process is run effectively, and the annual return provides a high quality, evidence-based overview of the adequacy of the governance, risk and compliance oversight provisions.
• Provide oversight and assessment of current controls and ensure that there is appropriate oversight within each business area. Positively challenge directors and senior management where necessary.
• Managing the provision of high-quality papers and reports for the Ofgem committees and boards, ensuring issues or risks requiring escalation are identified and communicated appropriately.
• Manage the Business Assurance review plan, engage directorates in all assurance review activities to define scope, provide accurate process evaluations and agree SMART improvement actions.
• Responsible for maturing the assurance monitoring model within the 2LOD and completing regular assessment and sampling of 1LOD assurance activities.
• Ensuring that all risk management is in line with the Ofgem risk management framework and supports proactive identification, assessment and treatment of all risks.

Key Stakeholder Relationships

Internal

• Finance, Procurement and Risk Leadership Team
• Audit Risk and Assurance Committee (ARAC)
• Risk and Assurance managers across Ofgem
• Directors, Deputy Directors, and Head of Business
• Corporate Risk and Assurance staff

 Essential

• Deep knowledge and understanding modern business assurance procedures, best practice and how this can be applied in real world scenarios.
• People leadership – mentors and coaches staff on personal and professional development, expert in developing individuals technical assurance skills.
• Great communication and collaboration skills and the ability to build effective stakeholder relationships and excellent working relationships with a wide range of teams and individuals.
• Able to operate and communicate effectively across all internal organisational levels, including confidence to negotiate with and influence senior and executive managers.
• Excellent organisational and prioritisation skills and good attention to detail.
• Able to scope, conduct and report routine assurance auditing across the 1st and 2nd LOD.

Please ensure you demonstrate clearly, within your personal statement, how you meet each of the criteria below (not more than 1250 words). 

In the event of receiving a large number of applications, an initial sift may take place on just the lead criteria indicated below: 

Deep knowledge and understanding modern business assurance procedures, best practice and how this can be applied in real world scenarios (LEAD).

We’ll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:

• Seeing the Big Picture
• Changing and Improving
• Leadership
• Working Together

We’ll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:

• Please refer to the Candidate Pack and Role Profile attached for full details.

Ofgem can offer you a comprehensive and competitive benefits package which includes; 30 days annual leave after 2 years; Excellent training and development opportunities; The opportunity to join the generous Civil Service pension which also includes a valuable range of benefits; Hybrid working (currently 1 day a week in the office but is in review), flexible working hours and family friendly policies. Plus lots of other benefits including clean and bright offices based centrally, engaged networks and teams and an opportunity to contribute to our ambitious and important targets of establishing a Net Zero energy system by 2050. This exciting blend of professional challenge and personal reward identifies career opportunities at Ofgem as something to get excited about.

Job contact :

• Name : Deborah Oniha
• Email : Recruitment@ofgem.gov.uk

Recruitment team

• Email : Recruitment@ofgem.gov.uk