Assurance Lead

Assurance Lead

c.£62,500 per annum

Bedford based

Hybrid Working

Permanent

“The Assurance Lead will be pivotal in the development, implementation and embedding of an effective and robust internal control environment. A role that requires high level of drive, motivation, and a collaborative approach.

Acting as the organisational lead for controls assurance you will be supporting the business’s assurance with regular reporting and presentations on the establishment and ongoing effectiveness of the controls environment to the Senior Management Team (SMT), Directors, Executive Leadership Team (ELT), Audit, Risk and Assurance Committee (ARAC).”

In this role you will be responsible for the following;

• Organisational lead for assurance
• Be responsible for embedding the organisation’s assurance framework and systems.
• Continually review MaPS internal controls environment ensuring processes are robust and effective and dovetailed with the MaPS risk reporting systems.
• Help integrate and advise on Cabinet Office Functional Standards into the first line controls and establish second line oversight via the assurance framework.
• Provide 2LOD assessments of MaPS controls framework and provide feedback to relevant SRO and Business Owners.
• Provide assurance and internal controls advice in response to ad hoc requests and queries.
• Conduct regular assurance mapping and control assessments against MaPS’ Strategic Risk Register and Risk Appetite Statement.
• Oversee the translation of monitoring findings into appropriate recommendations to Senior Responsible Owners, functions, and relevant business owners.
• Support ELT and SMT to oversee and coordinate an effective controls environment, as required.
• Provide 2LOD assurance to MaPS strategies, policies, services, enabling functions and outsourcing arrangements and change portfolio, as required.
• Work with the Head of Compliance and Assurance to develop and manage and annual assurance plan for the organisation.
• Support the CRO and Ho Enterprise Risk to complete the DWP’s Annual Assurance Assessment, as required.
• Support the Head of Compliance & Assurance to provide an integrated annual assurance assessment and reporting across the 3LODs.
• Provide an Annual Assurance report to the Audit, Risk and Assurance Committee.
• Engage Assurance SMEs across the public sector to gain best practice insights and to benchmark MaPS’ Assurance Framework and System.
• Provide guidance, training and build knowledge and awareness on assurance matters supporting a strong risk-management and compliance culture.
• Represent MaPS on Cross-Government Forums, as required.

You will need to demonstrate the following skills and experience;

• Ability to analyse complex data, draw conclusions, produce reports, and make recommendations to management in relation to delivery.
• Must be multi-tasked orientated and able to balance pressure and deadlines with changing priorities.
• Background in operational service delivery, supply chain management, and compliance
• Good level of abstract thinking skills and ability to take the ‘big picture’ view and identify linkages and dependencies between activities.
• High level of PC literacy with good knowledge of MS Excel, Word and PowerPoint
• Stakeholder management: excellent influencing and negotiation skills, able to challenge constructively to drive positive change.
• Must be able to perform independently and collaboratively and with minimal supervision.
• Ability to work within a matrixed environment and cross functionality organisation.
• Previous experience in presenting reports to senior management

The Money and Pensions Service is establishing a new head office in Bedford, where we will be a key employer in the town. Whilst it will be some time before our new offices are fully open, we are keen and excited to be recruiting for a variety of roles as we build our new team(s) over the coming months.

We are already forging great relationships with Bedford Borough Council and other local organisations to ensure that we are an active part of the community and fully integrated to play our part in the Government’s “levelling-up” strategy. This is a wonderful opportunity for you to be one of the first colleagues to join us in Bedford and to be an integral part of helping us establish ourselves in the town.

At the heart of the Money and Pensions Service are our values – caring, connecting and transforming, which are the foundation of our success. They permeate every area of our work and define all our business relationships and the way we work with each other. We’re not only looking for the best people in and around Bedford to come and work for us, but we need people who align themselves to our values: –

• Caring
  We care about our colleagues and people whose lives we are here to transform.
• Connecting
  We will transform lives through our ability to make positive connections.
• Transforming
  We are committed to transforming lives and make a positive societal impact.

About MaPS

At MaPS, we help people – particularly those most in need – to improve their financial wellbeing and build a better, more confident future. Working collaboratively across the UK, we make sure customers can access high-quality money and pensions guidance and debt advice throughout their lives, however and whenever they need it.

About our people 

In our move to Bedford, we aim to attract and retain the absolute best talent, so we can achieve our objectives and continue to make a difference to millions of people’s lives.  We are keen to encourage applications from individuals across the whole community with the skills, knowledge, and behaviours for the job, and who show a strong commitment to MaPS’ objectives, values, and vision.  It is important to us that we continue our ambition to be a genuinely diverse and inclusive organisation, so that we reflect the people we are here to help.

Our inclusive working environment

By fostering our values, we are immensely proud of the inclusive working environment that we have created. The diversity of our people is a strength that we embrace and wish to build upon, so we are committed to attracting people of all backgrounds.

We work hard to ensure that we have a progressive approach to inclusion, equity and belonging.  We really do want our colleagues to “bring their whole selves to work.”

By way of brief example, we have an enviable ethnic diversity mix, equal gender balance with a zero mean gender pay gap and thriving colleague and ally networks, including LGBTQ+, neurodiversity, women’s health, men’s health, ethnicity, and diversity.

What Money and Pensions Service can offer you?

• Generous Annual Leave – 30 days plus Bank Holidays
• Pension scheme – contributions matched 2 to 1 (up to 10% of your salary)
• Interest-free loan to help you buy season tickets for buses and trains
• Cycle to work Scheme
• Subsidised eye test & flu jabs
• Life assurance scheme
• Give as you earn scheme
• Employee assistance programme (EAP)
• PAM Assist and PAM Life scheme (Wellbeing)
• Enhanced family and sick pay
• Paid volunteering (2 days a year)
• Recognition Scheme
• Discounts portal to numerous retailers

At MaPS, we take pride in our flexible approach to work.  Most of our roles can operate on a hybrid basis with a minimum of 2 days in the office per week. Hybrid working is a voluntary, noncontractual arrangement and your office will be your contractual place of work. The number of days that anyone will be able to work at home will be determined primarily by business needs, but personal and other relevant circumstances will also be considered. If you are successful, any opportunities for hybrid working, including whether a hybrid working arrangement is suitable for you, will be discussed with you prior to you taking up your post.

This role is to be appointed under Civil Service Terms & Conditions. Full details on the T&C’s are found https://maps.org.uk/

The law requires that selection for appointment to the Civil Service is on merit on the basis of fair and open competition as outlined in the Civil Service Commission’s Recruitment Principles. If you feel your application has not been treated in accordance with the Recruitment Principles, and you wish to make a complaint, in the first instance, you should contact the Money and Pensions Service via email: recruitment@maps.org.uk. If you are not satisfied with the response you receive from the Department, you can contact the Civil Service Commission: Visit the Civil Service Commission website.

Job Reference: 

Close Date: 16th August 2023

Job contact :

• Name : Charlene Willsher
• Email : charlene.willsher@reed.com

Recruitment team

• Email : charlene.willsher@reed.com