Risk Assurance Analyst

IQEQ is a preeminent service provider to the alternative asset industry. IQEQ works with managers in multiple capacities ranging from hedge fund, private equity fund, and mutual fund launches; private equity fund administration; advisory firm set-up, regulatory registration and infrastructure design; ongoing regulatory compliance (SEC, CFTC, and 40 Act); financial controls and operational support services; compliance and operational related projects and reviews; and outsourced CFO/controller and administration services to private equity fund investments – portfolio companies, real estate assets and energy assets. Our client base is growing, and our existing clients are engaging the firm across the spectrum of our services offerings.

Role summary

The overall goal of the Group Risk & Compliance (GRC) function is to protect the Group brand and to support the successful execution of the Group’s business strategy through the delivery of an integrated risk and compliance programme across the Group. GRC supports the Board and senior management to fulfil their statutory and regulatory obligations, by helping to ensure compliance with the laws, regulations, principles and codes established by our regulators, and more generally by supporting the effective and continuous development and operation of the Group’s Risk Management Framework.

We are currently hiring for an Analyst to join our Risk Assurance team. The role holder will join our team of risk professionals as part of the GRC function and be a key member of our newly established second line Risk Assurance Team. The role holder will take responsibility for delivering assurance reviews including scoping, planning, fieldwork and reporting. The role holder will also be required to partner with the business to provide value added assurance reviews, playing the role of “critical friend” to further help enhance and improve our internal control environment.

The primary responsibility of the role holder is to deliver assurance reviews, specifically: 

• Delivering the assigned elements of the assurance plan to ensure all reviews and supporting testing is completed, reports are written to a high standard, actions are appropriate, agreed and followed up.
• Ability to learn and understand business processes, regulations, internal controls, and develop meaningful tests to determine control design adequacy and operating effectiveness.
• Identifying the areas of highest risk across IQ-EQ and seek to reduce residual risk by assessing risk and control design and testing operating effectiveness, making recommendations to strengthen these where necessary.

Responsibilities (how we will measure success)

Principal Activity

• Delivering the assigned elements of the assurance plan to ensure all reviews and supporting testing is completed, reports are written to a high standard, actions are appropriate, agreed and followed up.
• Delivery of all planned assurance reviews including planning, fieldwork and reporting of all in scope reviews with minimum supervision.
• Ability to draft clear and concise reports with clear root cause analysis.
• Advise Local Clusters on action plans and closure criteria required to close the gaps identified as part of the reviews.
• Ensure actions agreed are timebound, track action closure and are depending on rating are subject to issue assurance and reviewing a sample of lower rated actions that have been subject to management attestation.
• Maintaining an up-to-date knowledge and solid understanding of relevant regulatory compliance and financial crime requirements.
• Keep up to date with industry best practices and emerging themes to contribute to testing and improvement of the overall risk assurance programme.
• Maintain deep expertise in regulatory compliance, financial crime prevention, and emerging risks, providing insights to senior leadership and business units.
• Ability to learn and understand business processes, regulations, internal controls, and develop meaningful tests to determine control design adequacy and operating effectiveness.
• Develop control testing programmes to cover both design and operating effectiveness of key controls.
• Partner with the business to provide value added assurance reviews, playing the role of “critical friend” to further help enhance and improve our internal control environment.
• Identifying the areas of highest risk across IQ-EQ and seek to reduce residual risk by assessing risk and control design and testing operating effectiveness, making recommendations to strengthen these where necessary.
• Identify and assess inherent and residual risks related to control deficiencies.
• When identifying control enhancements drafting closure criteria recommendations that are commensurate and timebound.
• Stay ahead of evolving regulatory landscapes, advising the organization on compliance requirements and best practices in risk assurance.

Key competencies for position and level (see Group Competency model)

• Drives results
• Builds effective teams
• Plans and aligns
• Communicate effectively
• Action orientated

Key behaviours we expect to see

In addition to demonstrating our Group Values (Authentic, Bold, and Collaborative), the role holder will be expected to demonstrate the following:

• Resilience and tenacity – ability to work and adapt in a fast pace and complex environment.
• Cultural awareness/sensitivity, with strong emotional intelligence.
• Capability to pro-actively manage own development, encompassing both technical and leadership requirements to a level appropriate to role that supports the IQ-EQ Values.

Required Experience

Education / professional qualification qualifications

• Degree and/or relevant professional qualification

Background experience/skills

• Proven track record in performing assurance reviews and testing of controls.
• Recognised Subject Matter Expert (SME) in Assurance.
• Capability of building credible relationships through consistent and authentic behaviour that generates lasting trust.
• Excellent interpersonal and both written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to fully participate and successfully influence effectively at all levels in the business.
• Must be organised and delivery focused, possessing high levels of resilience and determination, can multi- task, work under pressure and in a complex environment.

Company, product and market knowledge

• Prior experience of working in a financial services or consulting business performing assurance testing.
• Management and leadership
• People leadership experience essential

Languages

• English, additional European language a plus.