Group Head of Internal Audit

By 2050, the planet could be using twice as much electricity compared to today. Are you interested in contributing and helping to shape the future of the world’s energy? If so, read on.

Fusion, the process that powers the Sun and Stars, is one of the most promising options for generating the cleaner, carbon-free energy that our world badly needs.

UKAEA leads the way in realizing fusion energy, partnering with industry and research for groundbreaking advancements. Our goal is to bring fusion electricity to the grid, supported by tomorrow's power stations. In pursuit of our mission, UKAEA embraces core values: Innovative, Committed, Trusted, and Collaborative.

As an employee of UKAEA you will benefit from:

• Outstanding defined benefit pension scheme, details of which can be found at the end of this advert.
• Corporate bonus scheme up to 7% and a Relocation allowance (if eligible).
• Flexible working options including family friendly policies and the right to request flexible working from the start of your employment. 
• Employee Assistance Programme and trained Mental Health First Aiders, 
• Generous annual leave allowance starting with 25 days, plus 3 days Christmas closure and 2.5 privilege days, in addition to UK bank holidays
• Wide range of career development opportunities
• A vibrant culture committed to equality and being fully inclusive

What to expect in our recruitment process:

For a step-by-step overview of how we hire from application to offer please see our Recruitment Process page: careers.ukaea.uk/join-us/recruitment-process

The salary for this role is £B6,758 . Onsite working is expected for 3 days each week, however, we actively support requests for flexible working. 

This role can be based at any of the following sites: Culham, Oxfordshire.

This role requires employees to be eligible for SC Clearance (must have resided in the UK for the last 5 years), including The Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS) checks for criminal convictions and possibly a search of open source data. 

The Role

Are you looking for an exciting opportunity to make a difference? Join our team and contribute to the future of fusion energy. As Group Head of Internal Audit, you will lead the development and delivery of a risk-based internal audit strategy aligned to UKAEA’s mission, ensuring strong governance, risk management, and internal controls across the Group. You will provide independent assurance to senior stakeholders, including the CEO, Board, and Audit & Risk Assurance Committee, on the effectiveness of controls and the management of risk, including oversight of UK Industrial Fusion Solutions. The role is central to strengthening the organisation’s control environment, embedding best practice, and driving continuous improvement in audit processes and standards. You will also play a key leadership role within the QSHE Risk and Assurance Directorate, influencing strategic planning and supporting major initiatives and transformation projects. In addition, you will champion the development of robust risk assurance processes that enable delivery of organisational objectives. This role requires strong leadership, strategic influence, and alignment with Government Functional Internal Audit Standards. 

You will be reporting to: Group Director of QSHE, Risk and Assurance with direct access to the Chief Executive and the Audit & Risk Assurance Committee.  

Key Responsibilities:

• Develop and execute a comprehensive, risk-based audit plan, with the goal of both maximizing company performance and control, while minimizing risk. The plan should reflect a thorough understanding of the company's operation, as well as changes in internal and external risks. 
• Set the strategy for the Group Internal Audit Stakeholder engagement plan and deliver to it. 
• Lead the internal audit function including the preparation of a risk-based audit plan, scheduling and assigning work and estimating resource needs.   
• Mentor management at all levels on effective leadership providing awareness or other best practice interventions to promote and sustain a proactive governance and assurance culture.  
• Ensure coverage of assurance mapping of corporate risks and provide Board, ARAC and other stakeholders an audit opinion of the adequacy of internal controls. 
• Regularly report to both the Audit and Risk Assurance Committee, Group Director of QSHE, Risk and Assurance and top management on the findings and progress of the audit programme and activities of the department 
• Independently report to and work with the Chairs of the UKAEA and UKIFS Audit and Risk Assurance Committees (sub-committee of the UKAEA/UKIFE Boards) providing assurance oversight. 
• Provide both management and the Audit and Risk Assurance Committee with an opinion on the effectiveness of internal controls of the Authority. 

Essential Requirements:

• A professional qualification ideally CIA/ACCA/CMIIA qualified and/or a relevant Internal Audit certification 
• Project Management and Risk Management qualification/experience- desirable 
• Ability to challenge and influence at senior management and board level 
• Advanced knowledge of audit principles, practices and procedures 
• Experience of implementing assurance quality improvement programmes 
• Significant experience and knowledge of management systems that are certified to ISO standards. 
• Dynamic and inspirational leader. with ability to set and influence strategy 
• Ability to influence at the most senior level within the Group 
• Excellent Board report writing technical skills 

A full list of our benefits can be found here https://careers.ukaea.uk/life-at-ukaea/employee-benefits/

UKAEA’s mission is clean energy for all, and we welcome talented people from all backgrounds to help us achieve this goal. We are committed to equality, diversity, and inclusion and strive to ensure fair representation across our workforce. We particularly encourage applications from groups currently underrepresented in STEM, including women and individuals from diverse ethnic backgrounds, while ensuring all appointments are made on merit.

UK Atomic Energy Authority is committed to being accessible. Please email [email protected] if you have any questions or require help or adjustments to compete on a fair basis, for example, changes to the way we interview or share information.  

Please note that vacancies are generally advertised for 4 weeks but may close earlier if we receive a large number of applications.