Head of Risk Assurance (2nd Line)

Job Description:

Head of Risk Assurance (2nd Line)

Competitive Salary, Bonus & Benefits

UK - Manchester, London or Staines office

Permanent role – 37.5 hours per week

Closing date – 30th October 2026

We make health happen

At Bupa, our purpose is simple: helping people live longer, healthier, happier lives and making a better world. As a healthcare provider and insurer with no shareholders, our focus is always on our customers and patients.

As Head of Risk Assurance, you will lead and shape a newly established second-line Risk Assurance capability across Bupa, providing independent assurance and insight that strengthens governance, risk management and customer outcomes. 

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and lead Bupa's second-line Risk Assurance capability
• Build, develop and lead a high-performing team of assurance specialists.
• Deliver an assurance plan focused on key risks, regulatory priorities and customer outcomes.
• Oversee desktop reviews, thematic reviews and deep-dive assurance activities.
• Provide independent, evidence-based challenge to senior stakeholders.
• Produce clear and insightful reporting for senior leaders and governance forums.
• Identify emerging themes, control weaknesses and opportunities for improvement.
• Work closely with Risk & Compliance Business Partners, Internal Audit and business leaders to strengthen risk management practices.

What We're Looking For

• Senior risk professional with significant leadership experience in financial services (insurance, financial consulting, banking)
• Background in risk assurance, operational risk, internal audit, compliance monitoring, controls testing or regulatory assurance
• Demonstrable ability to lead a 2nd Line assurance function or framework.
• Strong knowledge of risk management frameworks and the three lines model.
• Ability to engage and influence executive level stakeholders
• Experience delivering assurance reviews, thematic reviews and control effectiveness assessments.
• ‘Challenger’ mindset – focus on continuous improvement

Benefits

Our benefits are designed to make health happen for our people. Viva is our global wellbeing programme and includes all aspects of our health – from mental and physical, to financial, social and environmental wellbeing. We support flexible working and have a range of family friendly benefits.

Joining Bupa in this role you will receive the following benefits and more:

• Management Bonus Scheme
• Car Allowance (paid as cash)
• Private medical insurance (family cover)
• Excellent Pension scheme
• Life assurance
• Flexible and hybrid working options

Why Bupa

We’re a health insurer and provider. With no shareholders, our customers are our focus. Our people are all driven by the same purpose – helping people live longer, healthier, happier lives and making a better world. We make health happen by being brave, caring and responsible in everything we do.

We encourage all of our people to “Be you at Bupa”, we champion diversity, and we understand the importance of our people representing the communities and customers we serve. That's why we especially encourage applications from people with diverse backgrounds and experiences.

Bupa is a Level 2 Disability Confident Employer. This means we aim to offer an interview/assessment to every disabled applicant who meets the minimum criteria for the role. We'll make sure you are treated fairly and offer reasonable adjustments as part of our recruitment process to anyone that needs them.

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