Audit and Assurance Specialist

Audit and Assurance Specialist
Location: Hybrid Remote, with 1-3 days per month being spent in your local office (UK based)
Salary: £45,000 - £55,000

Are you a risk-savvy professional with a passion for improving governance and control environments? We're looking for an experienced Audit and Assurance Specialist to join our client's team on a permanent basis, supporting Financial Services clients in delivering robust, independent oversight.

Benefits:

• 25 days annual leave (plus option to buy more)
• Private medical insurance
• Life assurance
• Generous pension scheme
• Flexible benefits fund to tailor perks to you

Key Responsibilities:

• Conduct independent assessments on compliance with Article 28 of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), reviewing processes managed jointly by the UK Legal Director and Data Protection Officer to ensure Data Processor responsibilities are being upheld.
• Provide independent assurance to senior leadership that Risk & Assurance objectives are being achieved within a robust and well-controlled environment, acting as a trusted advisor while maintaining objectivity and independence.
• Provide assurance over the design and effectiveness of the Risk Management Framework, including alignment with regulatory expectations and best practices in compliance and Anti-Money Laundering (AML) processes.
• Perform assurance reviews on policy design and implementation across critical risk areas such as conflicts of interest, financial crime, whistleblowing, and compliance risk, ensuring frameworks remain current and effective.
• Test the effectiveness of compliance, risk, fraud detection, and conduct screening procedures, identifying control weaknesses and recommending enhancements to mitigate risk exposure and potential financial losses.
• Lead independent risk-based audits and thematic reviews to assess the adequacy of controls across strategic, regulatory, financial, operational, and reputational risk areas, with a focus on identifying emerging risks and control gaps.
• Take ownership for the independent monitoring of audit action plans, assessing the timeliness, quality, and effectiveness of management's responses and remediation efforts against internal and external audit recommendations.
• Deliver independent insights and recommendations to senior leadership on governance, compliance, and control effectiveness, supporting the business in meeting its objectives while maintaining integrity and accountability.
• Support head of department in participation of internal risk and compliance committees from a third-line perspective, providing challenge, assurance, and guidance on key matters arising across the control environment.
• Produce and deliver high-quality assurance reporting and management information relating to governance, risk, compliance, fraud, and operational integrity to executive stakeholders and other relevant parties.

What We're Looking For:

• 3-5 years' experience in internal audit, risk or compliance (FS/regulatory environments preferred)
• Strong working knowledge of FCA Handbook, SYSC, AML, PRIN, FCA Conduct Rules, Consumer Duty & BCOBS

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to present findings clearly and credibly to senior leadership and clients.
• Skilled in building strong relationships, while remaining independent, objective, and credible.
• Sound knowledge of AML, financial crime, and control environments, and a strong advocate for risk-aware behaviours.
• Familiarity with data analytics and the ability to underpin findings with insight-driven recommendations. High levels of integrity and ethical standards, ensuring transparency and fairness in all areas of the role. Resilience and the ability to thrive in a fast-paced, evolving and agile working environment.

Desirable:

• Experience in project or programme assurance, particularly around regulatory change or transformation.
• Comfort using data tools to identify risk or analyse trends, enabling more intelligent audit planning.
• Exposure to the Three Lines of Defence model, with a practical understanding of control design and testing.
• Working towards or holding relevant professional qualifications (e.g. CllA, ISO Auditor, ICA Cert in Compliance/Risk).

Take your next step as an Audit and Assurance Specialist-make an impact where integrity meets innovation. Apply now!