On behalf of UKRI, we are looking for an Internal Controls Lead x2 (Inside IR35) for a 4 Month Contract.
Remote working with occasional travel to Swindon when required.
Organisations need systems to ensure that those making decisions, both financial and non-financial, do so within a controlled framework, and that processes exist to ensure associated stewardship and accountability requirements are cascaded within the organisation. Part of the Chief Finance Officer group, the UKRI Internal Controls team works with colleagues to ensure that UKRI operates best practice throughout its governance, accountability, and integrated assurance arrangements across all of the organisation’s activities. Your remit will by necessity be broad, with strong leadership, coordination, and awareness-raising elements.
Main areas of work owned by the Internal Controls team include:
* Annual Governance Statement
* Declarations and conflicts of interest
* Delegations
* Gifts and hospitality
* Governance advice - ad hoc
* Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking
* Policy of Policies
* Welsh Language Scheme
Note: the Internal Controls team currently incorporates colleagues with responsibility for complaints and whistleblowing, but is in scope of UKRI’s project to implement a new operating model and this is expected to change in the coming months.
Background
You will need a robust knowledge of corporate governance within the public sector and/or central government, and demonstrable experience of developing and implementing best practice governance across a multi-layered organisation such as UK Research and Innovation. Experience of policy development and implementation would be an advantage. You should be comfortable providing direction and support to colleagues within the team and across UKRI, tasked with sensitively handling challenging or ambiguous queries within a complex governance framework and organisational structure.
Key Areas of Accountability
The Internal Controls Lead will initially report to the UKRI Director Risk and Assurance and will work closely with colleagues across UKRI to support decision-making, ensuring that UKRI operates best practice throughout its governance, accountability, risk management and integrated assurance arrangements.
Main Responsibilities:
* Leading on the review, co-development, updating and implementation of existing operational governance policies, with an initial focus on the UKRI Delegations Framework.
* Leading on the implementation of updated operational governance policies into ‘business as usual’ by the team, initially focusing on Gifts & Hospitality and Declaration of Interests policies and processes, including assurance that policies are being adhered to.
* Developing, maintaining, and embedding processes to test and provide assurance that UKRI governance policies are being adhered to, with an initial focus on Modern Slavery.
* Leading on the further development and embedding of the UKRI Declaration of Interests Portal (a self-service central register of declared interests), which can be widely and easily used across UKRI to identify actual or potential conflicts of interest arising amongst those working on behalf of UKRI.
* Developing a more integrated approach to operational governance across UKRI, for example setting up an informal network for governance professionals to co-develop policies and share best practice.
* Providing expert advice and support for high priority governance work across UKRI on an ad-hoc basis.
* The role may include supervision of up to three team members, providing a supportive, mentoring environment.
Essential:
* Experience in developing and implementing good corporate governance practice in a public sector or government organisation, with an interest in policy development and implementation.
* Excellent influencing, judgement, collaborative and teamworking skills, demonstrable ability to achieve traction at a senior level and throughout a complex organisation, for example to develop and implement new processes.
* Proven ability to deliver persuasive, succinct written and verbal work to a high standard and on time to a range of audiences, without sacrificing accuracy or collaborative input.
* A robust approach to deadlines and the ability to work flexibly, proactively and deliver at pace in a changing environment.
* Proficient IT skills; fully competent on Microsoft applications.
Desirable:
* Corporate governance, risk management or other internal controls related qualification or equivalent.
Please be aware that this role can only be worked within the UK and not Overseas.
Disability Confident
As a member of the Disability Confident Scheme, CLIENT guarantees to interview all candidates who have a disability and who meet all the essential criteria for the vacancy. In cases where we have a high volume of candidates who have a disability who meet all the essential criteria, we will interview the best candidates from within that group. This scheme encourages candidates with a disability and/or neurodivergence to apply.
DE&I Commitment
CLIENT guarantees to interview all candidates who have a disability and who meet all the essential criteria for the vacancy. In cases where we have a high volume of candidates who have a disability and who meet all the essential criteria, we will interview the best candidates from within that group. This scheme encourages candidates with a disability and/or neurodivergence to apply.
In applying for this role, you acknowledge the following: "this role falls in scope of the Off Payroll Working in the Public Sector legislation. Any rates of payment quoted will reflect the gross rate per day for the assignment and will be subject to appropriate taxes and statutory costs. As such the payment to the intermediary and your income resulting from this contract will be different."
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