Job Description
At abrdn, our purpose is to enable our clients to be better investors.
Clients worldwide trust us to find future-fit investment opportunities to deliver the outcomes they want. Our technology and insight help empower them to make better decisions, while the powerful partnerships we build help to enhance the expertise that we offer. And by enabling clients to invest responsibly, it helps us to build a better world.
We have a great opportunity for an experienced Controls professional to join our newly established Finance Controls Office. This is a permanent role, based in Edinburgh.
About the Department
The abrdn Finance Controls Office has recently been established in response to increased focus on internal controls from global regulators, including the upcoming UK Corporate Reform agenda, which will require abrdn to enhance the existing internal control environment and implement an enhanced assurance process.
The Finance Controls Office is an experienced and ambitious team with a remit to enhance internal controls across Finance and support the wider business to implement the necessary procedures to successfully provide an enhanced external attestation.
This role is part of a team that will support the business through the implementation of the following key phases:
1. Design evaluation of existing processes and controls;
2. Assessment of operating effectiveness of controls,
3. Remediation support for design and operating weaknesses; and
4. Attestation and results reporting.
About the Role
This role reports to the Head of Finance Control and will be responsible for:
5. Assessing the quality of existing documentation and controls for assigned in-scope processes through review of documentation, participation in workshops, updating existing process and control documentation.
6. Document processes, risks and controls, assess deficiencies, support and track remediation activity, to ensure processes and controls are enhanced to meet “SOX-style” standard.
7. Performing testing of the design and operating effectiveness of controls and reporting the results. For controls which are ineffective or require improvement, work collaboratively with business leads to agree improvements required, then agree appropriate timeframes for implementation and retesting.
8. Working collegiately as part of the Finance Controls Office and wider Finance team, supporting the overall team activities, supporting deliverables, and assisting with other risk and control related activities as required.
9. Supporting the maintenance of risk and control databases for the Finance Function, including supporting the finance function document events and issues.
About the Candidate Requirements
10. Qualified accountant, auditor, or operational risk specialist with experience of internal control testing, in particular design effectiveness and operating effectiveness, control quality, and high quality evidencing standards
11. Interpersonal skills - deliver with quality and impact in a proactive and collaborative manner
12. Communication - ability to communicate effectively
13. Impact and influence - operates with intellectual curiosity to understand and surface insights that helps strengthen the design and operation of the internal control framework
14. Global approach – although the primary focus relates to UK regulatory change, a number of the processes and controls operate across abrdn’s global business and therefore experience of operating across a global business is required
15. Attention to detail – works with precision to deliver requirements
16. Collaboration - outcome focussed with ability to facilitate collaborative working within and across teams
We are proud to announce that we have officially become a Disability Confident Committed – Level One employer. Therefore, if you have a disability and would like to submit an application to one of our UK roles under the Disability Confident Scheme, please notify us by completing the relevant section in our candidate questionnaire and one of our team will reach out to support you through your application process.
Our Benefits
There's more to working life than coming home with a good salary. We have an environment where you can learn, get involved and be supported.
When you join us, your reward will be one of the best around, including 40 days annual leave, a 16% employer pension contribution, a discretionary performance-based bonus (where applicable), private healthcare and a range of flexible benefits including gym discounts, season ticket loans and access to an employee discount site amongst many others. You can read more about our benefits here.