Contents Location About the job Benefits Things you need to know Apply and further information Location Swindon About the job Job summary Role Overview for Risk & Assurance Business Partners The Risk & Assurance Business Partners works as part of the Risk and Assurance team, with the Head of Risk and Assurance, supporting the Director of Risk & Assurance and other UKRI senior leaders to ensure that UKRI operates best practice throughout its risk management and integrated assurance arrangements. The postholder may support work with stakeholders in government and other funders and partners on risk, assurance, and control framework approaches. The roles will work with an appropriate focus on the threats and opportunities related to delivering the UKRI strategy and plans at the same time as supporting the entire landscape of risk, assurance, and internal arrangements in place at UKRI. The postholder will support the Head of Risk & Assurance with the optimisation of risk taking by UKRI within delegated limits and risk appetite. The postholders will support the Head of Risk & Assurance to work within the new directorate to form a joined-up Risk & Assurance function, working closely with all teams within the directorate. A critical element of role is to support delivery of changes and new ways of working, leading by example through changes to ways of working that will reduce siloed working and increase collaboration in how we manage risk across the organisation, with our senior forums, Executive Committee and Board. As a member of the team the role will work to support delivery of all the Directorates responsibilities. Success Factors: Increased engagement with senior leaders, councils and committees on risk and assurance issues. Clear line of sight and management of risks that are pervasive throughout UKRI. Proactive identification, escalation, and resolution of concerns before they become issues. Risk and assurance arrangements that benchmark favourably against best practice and are applied in practice. Acceptable level of assurance as evidenced by external stakeholders e.g., internal, and external auditors; UKRI Audit and Risk Assurance Committee. Improved efficiency and effectiveness of risk management and assurance processes and elimination of duplication. Increased use of team in an advisory capacity. Fewer surprises (using risk and assurance management to proactively identify risks at an early stage and before they become issues). Job description Management and Leadership Role: Risk & Assurance Business Partners reports to the Risk & Assurance Business Partnering Lead. The Risk & Assurance Business Partners may supervise, or line manage a small number of roles within the team that may include support members of the team. This role will support the Head of Risk and Assurance to provide professional leadership and support to risk leads and champions operating across UKRI. The Risk & Assurance Business Partner is a visible member of the team and of the UKRI Chief Finance Officer Group and is required to build strong and effective relationships across a diverse group of stakeholders internally and externally as appropriate. The Risk & Assurance Business Partner role will support the Risk & Assurance Business Partnering Lead to ensure that Risk & Assurance activity helps to influence and drive decision making in the organisation at all relevant levels in pursuit of organisational objectives. The Risk & Assurance Business Partner role will also need to support at a variety of fora, externally, to work closely with external auditors, the HMG Risk Centre of Excellence, and other external organisations, including funded bodies, to build trust and increase the profile and reputation of UKRI. Financial Responsibilities: This role does not have direct financial responsibilities. Person specification Key responsibilities: Risk & Assurance Management Support the design and operation of a risk management framework, supported by a suite of policies and processes with the Risk & Assurance frameworks, for UKRI that aligns with the organisational vision and strategic objectives. Support development and implementation of policies and processes that are innovative, provide the agility to respond to internal and external changes in environment, are in line with best practice, are delivery focused, are reflective of agreed risk appetite, based on an in-depth understanding of the business requirements of UKRI, compliant with relevant International and Government standards, and demonstrate best practice. Work closely with the Risk & Assurance Business Partnering Lead and the team to support the optimisation of risk taking by UKRI to take advantages of opportunities and organisational constraints within delegated limits and risk appetite. Promote a culture of continuous improvement in all areas and champion professional standards and good management practice across all the diverse areas of UKRI business. Work closely with all teams in the directorate and relevant business areas to support end to end audit and review activity in the context of risk exposure Provide balanced professional support and challenge to all business areas at a variety of levels as appropriate Support specific risk areas, projects or commissions as needed, developing relevant knowledge and skills as appropriate Work with the team and the business to ensure robust and value drive risk registers are well managed, including review of risks and controls, helping the business to understand the benefits of risk management Provide support for the management of control frameworks and risk controls Support assurance activities including audits, reviews, the annual Executive Accountability Exercise and any other activities undertaken to assess the management of risk in the organisation Deliver risk and assurance training for the organisation in line with the requirements of the Risk & Assurance Frameworks Support the network of risk champions throughout the organisation Proactively work with the team on horizon scanning and advise on emerging areas of risk Lead by example in all areas of work to promote a good understanding across the team and make a positive contribution Engage with all relevant risk and assurance activities as needed to deliver a professional service to the organisation and a joined up and cohesive team approach Requirement to travel sometimes to visit relevant locations or attend training or events Provide high quality written and verbal advice suitable for executive and senior level decision makers Key Skills: Excellent people skills, able to influence and build and maintain strong working relationships with a wide range of stakeholders at all levels, both internally and externally. Enthusiastic, motivated, adaptable, and proactive with the ability to work flexibly in a changing environment and respond to shifting priorities. Ability to innovate and challenge established thinking in self and others, and to offer insights and ideas with practical application coupled with the ability to drive change. Insightful business awareness with the ability to understand and analyse changing business context and landscape to assess and manage risk, capitalise on emerging opportunities, make sound evidence-based judgements, promote the interests of UKRI and research and innovation. Ability to instil confidence within stakeholders at a range of levels, acting as a trusted advisor. Excellent communication skills including good experience of writing reports to a high standard Strong understanding of risk, assurance, and audit activities Excellent attention to detail and good system based and general administration skills Additional information Understand the linkages and dependencies between the risk and assurance function and other corporate services functions, promoting a culture of teamwork and helping to break down silos if they emerge. Build and maintain strong working relationships with key stakeholders across UKRI and external bodies, to develop a clear understanding of the organisation, to facilitate effective working relationships. Support as an initial point of escalation for complex risk queries ensuring effective and appropriate reporting of complex risk information. Knowledge: Strong understanding of prevailing governance standards and public sector rules including but not limited to: Managing Public Money. HM Treasury and Cabinet Office standards and rules, particularly in relation to: Corporate Governance; Risk management; Spending Controls; Regularity and Propriety (conflicts of interest, gifts and hospitality, ethics). Internal Audit Standards. Audit Committee best practice. Orange Book. FRC Corporate Governance Code and its public sector equivalent. Government Functional Standards. Essential Skills/Qualifications/Experience (S) Assessed at shortlisting (I) Assessed at interview (S&I) Assessed at both shortlisting and interview Experience Strong risk management experience, including operating effective risk management strategies, policy, and frameworks in an organisation. (S & I) Experience of writing papers and delivering agenda items in relevant forums (S & I) Experience collaborating with teams at a range of levels and being a trusted advisor providing expert professional advice to management. (S & I) Ability to innovate and challenge established thinking in self and others, and to offer insights and ideas with practical application coupled with the ability to effectively support change. (S & I) Experience of working with internal and external Auditors (preferably National Audit Office) (S & I) Qualifications Member of the Institute of Risk Management (S) Or Equivalent Risk & Assurance qualification (S) Benefits Alongside your salary of £45,272, UK Research and Innovation contributes £13,115 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides. Learning and development tailored to your role An environment with flexible working options A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity A Civil Service pension with an employer contribution of 28.97% Things you need to know Selection process details 1st interview incl Presentation Interviews will either take place remotely via Teams/Zoom or in person face to face. Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment. Security Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check. People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks. Nationality requirements This job is broadly open to the following groups: UK nationals nationals of the Republic of Ireland nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window) nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020 Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window) Working for the Civil Service Please note this Post is NOT regulated by the Civil Service Commission. The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria. Diversity and Inclusion The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see the Civil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window). Apply and further information Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records. Contact point for applicants Job contact : Name : Recruitment Team Email : recruitmentukri.org Recruitment team Email : recruitmentukri.org Apply at advertiser's site Share this page Print Email Facebook Twitter LinkedIn GMail