Description Job Title : Assurance Officer Contract Type : Permanent Salary : £35,257.10 (£38,803.86 is achieved after 12 months successful performance in the role) Working Hours : 35 hours per week Working Pattern : Monday to Friday Location : Liverpool / Hybrid If you share our values and are excited about making a significant impact at Riverside, please ensure you attach a current CV and covering letter. At Riverside we recruit to potential not just on skills and experience, so we encourage you to apply even if you don't meet all the essential criteria on the job description. The difference you will make as Assurance Officer In this role you will deliver a quality, effective, Business Assurance service across the Customer Service Directorate. Carry out reviews of our policies, strategies, improvement plans and operational services and develop audit findings and improvement plans to obtain assurance that we are meeting legislative and regulatory requirements, and that services are meeting quality standards. Support teams to identify necessary actions and develop SMART improvement plans. Role model Our Riverside Way values and work closely with other teams to ensure that services meet our aspirations, and that our customers trust us to deliver on our commitments. Drive the continuous improvement of the customer experience, while relentlessly reducing waste and improving value for money. About You We are looking for someone with: Demonstrable commitment to Our Riverside Way values. A strong customer focus with excellent communication and influencing skills and able to work at all levels of the business. Demonstrable experience of effectively managing internal and external stakeholders, supporting and motivating colleagues to identify opportunities for business improvements. Ability to write clear and concise reports for a variety of audiences. Effective presentation skills to a variety of audiences. Why Riverside? At Riverside, we’re a housing association with a difference – enhancing the everyday for all our customers. For 90 years, we’ve been revitalising neighbourhoods and supporting communities by providing the homes they need to live full, fulfilling and rewarding lives. We have a portfolio of over 75,000 affordable residential and retirement homes across the UK. Our work ranges from homelessness services to social care, employment support to retirement living, and we need the best people on board to help us. Working with us, you’ll enjoy: Competitive pay & generous pension 28 days holidays plus bank holidays Flexible working options available Investment in your learning, personal development and technology A wide range of benefits Diversity and Inclusion at Riverside: We are inclusive. At Riverside, we value diversity in all its forms. We foster a workplace where all individuals are respected, empowered, and heard. Our commitment to inclusivity drives our success and enriches the lives of our customers and colleagues. This role also falls under our Ethnic Diversity guaranteed interview scheme. If you are Ethnically Diverse and demonstrate you meet the minimum criteria for the role you will be guaranteed an interview. Applications may close before the deadline, so please apply early to avoid disappointment. Role Profile Role requires you to: • Carry out reviews of policies, strategies, improvement plans and operational services, through the analysis of documentation, performance reporting, multiple data sets, system records (including complaints and CRM (Customer Relationship Management) cases, and through workshops and other engagement with colleagues, customers, and suppliers as appropriate. • Support Snr Assurance officer provide a robust 2nd line and 3rd line of defense assurance linked to risk map. • Identify issues or areas for improvement during reviews and support teams to develop action plans to address these. • Report the outcomes of reviews to stakeholders, including the Senior Business Assurance Manager, providing assurance that legislative and regulatory requirements are being met, services are meeting quality standards, or that improvement plans to address any issues are robust, SMART, and managed. • Work collaboratively across the organization, building constructive relationships with colleagues to ensure openness and transparency, and maximizing the benefit of assurance reviews by working in partnership with teams rather than ‘assessing’ them. • Maintain an up-to-date knowledge of legislation and regulation relevant to our services, and keep abreast of good practice and innovation, in the sector and beyond, seeking to raise standards within Riverside. • Champion the customer and lead by example, role modelling Our Riverside Way values, to create a strong customer focused culture. Provide expert advice, support, and guidance to teams across the business about legislative and regulatory requirements and quality control of action plans to ensure that they are SMART, and effective arrangements are in place to ensure delivery. • Contribute to the development and delivery of plans and strategies in line with corporate frameworks, such as Risk Registers, Business Continuity Plans, Service Improvement plans etc. • Ensure compliance with Group requirements in Health & Safety, Safeguarding, Equality & Diversity, and Data Protection. • Work with Senior Standards Officer and Group Audit to identify and support delivery of program of audits. Person specification Essential • Demonstrable commitment to Our Riverside Way values. • A strong customer focus with excellent communication and influencing skills and able to work at all levels of the business. • Demonstrable experience of effectively managing internal and external stakeholders, supporting and motivating colleagues to identify opportunities for business improvements. • Ability to write clear and concise reports for a variety of audiences. • Effective presentation skills to a variety of audiences. • Results driven with strong analytical skills, ability to manipulate complex data sets from multiple sources, and experience of providing meaningful insight and interpretation of management information. • Knowledge and experience of quality assessment frameworks and techniques. • Demonstrable ability to take ownership of tasks, show initiative and propose solutions to issues identified. • Excellent attention to detail with the ability to work under pressure, deliver to strict deadlines and manage conflicting priorities. • Excellent team player, with a proactive approach, able to work flexibly and adapt to changing situations, and to support colleagues to do the same. • Highly proficient in the use of Microsoft Office 365 with advanced Excel skills. Desirable • Up to date knowledge of legislation, regulations and standards relating to social housing • Knowledge of Social housing, building safety / compliance or health and safety regulatory requirements. • Evidence of continued professional development. • Membership of a relevant professional organisation. • Relevant qualifications i.eInternal audit, business assurance qualification or experience of undertaking business assurance role.