At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead controls assurance activities and enhance finance governance across the organisation.
- Company: Join Aberdeen, a leading Wealth & Investments group focused on client impact.
- Benefits: Enjoy 40 days annual leave, private healthcare, and a generous pension contribution.
- Other info: Flexible working options and a commitment to inclusivity make this a great workplace.
- Why this job: Make a tangible impact while working with senior stakeholders in a dynamic environment.
- Qualifications: Experience in controls assurance and strong understanding of accounting principles required.
The predicted salary is between 50000 - 60000 € per year.
At Aberdeen, our ambition is to be the UK’s leading Wealth & Investments group. Strengthening talent and culture is one of our strategic priorities. We strive to make Aberdeen a great place to work so that we can attract and retain the industry’s best talent. Our people put our stakeholders at the heart of everything they do by helping us to make a positive difference to the lives of our clients, customers, colleagues, shareholders, and society. We are focused on growing our direct and advised wealth platforms and repositioning our specialist asset management business to meet client demand. We are committed to providing excellent client service, supported by leading technology and talent.
Aberdeen comprises three businesses, interactive investor (ii), Investments, and Adviser, each of which focuses on meeting and adapting to our clients’ evolving needs:
- interactive investor, the UK’s second largest direct-to-consumer investment platform, enables individuals in the UK to plan, save, and invest in the way that works for them.
- Our Adviser business provides financial planning solutions and technology for UK financial advisers, enabling them to create value for their customers.
- Our Investments business is a specialist asset manager that focuses on areas where we have both strength and scale to capitalise on the key themes shaping the market, through either public markets or alternative asset classes.
The Finance Controls Office supports the Finance function in maintaining a strong control environment and meeting key governance and regulatory requirements, including the revised UK Corporate Governance Code. The team plays an important role in strengthening internal controls and supporting clear, effective assurance and reporting.
The Central Functions Controls Assurance Manager role offers the opportunity to contribute to a high-profile agenda with tangible impact across the organisation, and forms part of a team supporting the business to achieve the following goals:
- Deliver high-quality, action-focused Finance governance and management information reporting
- Improve Finance’s overall alignment with the firm’s ERMF
- Enhance the quality of Balance Sheet Substantiation processes through robust quality assurance
- Remediation support for control design and operating weaknesses, risk issues and events.
- Education and upskilling for Finance on risk management and controls
This is an excellent opportunity for a high-calibre candidate to join a visible and evolving team at the centre of Finance governance and control enhancement. The role provides meaningful exposure to senior stakeholders, the chance to influence how controls are designed and embedded, and the opportunity to build expertise in an area of growing strategic importance.
Specifically, the role holder is responsible for planning and executing controls assurance activity across Central Functions, alongside delivery of quality assurance over Balance Sheet Substantiation.
Key Responsibilities
- Planning and delivery of controls assurance activity across Central Functions, including coordinating testing activity, tracking progress against plan, and ensuring outputs are completed in line with Aberdeen methodology.
- Working with stakeholders across Central Functions to agree testing scope, communicate findings clearly, and support the timely remediation of control gaps or weaknesses identified through testing.
- Oversight and support of offshore testers, ensuring testing activities are delivered consistently and in line with agreed methodology and timelines.
- Executing the monthly Balance Sheet Substantiation quality assurance process and producing reports on the results for presentation at governance forums.
- The role holder may also be involved in activities within the broader remit of the Finance Controls Office, supporting team priorities and contributing to the ongoing development and enhancement of the Finance risk and control environment as required.
About the Candidate
The essential criteria for the role are as follows:
- Controls assurance – experience planning and delivering controls assurance or testing activities, assessing control design and effectiveness, and communicating findings clearly.
- Accounting and financial reporting – strong understanding of core accounting principles, financial reporting requirements, and the operation of key finance processes and controls.
- Stakeholder management – ability to build effective relationships, work collaboratively across teams, and engage confidently with stakeholders at different levels across the organisation.
- Global team management – experience managing or overseeing global teams, including coordinating delivery across locations and maintaining consistent quality and standards.
- Qualifications - Qualified accountant or auditor preferred; candidates with relevant operational risk or controls experience will also be considered.
- Additionally, experience with balance sheet substantiation processes and related quality assurance or review activity would be advantageous.
We are proud to be a Disability Confident Committed employer. If you have a disability and would like to apply to one of our UK roles under the Disability Confident Scheme, please notify us by completing the relevant section in our candidate questionnaire. 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. This includes 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 portal.
Our business
Enabling our clients to be better investors drives everything we do. Our business is structured around three distinct areas – our vectors of growth – focused on our clients’ changing needs.
An inclusive way of working
Whatever way you like to work, if you have the talent and commitment to join our team, we’d like to hear from you. At Aberdeen we’ve adopted a ‘blended working’ approach. This approach combines the benefits of face-to-face collaboration, coaching and connecting in our offices with the flexibility of working from home. It enables colleagues to find a balance that works for their roles, their teams, our clients and our business.
An inclusive culture, where diverse perspectives drive our actions, is at the core of who we are and what we do. If you need assistance with your application, or a reasonable adjustment to your interview arrangements – for example, because you are neurodivergent, or have a physical, sensory, cognitive, mental, visible or invisible disability – please let us know and we’ll be happy to help.
We’re committed to providing an inclusive workplace where all forms of difference are valued and which is free from any form of unfair or unlawful treatment. We define diversity in its broadest sense – this includes but is not limited to our diversity of educational and professional backgrounds, experience, cognitive and neurodiversity, age, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, religion or belief and ethnicity and geographical provenance. We support a culture that values meritocracy, fairness and transparency and welcomes enquiries from everyone.
If you need assistance or an adjustment due to a disability please let us know as part of your application and we will assist.
Controls Assurance Manager (12 month FTC) employer: Aberdeen Group
Aberdeen is an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic work environment in Edinburgh that prioritises employee growth and well-being. With generous benefits including 40 days of annual leave, a substantial pension contribution, and a commitment to inclusivity, employees are empowered to thrive both personally and professionally. The company's focus on collaboration and flexible working arrangements fosters a culture where diverse perspectives are valued, making it an ideal place for those seeking meaningful and rewarding careers.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Controls Assurance Manager (12 month FTC)
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections on LinkedIn or even in person. Let them know you're on the hunt for a Controls Assurance Manager role. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings or can put in a good word for you.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching the company and its culture. Understand their values and how they align with your own. This will help you tailor your responses and show that you're genuinely interested in being part of their team.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your answers to common interview questions, especially those related to controls assurance and stakeholder management. The more comfortable you are with your responses, the more confident you'll appear during the interview.
✨Tip Number 4
Don't forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen. Plus, it shows you're serious about joining the team at Aberdeen and ready to contribute to their mission.
We think you need these skills to ace Controls Assurance Manager (12 month FTC)
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application:Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter for the Controls Assurance Manager role. Highlight your relevant experience in controls assurance and stakeholder management, as this will show us you understand what we're looking for.
Showcase Your Skills:Don’t just list your qualifications; demonstrate how your skills align with the key responsibilities of the role. Use specific examples from your past experiences that relate to planning and executing controls assurance activities.
Be Clear and Concise:When writing your application, keep it straightforward and to the point. We appreciate clarity, so make sure your points are easy to read and understand. Avoid jargon unless it's relevant to the role.
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to apply directly through our website. This ensures your application is processed smoothly and allows us to get to know you better. Plus, it’s super easy to do!
How to prepare for a job interview at Aberdeen Group
✨Know Your Controls Assurance
Make sure you brush up on your knowledge of controls assurance processes. Be ready to discuss your experience in planning and delivering testing activities, as well as how you've assessed control design and effectiveness in previous roles.
✨Master the Balance Sheet Basics
Since balance sheet substantiation is key for this role, ensure you understand the core accounting principles and financial reporting requirements. Prepare to explain how you've contributed to quality assurance in this area before.
✨Stakeholder Engagement is Key
This role involves working with various stakeholders, so practice how you'll build effective relationships. Think of examples where you've successfully communicated findings and supported remediation efforts in past positions.
✨Showcase Your Global Team Management Skills
If you've managed or overseen global teams, be ready to share your experiences. Highlight how you've coordinated delivery across locations while maintaining quality and standards, as this will resonate well with the interviewers.
