At a Glance
- Tasks: Shape governance and reporting for a major change programme, ensuring leaders have clear insights.
- Company: AQA, a values-led organisation committed to diversity and inclusion.
- Benefits: 25-30 days annual leave, flexible working, excellent pension scheme, and health benefits.
- Other info: Join a diverse team and access professional development opportunities.
- Why this job: Make a real impact by influencing decision-making in a collaborative environment.
- Qualifications: Experience in governance, reporting, and managing complex information is preferred.
The predicted salary is between 56500 - 66000 £ per year.
Permanent Manchester: £56,500 - £66,000 Guildford: £60,000 - £68,000 Hybrid Working (2 days in office per week)
Make confident decisions possible. You know how important good decision making is. When leaders have clear, reliable insight, progress moves forward with confidence. When they don’t, it slows down. As our Reporting and Governance Lead, you will shape how reporting and governance works across a complex change programme - General Qualification Reform - bringing clarity where there is ambiguity and consistency where there are gaps.
If you enjoy turning complex information into clear insight and influencing senior stakeholders without relying on hierarchy, this could be a really rewarding next step. You’ll sit at the heart of a large, multi-directorate programme, working across areas such as product, assessment, operations, finance and HR. Your focus will be on making sure leaders have the insight they need to make informed decisions. You’ll design and improve governance, strengthen reporting, and bring together different strands of delivery into a clear, joined up view. Your work will directly shape how confident leaders feel in the decisions they make.
What you’ll be doing:
- Design and improve governance frameworks and ways of working so decisions are clear and well supported
- Own integrated reporting, creating clear, useful updates for senior leaders and governance forums
- Bring together integrated plans, milestones and dependencies so risks are visible early
- Track key performance measures and ensure progress is transparent and consistent
- Provide independent assurance, helping leaders trust the information they are acting on
- Set standards and guidance so reporting is high quality across all teams
- Support programme teams to improve how they plan, report and manage delivery across each of our office locations (Manchester, Guildford, Milton Keynes and London)
What’s in it for you:
- The opportunity to shape how a large programme is governed and delivered
- A collaborative, values led working environment
- 25 days annual leave, rising to 30 with service, plus bank holidays and extra closure days at Christmas
- A 35 hour working week with flexible working arrangements
- An excellent contributory pension scheme (6%-11.5% depending on your contribution)
- Life assurance, BUPA PMI, and health cash plan
- Enhanced maternity and paternity schemes
- Access to professional and personal development whenever you need it
- The opportunity to join a variety of employee networks including LGBTQ, neurodiversity, empowering women, wellbeing, ethnic diversity, Interfaith and more
At AQA, we are committed to fostering a workplace that celebrates diversity and promotes equity and inclusion. We believe that a diverse team brings richer perspectives and drives better outcomes. Our ED&I strategy ensures that everyone-regardless of religion, ethnicity, gender identity or expression, age, disability, sexual orientation, or background-is valued, respected, and empowered to thrive. We actively promote inclusive language, avoid stereotypes, and strive for representation across all dimensions of diversity. We welcome applications from individuals of all backgrounds and lived experiences.
What you’ll bring:
You don’t need to meet every point, but you’re likely to have experience in most of the following:
- Designing and improving governance and reporting in complex programmes or portfolios
- Turning large amounts of information into clear, decision-focused insight - we use Planner Premium and Power BI
- Managing dependencies, milestones and identifying risks early
- Producing reporting for senior stakeholders or formal governance forums
- Experience influencing and building alignment across teams, even without direct authority
- Paying close attention to detail while balancing accuracy with pace
- Working confidently where information is incomplete or evolving
It would be helpful if you’ve worked in large transformation programmes or regulated environments, but this isn’t essential.
How to Apply:
If you’re ready to take ownership of governance and reporting in a complex delivery environment, apply now. Upload your most recent CV with a cover letter to tell us how you’ve helped bring clarity, structure and confidence to programme delivery and what has inspired you to apply for this role at AQA. Applications will close at 23:59 on Monday 25 May 2026. Interviews will be over two stages with shortlisting between in the week of 8th June - 1st stage via Teams, 2nd stage face to face in either the Manchester or Guildford Office, whichever is nearer to you. Every application will be read by a human and will receive a written response.
Reporting and Governance Lead in Surrey employer: AQA
Contact Detail:
AQA Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Reporting and Governance Lead in Surrey
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to people in your industry on LinkedIn or at events. A friendly chat can lead to opportunities that aren’t even advertised yet.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching the company and its culture. We want you to feel confident, so practice answering common questions and think about how your experience aligns with their needs.
✨Tip Number 3
Showcase your skills during interviews! Bring examples of how you've turned complex information into clear insights. This is your chance to shine and demonstrate your value.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to follow up after interviews! A quick thank-you email can keep you top of mind and show your enthusiasm for the role. Plus, it’s a great way to reiterate your fit for the position.
We think you need these skills to ace Reporting and Governance Lead in Surrey
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV and Cover Letter: Make sure your CV and cover letter are tailored to the Reporting and Governance Lead role. Highlight your experience in governance frameworks and reporting, and don’t forget to mention how you’ve turned complex information into clear insights. We want to see how you can bring clarity and confidence to our programme delivery!
Showcase Your Stakeholder Influence: In your application, share examples of how you've influenced senior stakeholders without relying on hierarchy. This is key for us! We love seeing candidates who can build alignment across teams and make confident decisions possible.
Be Clear and Concise: When writing your application, keep it clear and concise. Use bullet points where appropriate to make your achievements stand out. Remember, we’re looking for clarity in communication, so show us you can deliver that right from the start!
Apply Through Our Website: Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you’re considered for the role. Plus, it gives you a chance to explore more about our values and what we stand for at StudySmarter.
How to prepare for a job interview at AQA
✨Know Your Governance Frameworks
Familiarise yourself with various governance frameworks and reporting standards relevant to the role. Be ready to discuss how you've designed or improved these in past experiences, as this will show your understanding of the complexities involved.
✨Turn Data into Insight
Prepare examples of how you've transformed large amounts of data into clear, actionable insights. Use specific tools like Power BI or Planner Premium if applicable, and be ready to explain your thought process behind making complex information digestible for senior stakeholders.
✨Showcase Your Stakeholder Influence
Think of instances where you've influenced decisions without direct authority. Highlight your communication skills and how you’ve built alignment across teams, especially in challenging situations. This is key for a role that requires working across multiple directorates.
✨Be Ready for Scenario Questions
Anticipate scenario-based questions that test your ability to manage risks and dependencies. Prepare to discuss how you would approach tracking key performance measures and ensuring transparency in progress, as this aligns closely with the responsibilities of the role.