Head of Internal Control

Head of Risk, Controls and Compliance

London (Hybrid) and occasional UK travel

PE Backed Consumer Retail

A well-known UK consumer retail group backed by a high-profile private equity firm is seeking a Head of Risk, Controls and Compliance to join its London team. The organisation operates internationally and is preparing for a period of significant transformation. This is a rare opportunity to play a pivotal leadership role at a time of meaningful change.

This newly created position reports directly to the CFO and will shape, strengthen and lead the group\’s overall risk and controls framework. The remit spans enterprise risk, internal controls, internal audit and compliance, with leadership responsibility for direct reports across Compliance, IT Controls and Internal Audit, as well as oversight of an audit team of four.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and embed a robust enterprise risk and control framework across the organisation
• Lead and evolve the internal controls, internal audit and compliance functions
• Oversee IT general controls and wider governance standards
• Build risk awareness and promote a strong governance culture across the business
• Partner closely with senior leadership, providing insight and challenge
• Coordinate internal and external audits and drive continuous improvement
• Provide regulatory horizon scanning and support listing readiness activities
• Align risk and controls to business priorities through change and transformation
• Manage, mentor and develop a growing team

About You

You will bring strong leadership experience across risk, internal controls, internal audit or compliance, ideally gained within a complex organisation which has gone through a period of transformation or change (e.g. Sale or IPO). You will be confident in designing, implementing and maturing enterprise-wide risk and control frameworks, and you understand the operational and governance challenges that come with multi-site, consumer or retail environments. You are comfortable leading through transformation and heightened governance expectations, combining commercial judgement with a pragmatic, solutions-focused mindset. You will be credible working with senior stakeholders and influencing effectively at all levels. Experience managing teams across risk, controls and audit functions is important.

This is an outstanding opportunity for an ambitious risk and controls leader who wants to build a function from the ground up within a high growth, PE backed organisation.

Please get in touch or apply for more information.