Deputy Director, Risk, Assurance & Improvement in London

Location: London, Darlington, Salford, Birmingham, Cardiff, Edinburgh, Belfast.

DBT Finance teams are at the centre of our mission to support economic growth, and we are looking for a Deputy Director of Risk, Assurance & Improvement to help us deliver on that agenda. The successful candidate will play a crucial role in overseeing the department’s assurance framework, strengthening internal controls, and supporting the business to effectively identify and manage its risk.

You will own the relationship with the Government Internal Audit Agency, and work closely with DBT’s Audit, Risk and Assurance Committee to deliver a robust risk and assurance framework for the department. You will also play a central role in building departmental capability, developing tools, standards and behaviours that uplift professionalism and performance.

We are looking for a candidate who is excited by the opportunity to position risk, assurance and internal audit at the centre of the department’s improvement activity, providing real value to the business through close working and constructive relationships. The successful candidate will also play a critical role in the next stage of our directorate change journey, working with the rest of my SLT to ensure our team is in the best shape for the future.

We have a small, close-knit leadership team, and we support each other, so you must be someone who collaborates brilliantly, and can energise your team to do the same. Above all, we are looking for candidates who care about our people and can inspire them to fulfil their potential. If you are excited by the sound of this opportunity, and want to help lead the team during this critical period, we would love to hear from you.

The successful candidate’s responsibilities will include:

• Leading and developing a team to deliver a broad portfolio across risk, assurance, internal audit liaison and improvement, positioning the team as expert advisors to the business, our Audit, Risk and Assurance Committee and senior leaders across the department.
• Leading DBT’s risk framework and strategy, ensuring robust identification, management and reporting of organisational risks through proactive engagement with the business.
• Overseeing DBT’s assurance framework, strengthening internal controls, and driving continuous improvement and finance capability across the department.
• Managing DBT’s relationship with the Government Internal Audit Agency, to ensure high quality internal audit delivery and effective follow-up on recommendations, improving the way DBT delivers its work and ensuring a sound system of control exists.
• Overseeing improvement programmes to enhance financial and operational controls, securing efficiency and value for money in everything we do.
• Being a core member of the Finance directorate’s senior leadership team, contributing to our collective leadership of the team and cross-departmental governance.

The role is available on a full-time or part-time basis. Please note that the above responsibilities may be adjusted, as necessary, to reflect your specific working arrangements.

Essential Criteria:

• Senior qualified professional in risk, assurance, audit or organisational improvement within government or a similar complex environment.
• Finance qualified (CCAB or equivalent) candidates are also welcome to apply.
• Proven ability to lead large, high performing teams and deliver complex portfolios of work.
• Strong stakeholder management skills, with credibility at senior official and board level.
• Excellent communication and influencing skills, with the ability to explain complex issues clearly.
• Experience driving continuous improvement and strengthening organisational controls or capability.

For more information and to apply, please visit our website via the apply button below.