Risk and Assurance Manager in Manchester

Providing bespoke lending solutions to UK homeowners. We are committed to empowering individuals and fostering long-term financial well-being. Through innovative and purpose-driven approaches, we aim to challenge traditional norms and create a pathway for those who might be overlooked by conventional financial institutions.

About the team: The Compliance, Oversight, Risk and Assurance team ensures the organisation meets regulatory expectations, manages key risks, and maintains strong governance. The team covers a range of specialist areas including Compliance Oversight, Outcomes Monitoring, Conduct Risk, Horizon Scanning, Regulatory Liaison, Data Protection, Financial Crime, Regulatory Policy, Governance, Whistleblowing, Complaints, Customer Communications, Consumer Duty reporting, and regulatory permissions. Within the team, the Risk & Assurance function provides independent challenge and oversight. Assurance delivers objective testing of controls and oversight mechanisms, giving evidence that risks are well managed and controls operate effectively. Risk Management oversees the Enterprise Risk Management framework, including risk appetite, incident management, monitoring, and reporting. Together, these functions help ensure risks are understood, controls remain effective, and the organisation operates safely and compliantly.

The role: Part of the Compliance, Oversight, Risk, and Assurance team, reporting to the Director of Risk & Compliance, you will be responsible for leading the organisation's Risk & Assurance activities. This includes delivering independent assurance reviews that validate the effectiveness of key controls and oversight mechanisms and managing the Enterprise Risk Management framework to ensure risks are identified, assessed, and managed in line with the organisation's risk appetite. You will provide expert challenge, insight, and reporting to senior leaders, helping to strengthen governance, improve control effectiveness, and support a strong risk culture across the business.

Responsibilities:

• Support the Director of Risk & Compliance in all relevant risk & assurance activities across the Evolution Group of companies.
• Effectively manage the Risk and Assurance team to execute the Risk & Assurance Plan, ensuring alignment with regulatory expectations, emerging risks, and organisational priorities.
• Lead the delivery of independent assurance reviews to assess the effectiveness of first line controls, oversight mechanisms, and risk management practices.
• Produce clear, high-quality assurance reports with actionable findings, recommendations, and insights for senior leadership and governance committees.
• Oversee the Enterprise Risk Management (ERM) framework, ensuring risks are identified, assessed, monitored, and reported consistently across the organisation.
• Manage the risk appetite framework, supporting the organisation in setting, reviewing, and operating within agreed thresholds.
• Lead the investigation, analysis, and reporting of risk incidents, ensuring root causes are understood and corrective actions are implemented.
• Provide expert challenge and guidance to business areas on risk exposures, control effectiveness, and remediation plans.
• Maintain risk registers, dashboards, and reporting packs, ensuring timely and accurate information for executive and board-level committees.
• Support horizon scanning by identifying emerging risks, themes, and regulatory developments that may impact the organisation.
• Strengthen risk culture through engagement, training, and proactive support to first line teams.
• Liaise with internal and external auditors, regulators, and other assurance providers to ensure effective coordination and consistent messaging.
• Drive continuous improvement across both risk and assurance activities, embedding best practices and enhancing organisational resilience.
• Support the Compliance & Oversight team, as required, to deliver on the directorate's objectives.

Benefits:

• Up to 25 days' annual leave + Bank Holidays
• Your birthday off, every year!
• A healthcare cash plan
• A contributory pensions scheme, matched up to 5%
• Long Service Awards
• Cycle to work scheme
• Life Assurance

Company Culture: Join us on our journey to redefine financial inclusivity. As we continue to evolve, so do the possibilities for those we serve. Our goal is not just to provide loans but to architect a future where financial empowerment is a reality for everyone. At Evolution Money, we value creativity, innovation, and a collaborative spirit. Our team is dedicated to delivering exceptional results and creating a positive impact in the financial services industry. We believe in fostering a work environment that encourages growth, learning, and teamwork. We are committed to encouraging equality, diversity and inclusion and aim to create a working environment where every employee is respected.

Qualifications:

• A good standard of verbal and written communication in English.
• Proven experience in a Risk, Assurance, Compliance, Internal Audit, or related governance function within financial services or a regulated environment.
• Strong background in delivering assurance reviews, control testing, or audit engagements, with the ability to produce clear, evidence-based reports.
• Practical experience managing or operating within an Enterprise Risk Management (ERM) framework, including risk identification, assessment, and monitoring.
• Hands-on experience with risk appetite, risk incidents, and root-cause analysis, including tracking and validating remediation actions.
• Demonstrated ability to analyse complex control environments and provide effective challenge to senior stakeholders.
• Experience designing or improving risk and control frameworks, policies, or methodologies.
• Strong understanding of regulatory expectations and governance requirements relevant to the sector (e.g., FCA, PRA, Consumer Duty, financial crime obligations).
• Proven experience producing high-quality risk and assurance reporting for committees, senior leadership, or boards.
• Ability to manage multiple assurance and risk activities simultaneously, often to tight deadlines.
• Intelligent, articulate, and persuasive individual, who can communicate risk and assurance related concepts to both technical and non-technical staff.
• Excellent time management skills and ability to effectively manage changes to priorities and deadlines.
• Excellent communication and organisational skills.
• Experience of providing feedback/coaching in a constructive manner.
• The ability to clearly express ideas and communicate succinctly across a range of colleagues, including senior managers.
• Ability to work as a member of a team and upon own initiative.

Desirable:

• Professional qualifications such as IRM, ICA, IIA, ISO-based certifications, or equivalent risk/assurance accreditations.
• Experience designing or embedding risk frameworks, assurance methodologies, or quality assurance programmes.
• Prior involvement in third party or supplier risk assessments, including audit coordination.
• Experience working with Consumer Duty, conduct risk frameworks, or outcomes monitoring.
• Exposure to data governance, data protection, or financial crime risk environments.
• Experience using GRC or risk management software/tools to support reporting and analysis.
• Understanding of horizon scanning techniques and emerging risk identification.
• Previous experience presenting at senior leadership or board-level committees.
• Background in fast growth, change heavy, or multi regulated environments.

Disability Confident: A Disability Confident employer will generally offer an interview to any applicant that declares they have a disability and meets the minimum criteria for the job as defined by the employer.