Head of Control Assurance

Shift Pattern: Standard 40 Hour Week (United Kingdom)

Scheduled Weekly Hours: 40

Corporate Grade: C - Vice President

Reporting Line: (UK Division) Regulation and Compliance

Location: UK-London

Worker Type: Permanent

Overall Purpose: The role will be responsible for leading and executing a comprehensive monitoring and testing framework across the 2nd Line of Defence (2LOD) for the London Metal Exchange (LME) and LMEC (LMEC). The role is fundamental for ensuring robust oversight of controls, regulatory adherence (FCA, Bank of England (BoE)), and effective risk management. The individual will leverage advanced data analytics to drive insight-led assurance, identify emerging risks, and enhance the effectiveness of the control environment.

Responsibilities:

• Design, implement, and continuously enhance a risk-based monitoring and testing framework across 2LOD, ensuring alignment with regulatory expectations and internal governance standards.
• Manage, maintain and oversee the governance of the LME Group Compliance Monitoring and Testing Programme (M&T). This includes management of the annual M&T Plan, M&T governance documents and methodologies, updates to the respective Committees on M&T progress and ensuring potential issues identified are investigated and reported, with mitigation plans put in place for timely resolution.
• Ensure that the LME Group’s M&T assesses its key compliance and regulatory risks, based on the annual plan and ensures testing to identify the existence and effectiveness of controls on a risk-based approach.
• Deliver end-to-end monitoring and testing activities, covering control design, operational effectiveness, and thematic reviews across key regulatory and risk areas.
• Partner with business, risk, and compliance teams to ensure effective remediation of findings and continuous improvement of controls.
• Develop and execute data-driven testing strategies, utilising advanced analytics to increase coverage, efficiency, and accuracy of assurance activities.
• Support the implementation of the Three Lines of Defence model by ensuring Business ownership of regulatory requirements (first line) and embedding compliance culture within the LME Group.
• Work closely and cooperatively with the business, to ensure that all business, operational and technology areas of the LME/LME Clear have a clear understanding and ownership of their compliance obligations.
• Provide support and training for the business on compliance obligations as necessary.
• Present updates to the LME and LMEC Executive Risk Committee and Executive Committee and Audit Committee where necessary.
• Work closely with HKEX (parent company) compliance team and other HKEX teams as necessary, to ensure that Monitoring and Testing processes are aligned, are not duplicative, and are streamlined to be as business-friendly as possible across LME and LME Clear.
• Represent compliance at internal and external working groups/committees where needed.
• Provide line management and leadership to Compliance Officers who are focused on LME Group’s Monitoring and Testing (currently two permanent staff).

Knowledge and Experience Required:

• Extensive experience working in compliance related roles within Financial Services.
• Knowledge of and practical experience of existing UK compliance requirements is essential, especially around testing of controls and procedures.
• Proven experience in monitoring, testing, or assurance roles within Risk and/or Compliance in a regulated environment.
• Deep understanding of risk management frameworks, control environments, and compliance requirements.
• Demonstrated experience in delivering cross-functional monitoring and testing programmes spanning multiple risk domains.
• Familiarity with the regulatory landscape relating to exchanges and clearing houses including EMIR, MiFID, MAR, Benchmarks Regulation and FCA Recognition Requirements for Recognised Investment Exchanges (REC) is highly desirable.

Data & Analytics Capability:

• Strong data analytics skills, with the ability to analyse large and complex datasets to identify trends, anomalies, and risks; design and implement data-led testing approaches and continuous monitoring techniques and translate data insights into meaningful risk and compliance outcomes.
• Proficiency in tools such as SQL, Excel (advanced), Power BI, Tableau, Python, or similar analytics platforms (or equivalent experience) is preferred.
• Experience in developing dashboards, visualisations, and automated reporting to support risk-based decision making.

Skills Required:

• Practical and methodical with an analytical mind-set.
• Excellent communication (including written communication) and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to identify and implement improvements in the department’s processes.
• Ability to tailor messaging to different audiences at all levels of seniority.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with a data-driven mindset.
• Ability to operate across risk and compliance functions with a holistic perspective.
• Ability to interpret and solve complex problems.
• Ability to work independently or collaboratively in a team and to be able to prioritise work and to manage expectations.
• Ability to line manage members of the team, oversee their professional development and encourage good practice generally.
• Ability to manage a number of different matters simultaneously.
• Demonstrate a high level of attention to detail and reasoned judgment at all times.

The LME is committed to creating a diverse environment and is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. In recruiting for our teams, we welcome the unique contributions that you can bring in terms of education, ethnicity, race, sex, gender identity and expression, nation of origin, age, languages spoken, colour, religion, disability, sexual orientation and beliefs. In doing so, we want every LME employee to feel our commitment to showing respect for all and encouraging open collaboration and communication.