Head of Business Assurance in Leicester

Mattioli Woods is at an important moment. Following significant growth and acquisition activity, we are building the infrastructure, governance and risk frameworks that will define how the combined group operates for years to come. This role sits at the centre of that.

We are looking for a Head of Business Assurance to lead our First Line of Defence function - the team responsible for business controls, assurance testing, operational resilience, financial crime oversight and supplier risk across the group. This is a senior leadership role for someone with the experience, credibility and judgement to provide genuine assurance to the business, as well as the ambition to build a high-performing team around them.

The opportunity

This is a role with real scope. You will be joining at a point where the function is being actively shaped, the business is integrating, and assurance is expected to drive meaningful outcomes - not just process compliance.

Reporting to the Chief Risk Officer, you will have direct access to ExCo, a voice in the decisions that matter, and the opportunity to build something that genuinely reflects best practice. The group is growing, and the right person will see that as an exciting place to be.

What you'll be doing

• Leading the Business Assurance plan - overseeing control testing, monitoring and management information reporting across the group
• Providing assurance over operational resilience and business continuity, ensuring plans are robust, tested and aligned with regulatory expectations
• Leading First Line Compliance and financial crime control testing, with clear escalation and remediation of findings
• Overseeing the group's supplier and outsourcing risk management framework
• Supporting business Risk Owners through RCSAs and enterprise-wide risk management
• Partnering with project sponsors to ensure change is delivered in a controlled and compliant way
• Building and developing a team across multiple sites, with clear roles, development pathways and consistent standards

What this role requires

• Senior experience in financial services risk, assurance, compliance or operational complexity, spanning enterprise risk management, operational resilience or First Line Compliance functions
• Practical knowledge of control testing, RCSAs, business continuity planning and financial crime frameworks
• Sound understanding of FCA regulation, Consumer Duty, PRA SS1/21 and SYSC frameworks, including SYSC6
• The credibility, judgement and confidence to operate at ExCo level, providing challenge, insight and assurance to senior stakeholders
• Proven ability to lead and develop teams across multiple sites, with consistent standards and a high-performance culture
• Familiarity with technology, cyber and AI risk in a regulated environment would be an advantage

The right person

You are likely to be operating at a senior level in a financial services environment and looking for a role with broader scope - to build, influence and lead. You are comfortable with complexity and pace, and you care about getting it right for clients as much as for the business.

What's in it for you:

• Competitive salary and performance-linked incentive structure
• Hybrid working model combining home and Leicester office-based collaboration
• The opportunity to shape and scale a strategically important national growth initiative
• Access to a highly experienced leadership team and strong internal infrastructure
• 25 days’ holiday plus statutory holidays, increasing with service
• Pension scheme with 5% employer contribution
• Health cash plan, life assurance and group income protection
• Ongoing training, development and long-term career opportunities within a supportive and ambitious culture