Head of Support Functions Oversight and Assurance in Stirling

Our purpose is to give everyone real confidence to put their money to work. With a heritage dating back more than 175 years, we have a long history of innovation in savings and investments, combining asset management and insurance expertise to offer a wide range of solutions. Our two distinct operating segments, Asset Management and Life, work together to provide access to balanced, long-term investment and savings solutions. Through telling it like it is, owning it now, and moving it forward together with care and integrity; we are creating an exceptional place to work for exceptional talent. We will consider flexible working arrangements for any of our roles and also offer workplace accommodations to ensure you have what you need to effectively deliver in your role.

Context: M&G plc, as a major UK listed financial services provider, is required to operate effective non‐financial risk management across the organisation. This role leads the team that provides independent second line oversight of the effectiveness of non‐financial risk management across the Group’s Support Functions, including Finance, which is the largest component of the oversight remit. It ensures risks are well understood, controls operate effectively and insights support effective risk management. The Head of Support Functions Oversight and Assurance reports to the Chief Risk Officer for Non‐Financial Risk and provides Groupwide oversight across Support Functions including Finance, HR, Corporate Affairs, Legal and Co Sec, Strategy and Transformation, Risk and Compliance and Audit. The team leads the coordination of the broader Non‐Financial Risk Assurance Plan and methodology. It also leads the Groupwide work to support the Board’s Provision 29 assessment under the UK Corporate Governance Code, which covers the effectiveness of risk management and internal controls.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead second line oversight of non‐financial risks across Support Functions, bringing in specialists from the wider Non‐Financial Risk team where required.
• Lead assurance activity including control testing and the assessment of RCSAs, issues and events.
• Assess the implementation and effectiveness of the Non‐Financial Risk Management Framework within Support Functions.
• Lead oversight of people and change risks and ensure related Group priorities are translated into clear oversight and assurance plans.
• Oversee risks arising from significant change and transformation activity within Support Functions, ensuring major programmes and organisational changes are subject to appropriate risk identification, assessment and challenge.
• Ensure oversight activity remains aligned to Group‐level non‐financial risk priorities and supports consistent delivery across Functions.
• Challenge and advise Support Functions on non‐financial risk matters that may affect business decisions.
• Provide input into Group and entity risk reporting, including a clear and consistent entity‐level view.
• Work closely with entity‐level risk teams, including MGG and PAC, to provide a consistent and well‐evidenced entity‐level view of non‐financial risks and control effectiveness.
• Contribute to the design and ongoing development of key components of the Risk Framework, including operational risk standards and methodology, risk appetite, reporting and scenario analysis.
• Coordinate the Non‐Financial Risk assurance and control‐testing approach across the wider Non‐Financial Risk function, working with Internal Audit to share best practice and align assurance planning.
• Work across the Three Lines of Defence to strengthen the approach to controls, including opportunities for controls automation, better use of data and the responsible use of emerging technologies such as AI.
• Support continuous improvement of guidance, training and processes to improve the effectiveness and consistency of risk management across Support Functions.

Stakeholder Engagement and Leadership

• Build and maintain trusted relationships with senior stakeholders across the Support Functions and wider Group.
• Represent Non‐Financial Risk as required at governance forums, senior leadership meetings and risk committees.
• Engage with leaders of major change and transformation initiatives within Support Functions to provide challenge, insight and advice.
• Promote constructive challenge, collaboration and a strong risk culture between the first line and Non‐Financial Risk.

Team Leadership

• Lead, coach and develop a multi‐disciplinary team of risk and control professionals, setting clear expectations and fostering high performance.
• Build capability and drive collaboration across the wider Risk function.
• Ensure people, processes and team structures remain aligned to the future needs of the Risk function.

Governance and Conduct

• Ensure compliance with Group people policies and the Group Code of Conduct.
• Role model M&G’s expected behaviours and promote inclusive leadership.

Key Knowledge

• Strong understanding of the UK regulatory framework for non‐financial risk management in financial services. (essential)
• Good knowledge of operational risk and control frameworks, including risk identification, assessment and control effectiveness. (essential)
• Understanding of UK Corporate Governance Code Provision 29 expectations and the evidence required to support Board reporting and disclosures. (essential)
• Knowledge of insurance and asset management beneficial but not essential.
• Good understanding of the risk environment facing M&G.
• Professional accounting qualification (e.g. ACA, ACCA, CIMA) highly beneficial but not essential given the significant oversight of Finance‐related processes within the Support Functions.

Experience

• Risk oversight across different business areas, ideally including Finance. (essential)
• Providing independent challenge to senior stakeholders on risk and control effectiveness. (essential)
• Overseeing or advising on risks during periods of significant change or transformation.
• Working across Group and entity structures, including collaboration with entity‐level second line teams such as MGG and PAC. (essential)
• Proven experience leading and developing teams. (essential)

Skills

• Strong stakeholder management and influencing skills at senior levels, with the ability to build trusted relationships and operate with credibility and gravitas. (essential)
• Strong analytical judgement, able to reach clear, balanced views on risk and control effectiveness. (essential)
• Confident communicator capable of presenting complex risk issues to senior forums and Boards, with excellent written and verbal communication skills. (essential)
• Ability to synthesise information from multiple sources into coherent risk views. (essential)
• Able to operate across complex organisational structures and manage multiple priorities. (essential)

Attributes

• Strong team leader able to set clear priorities and delegate effectively. (essential)
• Promotes risk awareness across the organisation. (essential)
• Able to learn quickly and explain complex issues clearly. (essential)
• Skilled at coaching and providing feedback. (essential)
• Able to constructively challenge peers and senior stakeholders. (essential)
• Effective under pressure, able to manage competing priorities and respond quickly to emerging issues. (essential)

What we offer: At M&G, we’re committed to helping you thrive and supporting your wellbeing, both at work and beyond. Our benefits are designed to help you balance your professional and personal life, while planning confidently for your future. Our UK benefits include:

• As a savings and Investments firm we are proud to offer a valuable pension scheme of 18%, with 13% made up of Employer Contributions and 5% Employee Contributions.