At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead assurance services across three London boroughs, ensuring effective governance and risk management.
- Company: Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, a dynamic local government organisation.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, hybrid working, and the chance to make a real impact.
- Other info: Join during a transformative period with opportunities for professional growth.
- Why this job: Shape assurance frameworks and influence decision-making in a high-profile role.
- Qualifications: Significant leadership experience in local government finance, audit, or risk management.
The predicted salary is between 134616 - 134616 £ per year.
Director of Assurance – Shared Service Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea Salary – Grade M - £134,616pa Location: London
Working pattern - Hybrid
The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea is seeking an exceptional Director of Assurance to lead a significant shared assurance service across RBKC, Westminster City Council and the London Borough of Hammersmith & Fulham.
This is a broad and influential senior leadership role covering internal audit, fraud, risk, insurance, procurement and cyber assurance.
Reporting to the Executive Director of Finance and Assurance, you will lead established Heads of Service and provide strategic direction across a complex, high-profile and politically sensitive environment.
This is much more than a traditional audit, fraud or insurance post.
You will lead a coherent assurance framework across three sovereign councils, providing trusted advice, constructive challenge and practical solutions that support confident decision-making, strengthen governance, manage risk and deliver better outcomes for residents.
You will work closely with senior officers, Members, Audit Committees, external auditors, regulators and partners, balancing independence and professional integrity with the ability to build credibility and adapt your approach to each council’s priorities.
This is an excellent opportunity to take on a highly visible role with real breadth, influence and purpose.
You will be joining at a time of change, recovery and transformation, with the chance to shape how assurance supports better decision-making, organisational resilience and public confidence across three distinctive London boroughs.
You will bring significant senior leadership experience in local government finance, audit, risk, fraud or insurance, or in a similarly complex public sector environment.
Just as importantly, you will have the judgement, resilience and relationship skills to lead specialist teams, contribute to major corporate programmes, sensitive reviews, emergency response and organisational resilience, and ensure assurance activity is focused on the areas that matter most.
A clear commitment to equality, inclusion, integrity, good governance and public service values is essential.
Key responsibilities include
- Providing strategic leadership for Assurance Services across RBKC, Westminster City Council and Hammersmith & Fulham.
- Leading reporting and engagement with the Audit Committees at all three councils.
- Overseeing internal audit, fraud, risk, insurance, procurement assurance and cyber assurance functions.
- Acting as a trusted adviser to senior management, Members and Audit Committees.
- Providing constructive challenge on governance, risk and control matters.
- Ensuring assurance activity is focused on the most significant risks and organisational priorities.
- Leading cross-cutting reviews, investigations and major assurance projects.
- Supporting emergency response, corporate resilience and organisational learning.
- Building strong relationships across three sovereign councils, each with distinct priorities and stakeholders.
About you
You will bring
- Significant senior leadership experience in local government finance, audit, risk, fraud or insurance, or a similarly complex public sector environment.
- Experience of leading and developing professional teams.
- Strong knowledge of local government statutory assurance requirements, governance responsibilities and the wider legislative and policy environment affecting councils.
- Experience advising senior political and managerial leaders on complex issues.
- The ability to lead across complex organisations and bring multiple professional disciplines together.
- A track record of leading organisational improvement, transformation and change.
- Highly developed communication, influencing and relationship management skills.
- Strong personal resilience, sound judgement and the ability to operate effectively in a complex, high-profile and politically sensitive environment.
- A clear commitment to equality, inclusion, integrity, good governance and public service values.
- A professional accountancy qualification, or a relevant recognised professional qualification related to fraud, audit, insurance or risk, is required.
- Why apply
This is a senior, visible and high-impact role with the opportunity to shape assurance across three important London boroughs.
The functional leadership is already in place, providing a strong platform for the successful candidate to bring teams together, strengthen the overall assurance framework and ensure the service adds real value to organisational decision-making.
For someone motivated by public service, organisational resilience, good governance and the opportunity to influence at senior level, this is a highly distinctive appointment.
To apply
Please submit your CV and supporting statement, outlining your suitability for the role and how your experience meets the requirements set out in the person specification.
For a confidential conversation about the role, please contact Thomas Porter at MLC Partners
Director of Assurance - Shared Service in London employer: MLC Partners
MLC Partners is an excellent employer, offering a dynamic work culture that values collaboration and innovation within the public sector. Employees benefit from a competitive salary, flexible working arrangements, and opportunities for professional growth while engaging in meaningful recruitment projects that make a real impact. Join us to be part of a team that prioritises talent acquisition excellence and supports your career development.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Director of Assurance - Shared Service in London
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We think you need these skills to ace Director of Assurance - Shared Service in London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Highlight Relevant Experience:In the public sector, having experience in community engagement, policy analysis, or project management stands out. Make sure to showcase any previous roles or volunteer work that reflects your understanding of public service values and how they've shaped your career path.
Showcase Your Knowledge of the Sector:When you’re applying for a government role, it’s crucial to demonstrate your understanding of the current political landscape and public policies. Consider including articles you've written or relevant projects that underline your capability to engage with these concepts effectively.
Tailor Your CV to Reflect Core Competencies:Government positions often require a clear demonstration of competencies such as communication, teamwork, and problem-solving. Try to structure your CV to highlight these skills, using specific examples of how you’ve applied them in past experiences, ideally with quantifiable outcomes where possible.
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How to prepare for a job interview at MLC Partners
✨Get to Know Public Sector Values
Before your interview with MLC Partners, dig deep into their mission and values, especially how they align with public service and community impact. Understand the key policies or initiatives they are involved in – you’ll want to show that you genuinely care about serving the community.
✨Brush Up on Regulatory Knowledge
Brush up on the regulations, laws, and compliance standards relevant to the role you’re applying for. Since this is the government and public sector, they might throw technical questions related to policy frameworks or project management best practices that you'll need to navigate day-to-day.
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The government sector thrives on collaboration. Be ready to discuss how you've successfully worked in diverse teams or involved stakeholders in your projects. Show us how you bring people together to get a common goal achieved – that's what public service is all about!
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