Group Assurance Senior Specialist in England

About us National Grid touches the lives of almost everyone in the UK, with an energy network that stretches across the Atlantic. We’re an international team, and our work underpins the lives of millions of people. Feet forward, head up, and eyes bright, we’re working hard to create value for people today - and shape the future of energy tomorrow. We provide competitive products and services to help our customers accelerate the development of our clean energy future. There’s never been a better time to work in energy. It’s a time of opportunity and transformation as we strive to provide a greener, cleaner energy system for the country. We’re looking for people with the skills and enthusiasm to help deliver for our customers today and build an energy network that’s fit for the future. In return we can offer you the chance to make a real impact at work.

National Grid is seeking several Senior Group Assurance Specialists to join our Chief Risk Office. These roles are based in Warwick, UK, and operate on a hybrid working model, combining office-based and remote working. Reporting into the Group Assurance leadership team, these roles play a key part in strengthening risk management and assurance across the National Grid Group.

About the role Support the delivery of the organisation’s Group-wide controls testing programme over Group Principal Risks (GPRs) and their child Business Unit Principal Risks, ensuring conformance with internal policies, methodology, and relevant regulations, including Provision 29 of the UK Corporate Governance Code 2024. The Lead / Senior Analyst will be responsible for working with the Group Assurance team and key stakeholders across Business Units and Group Functions to execute the controls testing plan, including raising findings, providing an evaluation of their severity, and reporting to their Line Manager. In addition to the testing program the Lead / Senior Analyst will also be involved in project work, as needed, to optimise and standardise internal controls across the Group, support and advise on the design and implementation of new controls, while promoting a culture of risk awareness and continuous improvement. As part of the Chief Risk Office, the controls testing team will coordinate and collaborate with the Enterprise Risk Management team to ensure the CRO can provide a holistic, informed view, of how our risks are being managed across the business.

Key Accountabilities:

• Support the annual planning process for Group-wide assurance activities, including gathering data and preparing materials for the manager’s review.
• Execute controls testing in line with internal methodology for Group, Business Unit, and selected Group Function level controls as directed by the Group Assurance team.
• Prepare and maintain documentation in line with good practice related to controls testing, evidence, findings, and remediation activities.
• Engage with stakeholders through information requests, follow up inquiries and providing guidance, and challenge in respect of controls, under the direction of the Group Assurance Manager.
• Provide recommendations for remediation work required and conduct initial review of Remediation Plans prepared by the business where required.
• Monitor Remediation Plans and ensure appropriate and timely closure.
• Escalate concerns internally to ensure risk exposures are being managed effectively and efficiently.
• Prepare draft reports and summaries on the status of execution, significant findings, and remediation progress for review by the Group Assurance Manager.
• As needed, collaborate on controls and assurance projects including advising and supporting the design and implementation of controls, for example where new Principal Risks are identified, or Principal Risks change in nature.

About you:

• Professional Assurance Qualification, e.g., Chartered Accountant (CA), Certified Public Accountant (CPA), Certified Internal Auditor (CIA) or equivalent.
• Bachelor’s / Graduate Degree.
• Over 3 years’ experience in controls testing or assurance field (including practice and industry).
• Controls testing expert with strong technical knowledge from relevant qualification and experience e.g. Accounting, Internal or External Audit Qualification.
• Able to work autonomously and deliver on plan.
• Excellent personal project management skills able to work across multiple workstreams with different Business Units and Functions and provide clear and accurate communication of progress, milestones, issues and outcomes.
• Can perform root cause analysis during evaluation of finding and provide recommendations around severity and remediation required.
• Experience in using Governance Risk and Compliance (GRC) tooling and reporting for controls testing.
• Should also have strong grasp of visualisation tools (primarily PowerBi).
• Good stakeholder communication skills and experience.
• Able to communicate clearly and accurately (both verbal and written) to document work performed and explain findings and issues in simple business terms.
• Experience in Utilities or related industries preferred.

What you’ll get:

• A competitive salary of up to £60k - dependent on experience.
• As well as your base salary, a bonus of up to 25% of your salary for stretch performance and a competitive contributory pension scheme where we will double match your contribution to a maximum company contribution of 12%.
• You will also have access to a number of flexible benefits such as a share incentive plan, a salary sacrifice technology scheme, support via the employee assistance line and matched charity giving to name a few.
• We will also support with your development during your career with National Grid.

We value diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive workplace for all. We welcome applications from all suitably qualified candidates - we make appointments purely on merit, assessed against objective selection criteria. We support flexible working and will make reasonable adjustments throughout the recruitment process should you have any physical or mental impairment which may affect your ability to participate in the process. Please note that in most cases, National Grid is unable to offer sponsorship for employment under the UK points-based immigration system. As such, applicants must have the legal right to work in the UK without requiring sponsorship now or in the future under the UK points-based immigration system. However, in exceptional circumstances where there is a clear and demonstrable need for specialist skills that cannot be sourced from the local labour market, National Grid may consider offering sponsorship. All applications are welcome from candidates who meet these requirements, regardless of race, nationality, or ethnic origin.