Corporate Governance Advisor in Leeds

About the Role

Hours per Week: 37.5

Contract: Permanent

Work Pattern: 8.30am – 5.00pm (typical)

Hybrid Working: Available after 2 months (up to 2 days working from home per week)

Due to our ongoing growth as a firm and ambitious 5-year strategy, our wide-ranging HR department is looking to add someone with strong corporate governance experience to support the growing requirements in this area.

Working alongside our Head of Governance and Culture, you would be involved in the following core areas:

• Regulatory Compliance – supporting our annual fitness and propriety assessments for both the Senior Managers and Certification regimes (SMCR).
• Board & Committee Guidance – updating Terms of Reference, comparing content to ensure consistency of accountability and reporting, and preparing governance reports.
• Policy Development – drafting and maintaining governance-related policies as well as managing the firm’s overall policy framework.
• Self-Employed Colleagues - management of franchise & associate agreements for our self-employed franchises and colleagues.
• Training & Advice – delivering governance training to senior managers and colleagues, as well as being a trusted advisor to leadership on governance matters.

This role would suit someone who has been actively involved in, or supporting, corporate governance during their career, possibly as a specific role or as an additional responsibility developed over time. The foundations of our corporate governance are now well established; we are hoping that you will be able to come in and help us to build upon them.

This is a new role, with a remit to help us transform and improve our corporate governance as we continue to grow as a firm. That means the success and future of the role will be heavily determined by you and how you approach these responsibilities.

What we offer you

• An established and experienced HR team who will support you to understand our firm and ways of working.
• A firm that is open to change and encourages everyone to look at ways of improving the way we work.
• A well-defined, positive and open firm-wide culture.
• A long and successful history of developing and retaining colleagues in long-term, valued careers.
• A firm with 150 years of independence, history and stability.
• A generous array of colleague benefits, including private medical insurance and an annual discretionary bonus.

What we need from you

Qualifications

No specific qualifications required, but holding any applicable Corporate Governance qualifications would be desirable (such as the Chartered Governance Qualifying Programme (CGQP) or the Professional Certificate in Corporate Governance, or equivalent).

Experience

Broad experience of corporate governance, ideally within financial services or other regulated industry. Any work history within an FCA or other highly regulated industry (such as legal, banking or education) would be beneficial, particularly if you can demonstrate transferable skills to a Corporate Governance role.

Skills

• Knowledge of the UK Corporate Governance Code.
• Good awareness of FCA regulations and SMCR requirements, or a willingness to develop this in the role.
• Ability to build influence and relationships with stakeholders at all levels of the business and externally, with a calm, confident and supportive approach.
• Excellent organisational and communication skills, including the ability to develop policies, frameworks and procedures that reflect governance requirements.
• Proven ability to work independently and as part of a team.

Behaviours

• Analytical – you can look at policies and processes and identify potential risks as well as opportunities for improvements.
• Collaborative – you work seamlessly with stakeholders at all levels of the business.
• Curious – you are dedicated to keeping an up-to-date knowledge of governance best practice and the wider business operations.
• Meticulous – you approach all your work with a high standard of attention to detail and ensure accurate records are kept.
• Proactive – you look to fix issues as they arise and seek out opportunities to develop your knowledge or skills.
• Versatile – you can manage competing priorities from different areas of the business without compromising quality.

We also expect all candidates to demonstrate our core values of Excellence, Integrity, Respect, Responsibility and Teamwork.