Compliance and Controls Manager in Tonbridge

Reporting to the Group Financial Controller, you will be instrumental in defining, establishing, and embedding a robust, risk-based internal controls framework primarily within the Finance function but also within the wider organisation. You will act as a key partner to the First Line of Defence (business processes) while maintaining the necessary oversight and challenge to protect the company. This includes ensuring that there are strong internal controls, overseeing financial compliance, and driving governance standards that protect the integrity of the company's financial information. You will have broad exposure across the business including the senior management team, executive committee, and board members. Your stakeholder management will range from those with little to no internal controls knowledge to experts.

Main responsibilities

• Design & Implementation: Design, develop, communicate and maintain a standardised, fit-for-purpose internal control framework including internal control policies, standards and guidelines, ensuring alignment with relevant standards and the strategic goals of South East Water.
• Risk & Control Identification: Lead financial risk assessments across the business, including fraud risk, controls gaps, and compliance risks and support the business in developing practical actions that enhance control maturity and reduce exposure.
• Monitoring & Challenge: Actively monitor the effectiveness and operating efficiency of the First Line's controls. Provide constructive challenge and expert advice to management (First Line) to ensure control gaps are identified and remediated in a timely manner.
• Advisory Role: Serve as the internal subject matter expert, providing guidance and support to control owners (First Line) on designing and implementing effective controls to mitigate any deficiencies identified, and tracking actions taken.
• Reporting: Prepare clear, concise, and insightful reporting on the health of the control environment, residual risks, and remediation progress for the Finance Leadership Team, Executive committee, Audit and Risk Committee and Board. Act as the primary liaison for internal and external auditors, ensuring audit readiness and timely issue resolution. Maintain the action log arising out of internal and external audits and report on progress to the Audit and Risk Committee.
• Process Improvements & Systems Governance: Drive enhancements in finance and cross-functional processes to improve governance, efficiency, and data quality. Oversee governance of ERP systems from a financial controls perspective, including segregation of duties, master data integrity, and system permissions. Champion the use of technology and automation to strengthen compliance and reduce manual control risk. Design appropriate safeguards to ensure the integrity of financial statements and reporting, changing ways of working in the organization where applicable. Implement controls and governance related training and tools. Lead on controls framework delivery and process efficiencies to enable effective period close reporting and reconciliation. Evaluate and implement advanced processes, financial systems and software solutions to modernise and automate the control environment. Ad hoc improvement projects within Finance.

Skills / Qualifications / Experience

• Qualified accountant (i.e. ACA, CIMA or ACCA) or Certified Internal Auditor.
• Strong knowledge of financial regulations, accounting standards, and governance frameworks (e.g. SOX, internal control standards, risk management frameworks).
• Demonstrable commitment to staying up to date with evolving IFRS, UK GAAP principles and Corporate Governance requirements.
• Ability to build rapport quickly and convince senior leadership of the value of robust governance, risk management and compliance.
• A proactive, self-starter approach to identifying emerging changes in UK accounting standards and legislation, Corporate Governance requirements and regulatory requirements, accurately predicting their impact and adapting the controls and governance framework accordingly.
• Expert ability to review complex financial data and conduct in-depth variance analysis to produce clear, concise technical reports and identify process gaps for automated solutions.
• Exceptional ability to simplify complex technical jargon into actionable guidance, training materials and technical mentoring for both finance and non-finance audiences.
• Meticulous accuracy in maintaining the Group's internal control environment, specifically utilising tools like the RACI Matrix to establish clear ownership of risks and responsibilities.
• Resilient, structured, and disciplined approach to work.
• Strong organisational skills and ability to manage multiple priorities.
• Proven experience in Internal Controls, Audit, Risk Management, or Compliance, with several years implementing and managing internal financial control frameworks (e.g. SOX).
• Experience should include internal or external audit experience including documenting, evaluating, and testing controls.
• Experience with identifying, tracking, escalating and resolving control gaps.
• Business partnering experience and an ability to create control/process solutions.
• A deep understanding of the UK Corporate Governance Code and its practical application within a listed or large-scale Group environment.
• High proficiency in ERP systems (e.g. Workday, SAP) and advanced Excel, with the ability to leverage GRC software or data visualisation tools (e.g. Power BI) to monitor compliance.
• Great policy, process, and control orientation and experience with the ability to drive standards.

Employees are required to be flexible and to be prepared to perform duties and other tasks within their capabilities. The nature of our business is such that the contents of any job profile are subject to change from time to time. We want to be the water company people want to be supplied by and want to work for. We know the communities we serve are diverse. We recognise creativity comes from diversity not similarity. That’s why we are enthusiastic about creating inclusion across age, race, gender, ethnicity, religion and identity. You will experience our dedication to equal opportunities and fair treatment for all: through your recruitment, employment and career progression with South East Water.

Benefits package

• Excellent Stakeholder pension scheme, up to 10% employer contribution.
• 5 weeks holiday plus bank holidays per annum, increasing to 6 weeks with length of service.
• Flexible annual leave policy to buy or sell holiday leave.
• Paid volunteering days.
• Cycle to work scheme.
• Health cash plan.
• Life assurance.
• Wellbeing related benefits.

What can you expect from your recruitment?

To apply for this position, please submit your CV on our career's website. It is necessary for you to have the legal right to work in the UK when you begin employment with South East Water. Additionally, as part of the employment offer, you will need to pass background, identity, and employment referencing checks. If this sounds like the opportunity you've been looking for, apply now!

South East Water kindly asks that recruitment agencies refrain from submitting CVs to our employees or associates without explicit invitation from our HR Resourcing team. CVs sent on a speculative basis will not be acknowledged and will not assume any responsibility for fees or commissions in the event that we hire a candidate who applied directly or subsequently introduced by an instructed agency.

Compensation package: up to £75,000 p.a. (dependent on experience)