Head of Regulatory Reporting and Assurance

About us

Salary – Competitive Salary

Work Type – Hybrid

Job Location – Lingley Mere (UU), Lingley Green Avenue, Great Sankey, Warrington, WA5 3LP

Role Type – Permanent

Employment Type – Full Time

Working Hours – 37.0 Hours per Week

United Utilities’ (UU) purpose is to deliver great water for a stronger, greener and healthier North West of England. We are committed to providing our services in a way that respects the environment, supports the economy, and benefits society.

We value diversity, inclusion and innovation in our workplace, and we foster a culture where our people can grow, excel, and be themselves.

We uphold our ethics, values and business model to fulfil our mission and, by setting clear goals and objectives, we create sustainable long-term value for our colleagues, customers and communities. Whether you work with a team that shares your vision or join a network of peers with similar interests, you will find a welcoming and supportive organisation to be part of.

We’ve got a lot to offer. You’ll be part of a thriving FTSE 100 company and will enjoy a range of core benefits that reflect your value and value contribution.

Benefits

• A generous annual leave package of 26 days, which increases to 30 days after four years of service (increases one day per year), in addition to 8 bank holidays
• A competitive pension scheme with up to 14% employer contribution, 21% combined, and life cover
• Car cash allowance – £5,000
• Up to 20% performance-related bonus scheme, as well as recognition awards for outstanding achievements
• A comprehensive healthcare plan through our company-funded scheme
• MyGymDiscounts – gym and wellness benefit that offers up to 25% off on gym memberships and digital fitness subscriptions
• Best Doctors
• Salary Finance
• Wealth at Work courses
• Deals and discounts
• EVolve Car Scheme
• Employee Assistance Plan
• Mental health first aiders
• ShareBuy
• MORE Choices flexible benefits
• Enhanced parental leave schemes

Job Purpose

The Head of Regulatory Reporting and Assurance performs a key leadership role in the business, with substantial visibility with senior leaders, the Executive and the Board, ensuring that the company’s processes and procedures are designed and implemented to ensure that regulatory reporting and regulatory submissions are assured, reliable, accurate and complete. Colleagues will look to the Head of Regulatory Reporting and Assurance to:

• Ensure that the company’s regulatory obligations, expectations and targets are clearly understood by relevant managers within the business and that any risks to compliance with these obligations or to delivery of the targets are identified and managed.
• Manage the process for developing ,submitting to Ofwat and where relevant publishing, reliable accurate and transparent information, both as part of annual or other scheduled reporting regimes – including the price review and delivery reporting – and in response to ad hoc queries.
• Lead, manage, and see through to completion the assurance approach for regulatory information, including the internal assurance framework and management of external assurance providers.
• Support the Regulation and Compliance Director in management of the Board’s Compliance Committee and deputise for the Regulation and Compliance Director where required
• Lead special projects, deep dive analyses and submissions into regulatory casework and investigations, as required

Accountabilities & Responsibilities

Develop, manage and maintain the risk based, regulatory governance and assurance framework that underpins UUW’s regulatory reporting.

Manage the application of this framework to key regulatory programmes and submissions, including ad hoc reports, regular cyclical or annual reports and reports and information required to support the development of price review process and submissions.

Develop and obtain management (Executive) and UUW Board support for the specific governance and assurance arrangements that will be required for key regulatory submissions. This includes defining and agreeing accountabilities and responsibilities for the three lines of assurance (where applicable), and specifying and agreeing the direct input required from the UUW Board.

Manage the development and oversee the implementation of the governance and assurance framework and arrangements for five yearly price review submissions. Obtain UUW Board approval for the proposed framework and manage the development of any specific assurance and/or Board assurance elements of the submissions, including obtaining all relevant approvals from management and the UUW Board.

Manage the contract with and co-ordinate the work undertaken by the external technical auditor, who is responsible for independent review and audit of the business processes and systems used to produce UUW’s regulatory reports and supporting information.

Manage the process to ensure that the company’s regulatory obligations, expectations and targets are clearly understood by relevant managers within the business, including managing the development of appropriate communications and guidance material and ensure that training to impart understanding of regulatory requirements is delivered.

Provide guidance, interpretations and support with regulatory issues, or the interpretation of regulatory commitments that could affect any aspects of the business. Accurately analyse and interpret information provided by the business, presenting concise summaries and recommended actions to appropriate management meetings.

Technical Skills & Experience

We’re looking for a proven leader with deep regulatory experience, ideally within the water industry or a similarly complex regulated environment. You’ll bring:

A detailed understanding of regulatory frameworks, compliance, and assurance.

Strong programme and project management expertise, with the ability to deliver complex outputs to demanding deadlines.

Excellent interpersonal, influencing and communication skills, with credibility at Board and Executive level.