Internal Controls Senior Manager Assurance

We are seeking a motivated and technically strong Internal Controls Senior Manager to join our growing FTSE 250 business. Reporting to the Head of Internal Controls, you will play a key role in planning, coordinating, overseeing and delivering assurance activities over the design and operating effectiveness of the Group’s internal controls.

This is a fantastic opportunity for someone who thrives in a fast-paced, ambitious setting and is passionate about providing independent, risk-based assurance and supporting continuous improvement through clear, evidence-based insight.

About the role

You will lead the internal controls assurance programme, ensuring it is risk‑based, proportionate, and aligned to the Group’s strategic objectives and regulatory obligations. You will provide credible, independent challenge, shape how assurance is delivered across the organisation, and ensure outcomes are clearly articulated to senior governance forums.

In addition, you will play a key role in mentoring and developing assurance capability within the Internal Controls team, embedding consistent methodologies and high standards of delivery.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and own the design, delivery and continuous improvement of the Group’s internal controls assurance programme, ensuring alignment to principal risks, regulatory expectations (including UK Corporate Governance Code / Provision 29) and strategic priorities.
• Oversee and challenge design and operating effectiveness assessments of material and key controls, setting assurance standards, approving scopes and conclusions, and ensuring robust, consistent and high‑quality outcomes.
• Provide senior‑level independent challenge and insight to Executive Management and governance committees, clearly articulating control effectiveness, emerging issues, systemic themes, and remediation priorities.
• Act as a senior advisor and leader, developing assurance capability within the Internal Controls team, influencing senior stakeholders, and supporting the business in strengthening control design, efficiency and sustainability.
• Developing innovative ways to ensure assurance activities remain efficient and accurate in its execution by utilising and building continuous monitoring and AI use cases.

Competence, Knowledge & Skills

Competence

• Significant experience leading internal controls assurance, internal audit or risk‑based assurance activity, preferably within a complex or regulated organisation.
• Demonstrated ability to lead and own end‑to‑end assurance activity, including assurance planning, scope setting, quality review and final conclusions.
• Strong capability to exercise professional judgement, forming clear, balanced and defensible assurance opinions under ambiguity.
• Proven ability to engage, influence and challenge senior stakeholders (Head‑of‑Function, ExCo and Committee level) constructively and independently.
• Experience translating complex assurance findings into clear, impactful insights that support executive decision‑making.
• Ability to lead and develop assurance capability, acting as a role model for excellence, independence and high‑quality delivery.
• Experience in using technologies and data analytics to focus/execute activities is preferred.

Knowledge & Skills

• Deep understanding of internal controls frameworks, assurance methodologies, and the assessment of design and operating effectiveness across financial, operational and compliance risks.
• Strong knowledge of governance and regulatory expectations relating to internal controls, including Board‑level oversight and external reporting considerations.
• Ability to set and embed assurance standards and methodologies, ensuring consistency, proportionality and risk‑based focus across reviews.
• Excellent analytical and critical‑thinking skills, able to identify systemic issues, root causes and emerging themes from assurance work.
• Highly effective written and verbal communication skills, with confidence presenting nuanced assurance conclusions to Executive and Committee audiences.
• Pragmatic, strategic mindset, balancing attention to detail with a clear understanding of the wider organisational and risk context.

About AJ Bell

AJ Bell is one of the UK’s fastest-growing investment platform businesses, providing award-winning solutions for everyone, from professional financial advisers to first-time investors.

Today, over 644,000 customers trust us to manage more than £103.3 billion of assets. By continually striving to make investing simpler and more accessible, we’re helping more people take control of their financial futures.

We’re proud to be recognised as one of the UK’s Best 100 Companies to Work For for six consecutive years, and a Great Place to Work® in 2025 and 2026 a reflection of our supportive and collaborative culture.

What we offer

• Competitive starting salary
• 27 days holiday, increasing with service + buy/sell scheme + bank holidays
• 8% Pension with matched contributions
• Discretionary bonus scheme
• Share schemes (including free shares and BAYE)
• Health Cash Plan and discounted private healthcare
• Free onsite gym
• Enhanced family leave (subject to qualifying criteria)
• Travel and bike loan schemes
• Employee Assistance Programme

Life at AJ Bell

• Regular social events including summer and Christmas parties
• Learning and development opportunities tailored to you
• Casual dress code
• Friendly, supportive team environment

Our ways of working

We offer hybrid working, with a minimum of 50% of your working time per month spent in the office.

For new starters, there’s an initial period of full-time office working to help you settle in and build relationships.

Inclusion & diversity

We’re committed to creating an inclusive environment where everyone feels respected and able to be themselves at work.

We welcome applications from all backgrounds and make hiring decisions based on skills, experience and potential.