Senior Controls & Assurance Specialist

Our purpose is to give everyone real confidence to put their money to work. With a heritage dating back more than 175 years, we have a long history of innovation in savings and investments, combining asset management and insurance expertise to offer a wide range of solutions.Our two distinct operating segments, Asset Management and Life, work together to provide access to balanced, long-term investment and savings solutions.Through telling it like it is, owning it now, and moving it forward together with care and integrity; we are creating an exceptional place to work for exceptional talent.We will consider flexible working arrangements for any of our roles and also offer work place accommodations to ensure you have what you need to effectively deliver in your role. Background & Purpose Workplace Solutions (WPS) is responsible for defining and managing M&G's operational property footprint globally, ensuring safe, secure, efficient and compliant workplaces that support colleagues' evolving needs in a hybrid operating environment.The Senior Controls & Assurance Specialist strengthens WPS' risk maturity by delivering high quality control testing, risk oversight, assurance reviews, governance processes, and Third Party Risk Management (TPRM) support. The role acts as second in command to the Business Assurance Manager, leading significant components of the Business Assurance Plan and providing expert challenge, insight and analysis.This role will work across multiple WPS teams (Sustainability, Health & Safety, Procurement, Operations, Strategy & Planning, Data & Analytics, Programmes & Projects), the Group HR function, Group Risk & Resilience Group Procurement, and M&G Global Services (India), ensuring WPS maintains strong compliance with the Risk Management Framework, Group Governance Manual, Third Party Risk Standards, Model and User Developed Applications (MUDA) Policy, and the uplifted Financial Crime Standards introduced through Financial Crime Enhancement Programme (FCEP). Key Responsibilities 1. Support Delivery & Maturity of the WPS Risk Management Framework Lead defined elements of the WPS Business Assurance Plan: risk reviews, deep dives, control testing, and assurance assignments. Independently review team risk and issue registers for completeness, trend analysis, and escalation triggers. Support the Risk and Control Self-Assessment (RCSA) process: advise Risk Owners, challenge assumptions, test controls and help prepare submissions. Produce high quality risk reporting for the monthly WPS Risk & Controls Working Group. Act as deputy to the Business Assurance Manager during governance meetings, occasionally representing WPS with Group Risk and other forums. Manage documentation and updates to WPS Key Processes and ensure annual attestations are completed. 2. Controls Testing, Issue Management & MUDA Oversight Perform Key and Non Key Control Assessments, verifying design and operating effectiveness. Provide guidance to control owners on documentation standards, test scripts and evidence requirements. Support MetricStream (M&G's Risk Management Tool) issue management: triage, draft entries, track remediation, and monitor ageing of issues. Act as Deputy MUDA Co ordinator : + Review MUDA inventory entries + Support annual attestations + Provide challenge on model risks and materiality + Liaise with MUDA owners to ensure compliance with the MUDA Policy 3. Third Party Risk Management & Supplier Oversight Conduct due diligence checks and re segmentation in line with the WPS Sourcing Cycle. Review supplier contracts prior to signature; identify risks, gaps, or missing controls. Manage contract related entries in the WPS Contract Register and ensure supplier documentation is complete and stored correctly in the WPS Data Library. Raise Front Door references and complete required due diligence in Prevalent (M&G's Procurement Tool) on behalf of WPS. Support WPS representation at the Third Party Risk Management Forum and provide expert input for the FCEP uplift discussions. 4. Group Governance Manual, Policy Compliance & ASoC Processes Co ordinate WPS' contributions to the Annual Statement of Compliance (ASoC) process for Environment, Health & Safety and other GGF policies. Assist with designing simplifications for international office managers and improve response quality through training and guidance. Support the quarterly Conflict of Interest review and ensure timely follow up. Review and update Powers of Attorney, maintaining audit trails. 5. Financial Crime Uplift & Regulatory Standards Compliance Work with Business Assurance Manager to embed uplifted financial crime related controls (per FCEP), including: Supporting identification of high risk roles. Ensuring TPDD, FC Due Diligence, and FC screening controls are understood within WPS. Monitoring whether WPS processes sufficiently reflect Anti Bribery & Corruption, AML/CTF, Sanctions and Fraud frameworks. Highlighting financial crime related risks linked to suppliers, operational processes, corporate facilities, procurement activity, and data handling. 6. Secretariat, Governance & Reporting Responsibilities Provide Secretariat support where required (e.g., Risk & Controls Working Group, SRM SteerCo, SRM Review). Prepare agendas, actions, minutes, and forward looking planners. Support preparation of WPS reports for SLT, ExCom and Group Governance committees. 7. Training, Guidance & Continuous Improvement Deliver training to WPS teams on risks, controls, issues, notifiable events, procurement controls, and Third-Party Risk Management obligations. Identify opportunities to simplify or mature the control environment across WPS. Promote good risk culture and behaviours, supporting the Business Assurance Manager in change management and risk awareness initiatives. Knowledge, Skills & Experience Knowledge (Essential) Strong understanding of risk management, internal controls, and assurance methodologies. Working knowledge of real estate, facilities management and other workplace operations. Familiarity with governance and regulatory expectations across Corporate Functions, especially TPRM, MUDA, and Financial Crime Standards. Skills (Essential) Excellent written and verbal communication, including ability to draft high quality assurance outputs. Ability to work independently under minimal supervision and manage competing priorities. Ability to challenge constructively, influence stakeholders and articulate risks clearly. Competence in Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Visio; ability to work with risk systems such as MetricStream. Experience (Essential) Experience working in a risk, assurance, compliance, audit or governance function. Experience conducting control testing, assurance reviews, process mapping or supporting RCSAs. Experience working with third party oversight, procurement controls or contract governance. Qualifications (Desirable) Degree level or equivalent experience. Professional qualifications advantageous but not required (e.g. IRM, IIA, CIMA, CISI, ACII).Work Level: Manager / ExpertRecruiter: Matt CampbellClose Date: 15th April 2026What we offer:At M&G, we're committed to helping you thrive and supporting your wellbeing, both at work and beyond. Our benefits are designed to help you balance your professional and personal life, while planning confidently for your future. Our UK benefits include: As a savings and Investments firm we are proud to offer a valuable pension scheme of 18% , with 13% made up of Employer Contributions and 5% Employee Contributions .We also offer Share Save and our Share Incentive Plan , together with access to financial wellbeing and support services - to help give you real confidence to put your money to work. Enjoy 38 days annual leave including bank holidays,