Financial Controls Testing Manager

St. James's Place (SJP) works in partnership to plan, grow and protect our clients’ financial futures. We deliver personalised, face-to-face financial advice to our clients, who trust us to manage their money to reach their goals. We provide this service via the Partnership, a network of qualified, expert advisors. We put financial wellbeing and responsible business choices at the heart of everything we do. We believe in the value of difference and know that diverse teams can help us problem solve and innovate for clients.

We look for people to join SJP to make an impact and to contribute to our culture which is based around long term relationships, doing the right thing, and being the best version of ourselves.

Location: Cirencester Office

Workplace Type: Hybrid

Employment Type: Permanent

Seniority: Mid-Senior Level

What you’ll be doing:

The focus of this role is to lead and manage on a day-to-day basis the testing of key financial controls, working with the Head of Financial Controls, the Financial Controls Testing Lead and Control owners to test the key controls, develop the annual testing plan and report progress and controls weaknesses to key stakeholders. The Testing Manager will also look for, agree, and implement efficiencies in the testing process that reduce overall effort for all Involved.

You will work closely and supportively with control owners and projects to ensure control is maintained as processes evolve, providing timely and practical advice to stakeholders to help them strengthen the financial reporting framework, making financial controls more efficient and effective to both operate and test.

Key Responsibilities:

• Review controls testing performed by Controls testers and take accountability for complex control tests.
• Oversee the update of process flows, and of the risks, controls, and action plans on the risk management system, working with stakeholders to create and update process flows as required.
• Coordinate controls attestations at half year and full year.
• Create the annual controls testing plan and report on progress to stakeholders.
• Provide proactive advice to control owners and projects to strengthen the financial controls framework and improve controls efficiency and effectiveness.
• Lead Initiatives to strengthen financial controls across Finance and other reporting teams.
• Provide ad hoc assurance over controls/processes in areas outside Finance.
• Provide support and coaching to controls testers.
  
  

Who we’re looking for:

You will be an experienced Financial Controls professional, from the financial services sector, with a strong track record of success developing controls frameworks with strong operational experience.

You will have experience of managing the testing of financial reporting controls, experience of creating and risk-assessing process flow documentation to identify key financial controls. You will have experience of providing proactive controls advice to Finance and other teams with responsibility for financial reporting.

You will be self motivated, adaptable with excellent stakeholder management ability. This is a newly created role proving you with exposure across the finance function, you'll be working with a high number of stakeholders so your ability to engage and manage these stakeholders is of key importance.

What's in it for you?

• Private Medical paid for by Company.
• Meaningful protection benefits with real value, such as 10X life cover, PHI, and critical illness.*
• Non-Contributory Pension – 10% (increasing with length of service up to 15%) with further pension matching.
• Parental leave – 6 months full pay
• 28 days holiday entitlement plus bank holidays (based on full-time equivalent) with the option to buy up to an additional 5 days holiday
• Not applicable to Fixed-Term Contracts (standard uplift applies in lieu of the protection benefits)
  
  

Flexible Working We know that everyone works best in different ways, at different times and in different environments. We have introduced a hybrid working policy to provide greater flexibility for part-time work, job-sharing, remote working, and flexibility on hours. Our people are encouraged to work in a flexible way that suits their lifestyle, so please ask the question and start a conversation!

Research tells us that applicants (especially those from underrepresented groups) can be put off from applying for a role if they do not meet all the criteria or have been on an extended career-break. If you think you would be a good match for this role and can demonstrate some transferable experience please apply, regardless of whether you tick every box.

Reasonable Adjustments

We're an equal opportunities employer and want to ensure our recruitment process is accessible and inclusive for all, if you require reasonable adjustment(s) at any stage please let us know by emailing us at [email protected]

What's next?

Our team will be in touch. As a business regulated by the FCA we would advise you to familiarise yourself with the conduct regulations and in particular consumer duty obligations prior to an interview with SJP.