Head of Assurance

Job Introduction
You'll be joining our Finance and Business Support team in the Route Services function. Your role will support the function to deliver national services to our Route and Regional customers that are vital to the running of the railway. We help them to deliver local outputs by optimising scarce and critical resources across the network and providing the benefits of economies of scale.

We offer business partnering insight, guidance and support to 6 primary directorates in Route Services:

- _Business Services_ provide our finance and HR shared services.
- _Commercial and Procurement _lead on major sourcing activity for Network Rail - more than 3,600 suppliers and £2.2 billion of spend.
- _Supply Chain Operations_ keeps the materials, machinery and components required by our regional customers moving - making sure they are on-site when needed so work can go ahead as planned and on schedule. We also deliver some of the biggest national improvement programmes on the Network on behalf of the regions.
- _Engineering Service_s improves performance and reduces risk through efficient and effective delivery of multi-disciplinary design and engineering services.

Main Responsibilities
To operate as an integral leader within the Route Services Strategic Planning, Analysis, Risk and Assurance Team, with accountability for Governance, Assurance and Improvement for the Function. Route Services provides strategic services to the whole rail network with an annual spend of c.£1.6bn and the assurance team is critical to successful delivery for the network.Key responsibilities include: the development & deployment of the Functional Integrated Assurance Plan, oversight of Governance for the function including business maturity reviews and assurance reviews and management of business continuity for the National Function.,
- Deploy the strategic vision and direction for assurance and improvement for the National Function in order to manage its key risks and support the delivery of its outcomes
- Direct the Function’s 2nd line of defence assurance activities.. Manage the delivery of the Functional Integrated Assurance plan and the relationships with other assurance providers (Internal Audit, Function Audit Team, the Regulator)
- Act as the nominated overall “GRAI” (Governance, Risk, Assurance and Improvement) lead for the Function and work with Regions, national and local Core Process Owners (CPOs) to drive the successful delivery of the GRAI programme on behalf of the Chief Financial Officer
- Improve the assurance framework for the Function to provide greater confidence to the Network Rail Board and key external bodies such as Office of Road & Rail, Department for Transport, certification bodies;
- Direct and maintain the development of the desired assurance and improvement culture throughout the business to adhere to legal compliance and adoption of functional best practice through good governance, providing stakeholder confidence through effective assurance and structured improvement to achieve efficiencies internally and through the supply chain.
- Lead key assurance governance forums such as Route Services Business & Assurance Committees (BACs), and support functional governance such as L1 BAC, Periodic Business Reviews and the functional Assurance Board
- Provide expert support and guidance to the business unit on issues regarding, assurance, and process compliance.
- Accountable for the management of the Group Assurance Letter Process on behalf of Route Services to establish compliance with Corporate GALP requirements and regulatory controls including monitoring and closure of actions arising from any areas of non
- compliance

Essential
- Chartered Internal Audit (CMIIA / CIA) or Lead Auditor Qualified
- Educated to degree level
- Recognised leadership capability, with the vision and ability to establish cross-functional relationships and drive cultural / organisational change
- Strong reporting writing capability
- Able to demonstrate significant Compliance/Assurance experience in a large and complex multidisciplinary organisation
- Exceptional interpersonal skills, possessing the ability to maintain credibility and influence people at all levels within a large complex business, up to and including executive level as well as diverse senior stakeholders
- Excellent communication and presentation skills, numerate, analytical and articulate and ability to develop business-wide solutions

Desirable
- Fellow of other relevant professional body
- Good knowledge of railway operational and contractual practices
- Good knowledge of construction practices

**Who we are looking for?**

We are committed to a diverse workplace enriched with representation from diverse cultures, backgrounds and skills. We pride ourselves on creating an environment where difference is embraced, and individuals can thrive. We recognise that the success of the team is dependent on a multi-cultural, multi-disciplined group of indi