Compliance Assurance Officer

Location - Newcastle

Employment Type - Full Time - Permanent

Salary - £40,000 - £50,000

Hours Per Week - 37.5

We are recruiting for a Compliance Assurance Officer who will play a crucial role in ensuring that Somerset Bridge Group maintains its integrity and compliance with regulatory standards. This role is responsible for delivering the compliance assurance plan by independently performing regulatory compliance assurance and monitoring activities. By assessing the effectiveness of regulatory and conduct risk control processes, the Compliance Assurance Officer provides assurance to Senior Management and the Governing Body of SBG.

This role is vital in identifying, assessing, monitoring, controlling, and reporting compliance risks, thereby safeguarding the organisation's reputation and ensuring that it operates within legal and regulatory frameworks. The Compliance Assurance Officer also collaborates with senior stakeholders and other departments to enhance the internal control environment and ensure compliance across the Group.

Key Responsibilities:

- Undertake assurance monitoring tasks as directed, ensuring thorough follow-up. This involves assessing levels of compliance assurance and effectively communicating outcomes to relevant stakeholders. The goal is to ensure that compliance risks are adequately identified, assessed, monitored, controlled, and reported.
- Educate others on compliance regulations and the impact of non-compliance. This includes providing training and guidance to ensure understanding and adherence to regulatory requirements.
- Build and maintain effective and collaborative relationships with key business stakeholders and other second line functions such as Risk and Internal Audit, in order to achieve maximum assurance coverage and reduce duplication and pressure on the business.
- Track current and new legal and regulatory requirements, staying informed about changes in regulations. This involves ensuring compliance with updated standards and providing insights on regulatory developments.
- Identify and escalate risks and control deficiencies to management, including proposing solutions to mitigate future issues. This involves conducting risk assessments and implementing risk management strategies to safeguard the organisation.
- Manage a portfolio of assurance work streams, ensuring all are completed within agreed deadlines. This includes writing high-standard reports, agreeing on actions, and following up on their implementation. The objective is to provide comprehensive assurance coverage and support the organisation's compliance goals.
- Analyse data to identify trends and anomalies, using various assurance monitoring and testing tools. This involves ensuring that compliance risks are adequately identified, assessed, monitored, controlled, and reported.
- Collaborate with other departments and compliance business partners to ensure compliance and investigate irregularities. This involves working together to resolve barriers and enhance the internal control environment.
- Stay up to date with industry and business developments through horizon scanning. This includes reading professional publications, maintaining personal networks, and participating in relevant professional bodies.

Required Skills/Experience:

- Ability to translate rules and regulations into expected deliverables. This involves ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements and industry best practices.
- Ability to coordinate assurance activities, collate evidence, and check for accuracy and compliance. This includes managing assurance tasks and ensuring high-quality outputs.
- Ability to self-manage a portfolio of work, balancing the demands of maintaining high-quality work and delivering to deadlines. This includes prioritising tasks and managing time effectively.
- A good understanding of the concepts of risk, controls, and materiality. This includes conducting risk assessments and implementing control measures.
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with experience in report writing. This includes conveying information clearly and effectively to stakeholders.
- Ability to analyse data, identify trends, and anomalies. This involves using analytical tools and techniques to assess compliance risks.
- Methodical, analytical, and curious. This includes approaching tasks with a systematic and inquisitive mindset.
- Keeps sensitive business or department information secure and confidential, without exception. This includes handling sensitive information with care and discretion.
- Possesses drive and determination to develop within the role through increasing technical knowledge. This includes a commitment to continuous learning and improvement.
- Good stakeholder management skills and the ability to develop trusted business relationships. This involves building and maintaining effective working relationships.
- Strong research skills, including staying informed about regulatory changes and in