Job ref: 215294
TPR grade: R&O Grade 7 - Lead Specialist
About us
More than half the UK working population rely on The Pensions Regulator (TPR) to regulate their retirement savings. With a career at TPR, you’ll be joining an organisation that will impact on millions of lives for decades to come.
Everyone at TPR plays an important role in helping to keep more than £2 trillion of savings safe. We’re committed to bringing people into TPR who are ready to make a difference and put UK savers at the heart of what we do.
It is important to us that TPR remains a great place to work. We do all we can to help our people reach their full potential with learning, secondment, and development opportunities. We put our 900+ employees first, supporting flexible working and offer a diverse, lively, and inclusive environment. This includes our Disability Network, Family Network, LGBT+ Network (Proud), Minority Ethnic (ME) Network and Women’s Network, which offer spaces to connect.
Our new corporate strategy outlines a bold and challenging vision of how pensions regulation should evolve to keep pace with a change in the scale and nature of the industry. We are at the start of that journey. Join us to find out what part you can play.
We operate a hybrid working model, with regular attendance in our Brighton office to connect with colleagues across the business.
Role
We are looking for an experienced Internal Auditor to support the Head of Internal Audit (HIA) in a small in-house internal audit function to provide independent and impartial assurance to TPR. This role will work alongside another Senior Internal Auditor, the Senior Internal Audit Manager and Head of Internal Audit.
The Internal Audit (IA) function has existed since the appointment of the HIA in January 2021; previous IA activity having been outsourced and delivered by a firm. The successful candidate will support the Head of Internal Audit and Senior Internal Audit Manager in planning the internal audit programme for 2025/26 and be responsible for conducting audit assignments as per the annual internal audit programme, completing end-to-end auditing including pre-audit scoping meetings, development of risk-based scopes of review, audit fieldwork, closing meetings and delivery of internal audit reports.
You will have responsibility for a range of audits and assignments, working alongside the Senior Internal Audit Manager for some of those, with help from a firm where capacity or expertise doesn’t exist in TPR.
Responsibilities
You will:
- Report to the Senior Internal Audit Manager, but also apply guidance from the Executive Director of Operations Directorate.
- Deliver formal reports and present findings at committee meetings.
- Using high quality reporting and communication skills effectively and productively engage with senior management including Senior Leadership Team, Executive Committee, Board and Audit and Risk Assurance Committee.
- Deliver independent, objective assurance and consulting activity designed to contribute to and improve the organisation’s operations.
- Support TPR in accomplishing its objectives by bringing a systematic, disciplined approach to evaluate and improve the effectiveness of risk management, control and governance processes.
- Deliver robust, evidence-based, independent assurance opinions in accordance with the agreed timetable.
- Support the Head of Internal Audit in providing an opinion on the system of internal control.
- Lead continuous improvement activities to improve audit practices, products and service.
Essential and desirable criteria
Essential - qualification
- Chartered Institute of Internal Auditors UK and Ireland - must hold the chartered auditor/CMIIA designation or the MIIA designation where you are qualified under the previous exam route and did not apply to make this chartered. If you have passed all of the CMIIA/MIIA exams but do not hold the designation, you are not eligible to apply.
- Other Institutes of Internal Auditors that are part of IIA Global. If you studied with the Institute of Internal Auditors in another country, you must hold the equivalent of the MIIA designation. You should verify this with the IIA UK and Ireland prior to submitting your application, by emailing membership@iia.org.uk. No other level of internal audit qualifications will meet the requirements of this post.
- Accountancy, fully qualified, current member of one of five CCAB bodies (ICAEW, ACCA, CIPFA, ICAS, Chartered Accountants Ireland).
Essential - experience
- Proven, extensive audit expertise as an Internal Auditor, engaging effectively with senior stakeholders to support the identification and management of key risks and to promote effective governance, risk management, control and assurance arrangements.
- Extensive experience applying Public Sector Internal Audit Standards and mandatory elements of the International Professional Practices Framework (IPPF) of the Global Institute of Internal Auditors (IIA).
- Experience auditing in an environment of substantial change with respect to both the core operating model and IT systems.
- Knowledge and understanding of financial and operational risks and controls in a regulatory government context with the ability to identify weaknesses therein and to develop practical and effective solutions.
- Proven ability to negotiate and persuade stakeholders to accept audit findings and reach satisfactory agreed management actions.
Desirable
- Experience of auditing in a regulator or pensions environment.
Person specification
- Can do approach.
- Ability to prioritise and use initiative.
- Negotiating skills.
- Communication skills at all levels.
- Leadership skills.
Salary and benefits
As well as a salary between £48,425 and £53,805, we offer:
- Civil Service Pension arrangements, which are recognised as some of the best in the pensions world
- discretionary bonus arrangements
- access to performance related pay progression
- 25 days annual leave provision
- flexible working arrangements
- development opportunities
- enhanced parental leave arrangements
- a free employee assistance programme
- an excellent office location in Brighton
How to apply
To apply please email recruitmentteam@tpr.gov.uk quoting role reference number 215294 along with:
- a covering letter with details of how your skills and experience meet the role requirements
- a copy of your CV
- details of your notice period
Current TPR employees in their first 12 months of employment who want to apply for this vacancy should first contact their line manager to discuss their application.
We are an inclusive employer and offer equal opportunities regardless of an individual’s age, disability, gender identity, marriage or civil partnership status, pregnancy or maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, and sexual orientation.
As a Disability Confident employer, we’re committed to the recruitment, employment, retention, and development of people with disabilities, and to improving their employment opportunities. Candidates who declare that they have a disability and who meet the essential criteria for the job will be offered an interview.
Applications will be considered on a part time and job share basis. If you want your application to be considered as part of a job share, please apply with the hours you are available to work.
In accordance with Home Office guidance, the successful candidate will be required to provide their right to work in the UK before they start employment. Unfortunately, TPR is not able to offer sponsorship at the time. TPR is a UK-based organisation with a working location in Brighton, candidates must live in the UK to be employed by us.
TPR is an arm’s length government body and part of the public service.
Any offer of employment will be subject to the receipt of satisfactory background screening checks and criminal record checks (BPSS).
If you have any queries about this role, or if you have a disability and wish to request a reasonable adjustment at any stage of the recruitment process, please email recruitmentteam@tpr.gov.uk.