Head of Controls Assurance

Hostplus Superannuation; Melbourne; On-site; AUD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

3% extra super contribution

Hybrid and flexible work environment

Development budget per person

Additional paid leave over Christmas

5 days flex leave

20 weeks parental leave

Wellness program

Community service leave

Salary continuance insurance

Long service leave at 5 years

Subsidised financial advice

Job summary

Hostplus is seeking a strategic Head of Controls Assurance to lead the Assurance Plan and oversee independent assessment of risk, compliance and controls across the Fund.

The role partners with senior leaders, Internal Audit and Board Committees to drive improvement, accountability and resilience, influencing change across the enterprise.

Qualifications

• Tertiary qualification in commerce and/or legal qualification.
• 10+ years' experience in risk advisory, controls assurance, risk reviews and/or second line assurance roles.
• Significant superannuation and/or financial services experience.
• Advanced knowledge of investigative techniques and root cause analysis.
• Strong knowledge of regulatory environment (Corporations Act, SIS Act).
• Excellent written and oral communication skills.
• Experience in leading high-performing teams.

Responsibilities

• Lead the work with 1st Line, 2nd Line and 3rd Line to develop and deliver the 2nd line Assurance Plan annually.
• Lead the relationship with Internal Audit to ensure delivery of the annual Internal Audit Plan.
• Lead independent assessment of design and operation of internal controls.
• Provide recommendations and guidance to uplift processes and strengthen the control environment.
• Prepare risk papers for Audit Committee, Risk Committee and the Board as needed.
• Provide people leadership to the Controls Assurance team.

Skills

Leadership

Risk management

Assurance

Stakeholder management

Communication

People leadership

Influence senior stakeholders

Education

Commerce degree or legal qualification

Tools

GRC software

Job description

Are you passionate about helping our members achieve a dignified retirement?

At Hostplus, we're driven by a simple but powerful purpose: helping our members achieve a better retirement. As one of Australia's leading superannuation funds, strong governance, effective risk management and a robust control environment are critical to delivering on that promise.

We're seeking an exceptional leader to join us as Head of Controls Assurance. In this highly influential role, you'll lead the Hostplus Assurance Plan, providing independent assurance over the effectiveness of risk management, compliance and controls across the Fund.

Working closely with senior leaders, Internal Audit and Board Committees, you'll identify opportunities for improvement, strengthen accountability and provide trusted insights that support better decision-making and organisational resilience.

If you're a strategic leader who thrives on influencing change and driving enterprise-wide impact, we'd love to hear from you.

The opportunity

• Lead the work with 1st Line, 2nd Line and 3rd Line (Internal Audit) collaboratively to develop and deliver the 2nd line Assurance Plan on an annual basis, as approved by the Audit Committee.
• Lead the relationship with the 3rd Line (Internal Audit) collaboratively to ensure the review and delivery of the annual Internal Audit Plan, as approved by the Audit Committee.
• Lead, manage and conduct independent assessment of the effectiveness of the design and operation of internal business controls, in line with defined processes and timelines and in line with the Risk Management Framework.
• Lead the provision of recommendations, the agreement of tangible actions and specialist guidance to support the business to uplift processes and strengthen the control environment arising from assurance outcomes.
• Support the Chief Risk Officer, Executive Manager – Risk Culture, Frameworks and Assurance, Executive Manager – Risk & Compliance Advisory, Executive Manager – Legal & Governance and the Heads of within the CRO Leadership Team in preparing, monitoring and assurance risk papers to be presented to the Audit Committee, Risk and Compliance Committee and the Board, as needed.
• Provide people leadership support and guidance to the Controls Assurance team members, including review of all activities and reports prepared.
• Act as a trusted advisor and independent assurance professional, in influencing senior stakeholders and fostering a culture of openness, learning, and resilience in the face of emerging risks and challenges.
• Any other reasonable duties as requested by the Chief Risk Officer and/or the Executive Manager – Risk Culture, Frameworks and Assurance.

About you

• Tertiary qualification in commerce and/or legal qualification and equivalent years of relevant experience.
• 10+ years' experience in risk advisory, controls assurance, risk reviews and/or second line assurance roles, with a demonstrated track record of delivering enterprise-wide assurance outcomes.
• Significant superannuation and/or financial services experience.
• Advanced knowledge of investigative techniques and root cause analysis, with experience in systems analysis and testing.
• Strong technical knowledge of the financial services industry, in particular the Australian superannuation industry regulatory environment and emerging practice and concepts including a working knowledge of the Corporations Act, SIS Act and other applicable legislation.
• Strong communication skills with the ability to build relationships and influence stakeholders at senior levels.
• Excellent written (including report writing) and oral communication skills.
• Demonstrated ability to lead, coach and develop high-performing teams.

What can we offer you?

Our employees are passionate about what we do and are proud to be part of an organisation which helps everyday Australians achieve a brighter future. We value diversity of thought and have an open and flexible workplace. Some industry leading benefits we offer include:

• We contribute 3% more to your super on top of the standard employer amount
• A hybrid and flexible work environment
• Dedicated per person development budget to support your growth
• Additional paid leave over Christmas and New Year
• Additional 5 days paid “flex leave”, so that you can take time out when you need it
• 20 weeks paid parental leave
• Total Wellness Program, including benefits such as free flu shots, comprehensive EAP support, access to medical experts and wellness related events throughout the year
• Community service leave
• Salary continuance insurance
• Access to long service leave at 5 years
• Access to subsidised financial advice

Just to name a few!

About us

At Hostplus, we passionately provide around 2 million members with the best possible service; constantly looking for new ways to deliver better value while helping members get the most out of their super. We are inspired to help our members achieve greater security for their future and ensure they retire with dignity.

Your role at Hostplus will make a difference, whether you're in marketing, financial advice, operations or any of our other divisions - you'll be contributing to ensuring our members retire with the best possible outcomes, and what better feeling is there than knowing your role helps someone to retire with dignity and security?

Our commitment to diversity and inclusion

We are dedicated to creating an inclusive workplace where everyone feels valued and appreciated for being their authentic selves. We celebrate diversity and believe that different backgrounds and experiences enrich our relationships and bring meaningful benefits to our people, our members, and the communities we serve.

We welcome applications from everyone and if you require any adjustments made during the recruitment process, we encourage you to reach out to us at ******@hostplus.com.au and to let us know how we can support.

We have a responsibility to act in the best interests of our members. As part of this, all employment offers are subject to the successful completion of pre-employment screening requirements. These include, but are not limited to, a National Police Check, Bankruptcy and Insolvency Check, and verification of qualifications and professional credentials.

Applicants must also have current and unrestricted work rights in Australia, as sponsorship is not available for this role.