Audit and Assurance Specialist

Sanderson Recruitment Plc; United Kingdom; Hybrid; GBP 42,000 - 50,000; Full time

Job description

Job Title: Financial Services Audit & Assurance Specialist

Location: Hybrid Remote (1-3 days/month in local office hub)

Salary: Up to GBP50,000

Hours: Full-time, 37.5 hours per week

About the Role

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a detail-focused and proactive assurance professional to join a growing internal audit team supporting a major UK-backed financial services provider. This team delivers independent oversight across regulatory, compliance, and operational risk areas to help protect customers and strengthen governance.

This role is ideal for someone with a strong background in internal audit, compliance, or risk assurance who is looking to make a real impact by enhancing control environments and supporting strategic decision-making.

Key Responsibilities

• Deliver independent third-line assurance across regulatory, operational, and reputational risk areas.
• Plan and lead internal audits, thematic reviews, and deep dives across a complex service landscape.
• Provide independent assessment of controls in areas such as financial crime, AML, data protection, whistleblowing, and customer conduct.
• Evaluate compliance with regulatory expectations, including Consumer Duty, FCA Conduct Rules, SYSC, and GDPR (Article 23).
• Test and assess governance frameworks and their practical effectiveness across key operational areas.
• Monitor the progress of audit actions and remediation plans, ensuring timely and effective resolution.
• Produce clear, concise assurance reports and present findings to internal committees and senior stakeholders.
• Act as a key liaison for external audits, supporting alignment across all lines of defence.
• Provide input into transformation projects and contribute assurance insights that support strategic decision-making.
• Help shape and assess the organisation's risk and conduct culture, with recommendations for ongoing improvement.

Candidate Requirements

• 3-5 years' experience in internal audit, compliance, or risk assurance, ideally within financial services or a regulated setting.
• Strong working knowledge of UK regulatory frameworks (FCA Handbook, SYSC, AML, Consumer Duty).
• Strong written and verbal communication skills with the ability to influence and challenge at a senior level.
• Sound knowledge of governance, risk, and control practices, with a hands-on approach to audit delivery.
• Experience interpreting data and identifying emerging risks, trends, and control gaps.
• Ability to work independently, balancing attention to detail with broader strategic understanding.
• Experience in programme or project assurance, especially relating to regulatory changes.
• Progress toward or attainment of a relevant professional qualification (e.g., CIIA, ICA, ISO Auditor).

In Return

You'll join an organisation that takes pride in its mission and its commitment to ethical delivery. With a culture rooted in trust, collaboration, and transparency, you'll have the opportunity to make a meaningful impact while further developing your skills in audit, risk, and compliance.