Controls Assurance Senior Advisor

Railpen; Tees Valley; Hybrid; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A pension investment firm is looking for an Assurance Senior to join their Assurance, Quality and Governance team in Darlington. This permanent role involves supporting the design of monitoring frameworks for pensions administration and ensuring compliance with regulatory guidance. Ideal candidates will have experience in control assurance, strong analytical and communication skills, and the ability to challenge established practices. Competitive salary and benefits including hybrid working, generous leave, and private medical insurance are offered.

Benefits

Competitive salary

28 days annual leave plus bank holidays

Generous annual bonus plan

Railways Pension Scheme membership

4x Life Assurance cover

Colleague referral scheme

Private Medical Insurance

Employee assistance programme

Health cash plan

Eye care vouchers

Flu vaccination

Hybrid and flexible working

12 months full pay maternity leave

6 months full pay paternity leave

Buy and sell holidays

Volunteering days

Flexible half days leave

Electric vehicle leasing

Cycle to work scheme

Qualifications

• Proven experience in a control assurance/audit environment.
• Experience in a regulated industry is key.
• Ability to constructively challenge assumptions.

Responsibilities

• Support design and maintenance of monitoring framework.
• Ensure compliance controls are included.
• Coordinate delivery of the annual AAF 01/20 report.

Skills

Analytical skills

Communication skills

Collaboration skills

Stakeholder management

Job description

Assurance Senior Member Services

An exciting new created opportunity for an Assurance Senior to join our Assurance, Quality and Governance team, on a permanent basis, based in our Darlington office (hybrid working).

Who we are

Railpen is responsible for the safekeeping and investment of around £34 billion in assets and the administration of several pension schemes, including the Railways Pension Scheme, one of the UK's largest and longest established pension funds.

Our heritage of looking after the pension needs of the rail industry and its employees gives us our name and our unique outlook on how we serve our members. Railpen takes a holistic view, focusing on how we serve members today and how we can positively impact the communities and the world they will retire into.

Our values of integrity, community and alignment are the guiding principles that influence our behaviour. They help us make decisions and shape our relationships with others. They’re what we stand for. You will actively demonstrate our values, helping to create a safe environment, to place the needs of the community above oneself and, through a culture of ‘fair challenge’, align to the best interests of our members.

To learn more about Railpen including our values, culture and purpose, visit our LinkedIn Life page here.

The role

As the Assurance Senior, you will support the design and maintenance of the first line control monitoring framework that spans all aspects of pensions administration, including manual processes and workarounds. You will also ensure the controls required to support compliance with the General Code of Practice and other regulatory guidance from The Pensions Regulator are included within the monitoring framework.

As part of this role you will support the Assurance Manager with the end-to-end delivery of the annual AAF 01/20 report, including coordination with internal teams and service auditors. Collaboration with Internal Audit, Risk, and Compliance teams to align assurance activities and share insights, is key for this role.

This role is not eligible for visa sponsorship. Applicants must have the legal right to work in the UK.

The person

The successful candidate will have proven experience in a control assurance/audit environment. Previous experience of working within regulated industry is key for this role.

We are looking for someone with excellent analytical, communication, collaboration and stakeholder management skills. You will have the ability to constructively challenge assumptions and established practices.

What we can offer you Rewarding you

• A competitive salary (depending on experience)
• 28 days annual leave plus bank holidays
• Generous annual bonus plan
• We provide membership of the Railways Pension Scheme, a Defined Benefit arrangement under which you get a pension for life and a lump sum when you retire, based on your length of service and pay
• 4x Life Assurance cover
• Colleague referral scheme

Health & Wellbeing

• Private Medical Insurance
• Employee assistance programme
• Health cash plan
• Eye care vouchers
• Flu vaccination

Lifestyle

• We support hybrid and flexible working along with very generous family leave including 12 months full pay maternity leave and 6 months full pay paternity leave
• Buy and sell holidays
• Give as you earn scheme
• Paid volunteering days
• Flexible half days leave
• Electric vehicle leasing
• Cycle to work scheme

Next Steps

If you would like to apply, please click on the apply button or visit our Careers Page by 19th January 2026.

Railpen is committed to creating an inclusive and diverse environment, we value diversity and welcome people from all backgrounds and walks of life