Controls Testing Lead — Shape Governance & Risk

St. James’s Place; Cirencester; Hybrid; GBP 60,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

28 days annual leave

Private Medical Insurance

Generous Pension Scheme

Enhanced Parental Leave

Protection Benefits

EV salary sacrifice scheme

Job summary

St. James’s Place is seeking a Controls Testing Manager to strengthen our internal controls within CFO. You’ll lead day-to-day controls testing, design annual testing plans, and partner with control owners to drive improvements, while communicating outcomes to senior stakeholders.

This mid-senior level role in Cirencester offers a hybrid working pattern, a discretionary bonus and a comprehensive benefits package, plus a chance to influence governance across Finance and the business.

Qualifications

• Qualified accountant (ACCA or ACA) with strong external financial reporting knowledge.
• Proven ability to engage, influence, and provide practical guidance to stakeholders across Finance and wider business teams.
• Experience within financial services.
• Awareness of automation tools or techniques to enhance controls and improve testing efficiency.
• Experience in testing financial reporting controls.
• Strong understanding of controls frameworks, governance, and standard testing methodologies.

Responsibilities

• Leading and managing the day-to-day delivery of controls testing, including reviewing work completed by testers and delivering complex testing yourself
• Developing the annual controls testing plan and tracking/reporting progress to key stakeholders
• Communicating testing outcomes clearly, providing actionable recommendations to strengthen control weaknesses
• Partnering with control owners and project teams to maintain and enhance the controls framework as processes evolve
• Identifying and implementing efficiencies in the controls testing approach to reduce effort and improve effectiveness
• Providing coaching and support to controls testers, ensuring consistent quality and delivery
• Supporting the documentation and attestation of controls effectiveness in collaboration with the Financial Controls Lead
• Contributing to the ongoing development and maintenance of the internal controls framework

Skills

Controls testing

Stakeholder engagement

External financial reporting

ACCA/ACA

Financial services experience

Education

ACCA or ACA

Tools

Automation tools

Job description

St. James’s Place is seeking a Controls Testing Manager to strengthen our internal controls within CFO. You’ll lead day-to-day controls testing, design annual testing plans, and partner with control owners to drive improvements, while communicating outcomes to senior stakeholders.

This mid-senior level role in Cirencester offers a hybrid working pattern, a discretionary bonus and a comprehensive benefits package, plus a chance to influence governance across Finance and the business.