Controls Testing Manager - Finance

St. James's Place; Cirencester; Hybrid; GBP 70,000 - 95,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Annual bonus

Private medical insurance

Pension scheme

Parental leave

EV salary sacrifice

Job summary

St. James's Place is seeking a Controls Testing Manager for the CFO organisation in Cirencester.

You will lead day-to-day controls testing, partner with control owners, and drive improvements to the internal controls framework in a hybrid Cirencester office setting. The role requires a qualified accountant (ACCA or ACA) with strong financial reporting knowledge and the ability to influence stakeholders across Finance and the business.

Qualifications

• Qualified accountant (ACCA or ACA) with strong external financial reporting knowledge.
• Ability to engage, influence, and guide stakeholders across Finance and wider business teams.
• Desirable: experience within financial services and familiarity with automation tools to enhance testing.

Responsibilities

• Lead day-to-day delivery of controls testing and review work.
• Develop the annual controls testing plan and report progress to stakeholders.
• Communicate testing outcomes with actionable recommendations to strengthen controls.
• Partner with control owners to evolve the controls framework as processes change.
• Identify efficiencies to reduce effort and improve testing effectiveness.
• Provide coaching to controls testers to ensure quality and consistency.
• Support documentation and attestation of controls effectiveness with the Financial Controls Lead.
• Contribute to ongoing development of the internal controls framework.

Skills

Controls testing

Stakeholder engagement

Governance

Education

ACCA

ACA

Tools

Automation tools

Job description

Are you ready to chart your own career path? With our refreshed strategy, we’re building on our rich heritage and transforming our business to be more scalable and efficient, unlocking the capabilities needed for future success. This includes significantly investing in technology, streamlining the way we work and creating an environment where colleagues feel engaged, empowered and accountable; where they can show up, speak up and perform - because we believe in the difference our work makes.

At a glance:

Location: Cirencester Office

Workplace Type: Hybrid

Employment Type: Permanent

Seniority: Mid-Senior Level

About The Role

We’re looking for a Controls Testing Manager to play a key role in strengthening and maintaining our internal controls framework in CFO. Working closely with the Head of Financial Controls and wider Finance teams, you’ll lead the day-to-day delivery of controls testing, ensuring robust governance and providing confidence to senior stakeholders and Board Committees. No previous controls testing experience is required to apply, but you must be willing to learn and have an understanding of how controls work to manage risk in a Finance function.

In this role, you’ll not only assess and test key controls, but also partner with control owners to identify opportunities for improvement, enhance efficiency, and ensure controls evolve alongside business and process changes. This is a great opportunity for someone who enjoys combining technical expertise with stakeholder engagement to drive real impact.

What You’ll Be Doing

• 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

Who We’re Looking For

We’re seeking a self-motivated and proactive individual who combines strong controls knowledge with the ability to influence and partner with stakeholders. You’ll be confident working independently, comfortable engaging with senior leaders, and able to translate complex control requirements into practical, real-world solutions. A collaborative mindset and a passion for driving continuous improvement will be key to success in this role.

Essential Criteria

• 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

Desirable Criteria

• 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

What's in it for you?

Whatever stage of life you're in, our benefits are designed to provide the support, flexibility, and peace of mind you need to thrive both at work and beyond.

In addition to our discretionary annual bonus scheme, which reflects both individual and company performance, you'll benefit from a market-leading benefits package tailored to support your wellbeing, financial security, and family life.

• 28 days' annual leave plus bank holidays, with the option to purchase up to 5 additional days.
• Private Medical Insurance – company-funded cover for you and your immediate family
• Generous Pension Scheme – a non-contributory employer contribution of 10%, increasing with length of service up to 15%, plus the opportunity to increase this through salary sacrifice
• Enhanced Parental Leave – up to 26 weeks' full pay to support growing families.
• Protection Benefits – company-funded critical illness cover, income protection, and life assurance
• EV salary sacrifice scheme through Tusker

Reasonable Adjustments

We’re an equal opportunities employer and want to ensure our recruitment process is accessible and inclusive for all, if you require reasonable adjustment(s) at any stage please let us know by emailing us at [e-mail]

Research tells us that applicants (especially those from underrepresented groups) can be put off from applying for a role if they do not meet all the criteria or have been on an extended career-break.

As a business regulated by the FCA we would advise you to familiarise yourself with the conduct regulations and in particular consumer duty obligations prior to an interview with SJP.