Head of Assurance & Compliance

Cavu; Manchester; Hybrid; GBP 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

25 days holiday (increasing with years

On-site gym

Company pension (10%)

Discounts on CAVU products

Job summary

CAVU, part of Manchester Airport Group, seeks a Head of Assurance & Compliance to lead the second-line governance framework and drive risk-based assurance across a growing global business.

Reporting to the Strategy & Governance Director, you’ll define and implement risk-based assurance, evaluate controls, and provide insights to support strategic decisions, working with MAG Audit, Cyber Security and Data Protection teams.

Qualifications

• Professional qualification such as ACA, ACCA, CIMA, CIA, CIIA, CISA or equivalent.
• Extensive experience leading assurance, compliance, audit, risk management or internal controls leadership roles.
• Strong commercial, financial and risk management background.
• Proven ability designing and implementing governance, compliance and control frameworks.

Responsibilities

• Define and evolve the Assurance & Compliance framework and second-line operating model.
• Develop and deliver a risk-based assurance programme aligned to regulatory requirements.
• Evaluate design and effectiveness of controls across CAVU.
• Identify control weaknesses and opportunities for process improvement.
• Provide challenge and assurance to senior leaders while maintaining second-line independence.
• Lead assurance reviews and communicate findings to governance forums.

Skills

Stakeholder management

Governance & risk

Regulatory compliance

Auditing

Reporting

Strategic thinking

Education

ACA, ACCA, CIMA, CIA, CIIA, CISA or equivalent

Job description

For airports, for partners, for people. We are CAVU.

At CAVU, part of Manchester Airport Group, our purpose is to find new and better ways to make airport travel seamless and enjoyable for everybody- from the smallest ideas to the biggest transformations. Every day is an opportunity to create better travel experiences.

From our revenue-accelerating single-platform technology, Propel, through to our world-class hospitality venues including 1903 and Escape Lounges, our solutions make travel smoother for passengers and more profitable for our clients and partners.

We know that to bring your best ideas, you need the space to think, the support to grow, and the freedom to be your authentic self. Whether you’re working from our offices, from home, in our lounges, or on the road, we provide an environment where you can create, innovate, and help transform airport travel.

Together, we can reach new heights. Together, we are CAVU

The Role

We're looking for an experienced and commercially-minded Head of Assurance & Compliance to join our Strategy & Governance Leadership Team.

Reporting to the Strategy & Governance Director, you will lead the development and delivery of CAVU's Assurance & Compliance framework, providing independent second-line oversight and assurance across our growing global business. This is a highly visible leadership role, working closely with senior stakeholders across the organisation to ensure CAVU operates responsibly, sustainably and in line with internal policies, legal requirements and regulatory standards.

You will be responsible for defining and implementing a risk-based assurance strategy, evaluating the effectiveness of controls, identifying opportunities for improvement, and providing valuable insights that support strategic decision-making. Working across multiple functions, you will provide constructive challenge, drive a culture of compliance, and help ensure risks are effectively managed as CAVU continues to scale.

Acting as CAVU's key liaison with MAG Audit, Cyber Security and Data Protection teams, you will also play a critical role in supporting industry certifications, regulatory compliance, and customer bid responses relating to compliance and governance standards.

What You'll Be Doing

• Defining and evolving CAVU's Assurance & Compliance framework and second-line operating model
• Developing and delivering a risk-based assurance programme aligned to business priorities and regulatory requirements
• Evaluating the design and effectiveness of business controls, processes and procedures across CAVU
• Identifying control weaknesses, compliance risks and opportunities for process improvement
• Providing challenge, guidance and assurance to senior leaders while maintaining second-line independence
• Leading assurance reviews and communicating clear, evidence-based findings to management and governance forums
• Monitoring and reporting on remediation actions, ensuring issues are appropriately tracked and resolved
• Championing compliance with internal policies, legal requirements and industry standards including GDPR, PCI DSS and CCPA
• Supporting the business in achieving and maintaining external certifications, including ISO standards
• Working with Legal, Cyber, Audit and Data Protection teams to ensure alignment of compliance activities and minimise duplication
• Producing high-quality reports, board papers and insights for Senior Leadership Team, Executive Committee and governance forums
• Supporting Growth teams with bid responses relating to compliance certifications, governance controls and assurance standards
• Driving continuous improvement through the identification of trends, recurring issues and thematic control gaps across the business

About You

You’ll be a credible assurance, audit or compliance leader with the ability to influence senior stakeholders and balance commercial objectives with effective governance and risk management.

You'll bring:

• Professional qualification such as ACA, ACCA, CIMA, CIA, CIIA, CISA or equivalent
• Significant experience in assurance, compliance, audit, risk management or internal controls leadership roles
• Strong commercial, financial, audit or risk management background
• Proven experience designing and implementing governance, compliance and control frameworks
• Strong understanding of compliance standards, regulatory requirements and risk-based assurance methodologies
• Knowledge of GDPR, PCI DSS, CCPA and broader governance and compliance frameworks
• Experience working with technology-enabled businesses and understanding the interaction between business processes and IT systems
• Excellent analytical skills with the ability to identify trends, risks and opportunities for improvement
• Strong stakeholder management and influencing skills with the confidence to engage at Executive level
• Ability to work effectively in a fast-paced and evolving business environment
• Exceptional communication skills and experience producing executive-level reports and presentations

What's In It For You?

As well as a competitive benefits package, you'll be joining a fast-growing, innovative business at the forefront of airport technology, travel and digital commerce.

You'll have the opportunity to shape how assurance, compliance and governance are embedded across a global business, influencing strategic decisions and helping CAVU scale responsibly and sustainably.

Our benefits include:

• 25 days holiday, increasing with service (up to 28)
• Option to buy up to 10 extra days + 4 flexible bank holidays
• 10% company pension
• On-site gym
• Discounts including up to 50% off CAVU products such as Escape Lounges and Airport Parking
• Rail and retail discounts
• 2 paid volunteering days per year
• Access to wellbeing initiatives, learning opportunities and mentoring programmes
• Enhanced parental leave (T&Cs apply)

Equal Opportunities & Reasonable Adjustments

We're building something brilliant at CAVU: a diverse team of people who reflect the global customer base that we serve. We're proudly part of MAG and together we're on a mission to be number one in our industries, and that takes talent in all its forms. With so many exciting roles across businesses, there's space for your unique strengths to shine.

Whether this is your first role or your next big step, we want to hear from you, even if you don't think you tick every box. What matters most is what you bring.

We're proud to be a UK Disability Confident employer. If you need any adjustments to support your application or interview, just let us know. We're committed to helping you perform at your best.

At MAG and CAVU, every journey matters. Our Colleague Communities play a big part in that: Women's Network, Embrace (Race & Ethnicity), Fly with Pride (LGBTQIA+), Mind Matters, PACT (Parents & Carers), RespectABILITY (Disability & Neurodiversity), and the CAVU Global ID&E Affinity Group.