Controls Advisor

Suncorp Group; Christchurch; Hybrid; NZD 110,000 - 150,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Flexible leave

Insurance cover

Wellness allowance

Learning and development

Diversity and inclusion

Flexible work arrangements

Job summary

Suncorp New Zealand is seeking a Controls Advisor to join our Risk & Compliance team and strengthen our control environment across the business. You will design and test controls, provide analytics-based insights, and support continuous improvement and regulatory assurance.

You'll collaborate with stakeholders across the organisation, embed best practice controls, and contribute to risk maturity through automation, data analytics, and practical risk guidance.

Qualifications

• 5+ years in risk, compliance, assurance, audit, or legal roles within financial services
• Strong understanding of risk management frameworks, controls, assurance methodologies, and regulatory obligations
• Experience designing controls, conducting control testing, risk assessments, and providing trusted advice to stakeholders
• Excellent communication and relationship-building skills, with the ability to translate complex concepts into practical business outcomes
• Strong analytical capabilities, commercial acumen, and a continuous improvement mindset

Responsibilities

• Lead and execute control design and operational effectiveness testing across key business areas
• Drive continuous improvement of the control environment, including identifying new controls and retiring redundant ones
• Partner with business leaders, Risk & Compliance teams, and Group stakeholders to embed best practice controls and assurance activities
• Support automation and future-state assurance initiatives, including data analytics, AI, and innovative control monitoring solutions
• Contribute to risk assessments, incident management activities, and broader projects that enhance organisational risk maturity

Skills

Risk management

Compliance

Controls design

Data analytics

Stakeholder engagement

Tools

AI tools

Automation software

Job description

Job Description

We're seeking a Controls Advisor to join our Risk & Compliance team and play a key role in strengthening our control environment, enhancing assurance practices, and driving continuous improvement across the business.

Working closely with stakeholders across the organisation, you'll deliver high-quality control design, testing, provide valuable insights through reporting and analytics, and support initiatives that improve risk maturity, automation, and regulatory compliance.

About The Role

Reporting to the Manager, Risk Business Partnering (Controls), you'll be responsible for ensuring controls are effectively designed and operating as intended while helping the business navigate risk in a practical and commercially focused way.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and execute control design and operational effectiveness testing across key business areas, ensuring timely, high-quality outcomes.
• Drive continuous improvement of the control environment, including identifying new controls, retiring redundant controls, and supporting regulatory change initiatives.
• Partner with business leaders, Risk & Compliance teams, and Group stakeholders to embed best practice controls and assurance activities.
• Support automation and future-state assurance initiatives, including the use of data analytics, AI, and innovative control monitoring solutions.
• Contribute to risk assessments, incident management activities, and broader projects that enhance organisational risk maturity.

About You

You are a proactive and solutions-focused risk professional who enjoys working collaboratively, influencing stakeholders, and finding practical ways to strengthen controls and risk management practices.

We're Looking For Someone With

• At least 5 years' experience in risk, compliance, assurance, audit, or legal roles within the financial services sector.
• Strong understanding of risk management frameworks, controls, assurance methodologies, and regulatory obligations.
• Experience designing controls, conducting control testing, risk assessments, and providing trusted advice to stakeholders.
• Excellent communication and relationship-building skills, with the ability to translate complex concepts into practical business outcomes.
• Strong analytical capabilities, commercial acumen, and a continuous improvement mindset.
• Insurance industry experience, data analytics capability, or experience with automation and technology-enabled assurance will be highly regarded.

Why Join Us?

This is an opportunity to join a collaborative and high-performing team that is committed to delivering commercially practical risk and compliance outcomes. You'll be empowered to contribute ideas, influence change, and help shape the future of controls and assurance practices.

If you're passionate about strengthening control environments, leveraging data and technology, and partnering with stakeholders to improve risk outcomes, we'd love to hear from you.

What We Offer

• Competitive salary and discretionary annual bonus
• Flexible leave of up to 4 days per year in addition to annual leave
• Free life, salary continuance and trauma insurance cover
• Discounts on Vero insurance and different retailers
• $250 annually towards wellness activities
• Ongoing learning and development opportunities
• Positive, inclusive team environment where we welcome individuality and celebrate diversity
• Flexible work arrangements embracing a healthy work/life balance

About Suncorp New Zealand

We're proud to be a part of the Suncorp Group family alongside some of Australia and New Zealand's most trusted names in insurance - working together to bring about faster, simpler and better outcomes for our customers and corporate partners. Our commitment to strong, supportive partnerships extends to our people as well, and the opportunities and support we provide to help you thrive in your career with us. And with a shared customer-obsession and the digital capabilities to make a genuine difference, you'll see the meaningful impact you can make for our customers and communities, while watching your own career shine too.

At Suncorp we believe we are our best when our workforce is as diverse, talented and passionate as the communities in which we live and operate, and where our people feel included, valued and connected. We are passionate about inspiring our people by creating a diverse, accessible, and inclusive culture, offering flexible work, career development and internal mobility, and building connected relationships amongst our team members and with our customers.

If you require more information or any support and adjustments to participate equitably in our recruitment process or in the workplace, we encourage you to contact [e-mail] for a confidential conversation.