Compliance Assurance Officer

SAGA PLC; United States; Hybrid; USD 90,000 - 125,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

25 days holiday + bank holidays

Additional leave - 5 days

Pension scheme matched up to 10%

Company performance related annual 5%-

Life assurance policy on joining us, 4

Wellbeing programme

Colleague discounts including family

Range of reductions and offers from a_

Enhanced maternity and paternity leave

Grandparents leave

Income protection

Saga Academy learning platform

Job summary

Saga PLC is seeking a Compliance Assurance Officer to lead independent assurance across its two FCA-regulated businesses, Saga Insurance and Saga Money. You will plan and deliver the annual assurance programme, challenge senior stakeholders and provide evidence-based findings that drive regulatory compliance and customer outcomes.

The role offers hybrid working with monthly collaboration days and autonomy to shape risk-based assurance activities that protect customers and support responsible

Qualifications

• Experience of planning and undertaking risk-based compliance monitoring or assurance reviews, including assessing control effectiveness and identifying regulatory weaknesses.
• Ability to review complex information, identify underlying issues and reach well-reasoned conclusions supported by evidence.
• Confidence and experience to manage a programme of work with limited supervision, make sound judgments and take responsibility for delivering agreed objectives.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to present findings clearly and explain regulatory issues to stakeholders at different levels.
• Ability to build effective working relationships, constructively challenge senior colleagues and influence improvements without direct management authority.
• Ability to prioritise competing demands, manage deadlines and maintain oversight of assurance activity across two regulated businesses.
• A balanced and pragmatic approach, with the confidence to raise difficult issues and maintain an independent view where necessary.

Responsibilities

• Plan and undertake detailed assurance reviews, assessing compliance with FCA rules and internal policies.
• Deliver the annual assurance plan, independently managing review schedules and priorities.
• Assess whether business practices and customer journeys deliver good outcomes and identify potential regulatory breaches or customer harm.
• Produce clear, evidence-based assurance reports with findings, risks and recommendations.
• Provide regular updates to senior management and governance committees on assurance activity and themes.
• Escalate regulatory concerns and control weaknesses to appropriate individuals or committees.
• Monitor progress of remedial actions and challenge delays or inadequate solutions.
• Undertake follow-up testing to confirm actions are effective and address identified risks.
• Identify recurring issues and opportunities to improve controls and compliance arrangements across two regulated businesses.
• Maintain and adapt the assurance approach to regulatory expectations and business risks.
• Develop the annual risk-based compliance assurance plan for two regulated Saga businesses.

Skills

Risk-based monitoring

Regulatory reporting

Stakeholder management

Regulatory knowledge

Communication skills

Independent judgement

Programme management

Education

ICA qualification

Job description

As our Compliance Assurance Officer, you will be responsible for planning and undertaking detailed assurance reviews, assessing compliance with FCA rules, internal policies and the effectiveness of existing controls. Other accountabilities will include:

• Taking responsibility for delivering the annual assurance plan, independently managing review schedules, priorities and competing demands.
• Assessing whether business practices and customer journeys are delivering good outcomes, identifying potential regulatory breaches or areas of customer harm.
• Reviewing and adjusting assurance priorities where changes in the business or regulatory environment warrant additional scrutiny.
• Producing clear, evidence-based assurance reports setting out findings, associated risks and recommendations for improvement.
• Providing regular updates to senior management and relevant governance committees on assurance activity, key findings and emerging themes.
• Challenging senior stakeholders where reviews identify gaps in regulatory compliance, weaknesses in controls or inadequate management responses.
• Escalating significant regulatory concerns and control weaknesses, ensuring these are brought to the attention of the appropriate individuals or committees.
• Monitoring the progress of agreed remedial actions, challenging delays or proposed solutions that do not adequately address identified risks.
• Undertaking follow‑up testing to confirm that actions have been implemented and are effective.
• Identifying recurring issues and opportunities to improve controls and compliance arrangements across both businesses.
• Maintaining and developing the assurance approach to reflect changes in regulatory expectations and business risks.
• Developing the annual risk‑based compliance assurance plan (2027/28) for both regulated businesses, taking account of regulatory requirements, business risks, previous findings and emerging issues.

You will have a strong understanding of the FCA regulatory framework, particularly Consumer Duty, insurance distribution, product governance, financial promotions and conduct risk.

An ICA qualification or equivalent would be desirable.

• Experience of planning and undertaking risk‑based compliance monitoring or assurance reviews, including assessing control effectiveness and identifying regulatory weaknesses.
• Ability to review complex information, identify underlying issues and reach well‑reasoned conclusions supported by evidence.
• Confidence and experience to manage a programme of work with limited supervision, make sound judgments and take responsibility for delivering agreed objectives.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to present findings clearly and explain regulatory issues to stakeholders at different levels.
• Ability to build effective working relationships, constructively challenge senior colleagues and influence improvements without direct management authority.
• Ability to prioritise competing demands, manage deadlines and maintain oversight of assurance activity across two regulated businesses.
• A balanced and pragmatic approach, with the confidence to raise difficult issues and maintain an independent view where necessary. At Saga, we're looking for an experienced Compliance Assurance Officer to take the lead on independent compliance assurance across two FCA‑regulated businesses, Saga Insurance and Saga Money. This is a fantastic opportunity for someone who enjoys autonomy, thrives on intellectual challenge and wants their expertise to have a genuine impact on how a business manages risk, protects customers and delivers the right outcomes.

As the sole Compliance Assurance Officer, you’ll be tasked with delivering the approved annual assurance plan. Here you will have the freedom to determine the scope and schedule, and provide independent insight that influences senior leaders and the Boards. You’ll have the confidence to challenge the status quo, the judgement to identify emerging risks and the opportunity to turn your findings into meaningful improvements. You'll be trusted to bring an independent perspective, champion strong regulatory standards and help shape a culture where doing the right thing for our customers is at the heart of every decision. At Saga, we work flexibly, which means our colleagues have autonomy over where they work‑at home or in a hybrid setting. This role has a small hybrid element, which means that our team comes together at least once a month when we need to collaborate.

Over the past 75 years we have become the UK's specialist provider of products and services to people aged over 50 in the UK. We're the most trusted brand amongst UK consumers in this demographic, recognised for high‑quality products and exceptional standards of service. Our product portfolio includes cruises, holidays, insurance, personal finance products and our Saga Magazine. Our focus on delivering exceptional products and service empowers our colleagues to create moments that are personal and special for our customers and for each other and our values underpin our approach and help guide us to deliver our purpose. We're committed to making sure that colleagues can be their best, be themselves and make a difference - more than anywhere else. We have done this by creating a truly inclusive culture, where all colleagues can bring their full and authentic selves to work and be treated with dignity and respect in an environment that is free from discrimination and harassment. Thanks to our people, Saga was awarded with a Gold for Best Customer Centric Culture in 2025. This is testament to the great culture we've built together. This award belongs to all our colleagues who collectively make Saga a fantastic place to work.

BENEFITS AVAILABLE FOR THIS ROLE:

• 25 days holiday + bank holidays
• Option to purchase additional leave - 5 extra days
• Pension scheme matched up to 10%
• Company performance related annual bonus - Up to 5%
• Life assurance policy on joining us, 4 x salary
• Wellbeing programme
• Colleague discounts including family discounts on cruises, holidays and insurance
• Range of reductions and offers from leading retailers, travel groups and entertainment companies
• Enhanced maternity and paternity leave
• Grandparents leave
• Income protection
• Access to Saga Academy, our bespoke learning platform