<p><b>About the job</b></p><p><b>Head of Risk & Controls</b></p><p><b>Permanent </b></p><p><b>Based in London – Hybrid working </b></p><p>We are looking for a Head of Risk & Controls to join our finance team. This is a new role with responsibility for oversight of a governance, risk and controls framework, ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements and leading the development of risk and compliance across the organisation. </p><p>The Head of Risk & Controls is a senior role for someone who wants to shape risk, controls and compliance strategy, monitoring regulatory changes and ensuring operational compliance.</p><p>The role would build a culture of risk awareness across the organisation, leading, managing and developing a risk and controls function </p><p>This is a broad and hands-on role which spans strategic, operational and regulatory responsibilities.</p><p><b>What you will be doing</b></p><ul><li>Collaborate with senior management and stakeholders across the business to develop and implement comprehensive internal control policies and procedures. </li><li>Horizon Scanning: Awareness of emerging regulatory risks and provision of strategic recommendations to the business.</li><li>Define and maintain risk and control frameworks policies and tools as well as governance standards and reporting mechanisms. </li><li>Provide oversight, advice and challenge on principal risks across the business, ensuring that the risk and controls management approach is aligned with regulatory expectations as well as wider business priorities. </li><li>Plan and execute internal control testing procedures to assess the effectiveness of existing controls.</li><li>Coordinate oversight and implementation of IT general controls </li><li>Monitor control deficiencies and deviations and conduct remediation activities as required. </li><li>Monitor changes in regulatory requirements and industry standards to ensure compliance in internal control requirements. </li><li>Coordinate with internal and external auditors to facilitate audit engagements. Prepare audit documentation and respond to audit enquiries and findings. </li><li>Implement process improvements and automation initiatives to streamline control activities. </li><li>Support with coordination and management of the annual insurance renewal programme.</li><li>Supervision and coordination of junior team members.</li></ul><p><b>What we need from you</b></p><ul><li>Proven expertise in designing and implementing enterprise risk frameworks.</li><li>Experience of regulatory engagement and internal control frameworks. </li><li>Strong technical knowledge of governance, risk and controls frameworks.</li><li>Experience setting direction and priorities for risk management and regulatory compliance aligned with business goals.</li><li>Understanding of FPP procedures and requirements would be advantageous.</li><li>Ability to implement measures in a considered and measured way with an understanding of wider business priorities alongside regulatory requirements. </li></ul><p><b>Person Profile</b></p><ul><li>Ability to influence senior stakeholders and drive cross-functional collaboration.</li><li>Excellent analytical skills and attention to detail. </li><li>Ability to operate effectively at all levels.</li><li>Resilient and adaptable with a pragmatic approach to problem solving.</li><li>Experience of internal control software/ tools is preferred. </li><li>Based in London office at least 3 days a week. Flexibility to travel occasionally, as needed. </li><li>Ability to maintain confidentiality and handle sensitive information appropriately.</li><li>Ability to start imminently or at relatively short notice and to hit the ground running.</li></ul><p><b>Why work for Waterstones</b></p><p><b>Waterstones is the cornerstone of bookselling across the UK and Ireland. Joining Waterstones means being an active part in a success story that began in 1982, and books are as popular now as the day we started.</b></p><p><b>Trading across the UK, Ireland and Europe, we are present in over 290 shopping locations, where Waterstones continues to thrive, each year actively pursuing a programme of new bookshop openings. Online at Waterstones.com, we meanwhile mirror the essence of our bookshops, further showcasing the unique enthusiasm and knowledge of our booksellers.</b></p><p><b>If you have the relevant essential experience and you are interested, we would love to hear from you.</b></p>