We are looking for a Head of Risk & Internal Control to join the Central Services Internal Audit team at William Grant & Sons. In this role you will lead the development and implementation of the WG&S group-wide controls programme, Controls Assurance & Risk Evaluation (CARE), maintaining compliance with the requirements of relevant legislation and other parameters established by the Executive Board and the Audit Committee to drive high-quality internal controls assurance.

You will also work with the business to improve and embed risk management practices at site, market and functional levels to drive better quality, consistent risk assessments in line with the requirements of the WG&S Group Enterprise Risk Management methodology, consistent with the Group's defined Corporate Objectives.

Please note, this role requires 4 days in the office per week in Strathclyde Business Park, Bellshill. 

• We offer a competitive salary and benefits which are designed to promote our employees financial wellbeing. Employees are also eligible to participate in a bonus plan.
• Our employees enjoy a generous holiday entitlement and an opportunity to ‘buy’ or ‘sell’ some holiday entitlement.
• Private Healthcare and Doctor@Hand (remote GP service).
• Our employees can join a defined contribution pension plan. Employees contribute either 4% or 5% of salary, the company contributes 8% or 10% depending on the employee contribution. Employee contributions can be made through salary sacrifice.
• Our Employee Assistance Programme offers practical, impartial support on everyday matters ranging from medical, financial and legal to home and family issues. 
• Our Life Assurance cover is a multiple of eight times your annual basic salary.
• Product allocation so that you can enjoy our fantastic portfolio of brands.
• Our Cycle to Work scheme allows you to hire a bike for an agreed length of time, and then snap it up for a fraction of its original value. All while making savings (at least 25%) and spreading the cost.
• Every employee has the opportunity to claim up to £1,000 per year for a charity or charities for which they have raised money, volunteered their time or personally donated.
• Learning resources to help you be your best self.

Internal Control

• Direct the design, development and communication of the CARE programme with focus on people, process and technology.
• Coordinate, manage and drive delivery of the programme by establishing the appropriate governance framework across all areas, with appropriate prioritisation, issue management and communication.
• Collaborate with key stakeholders across Finance and the wider business to ensure appropriate coverage of key Group risks.
• Understand and interpret the requirements of the Audit Committee while supporting the implementation and embedding of those requirements.
• Oversee the development of conclusions and findings to local management and apply previous experience and accepted Group practice to make corrective recommendations and other improvement suggestions. Agree action plans with management and support the reporting of the outcomes to management. 
• Raise awareness of corporate policies, share knowledge, and engage actively with business stakeholders to instil best practice and improve the control environment across the Group.
• Continue the development of the WG&S internal control framework to align with best practice and to provide controls assurance over financial reporting risks and other risks that are relevant to the Group Corporate Objectives.
• Maintain and streamline the annual control assessment cycle, aligned to business priorities and consistent with the requirements of the corporate calendar.
• Oversee and scrutinise the results of local control assessments to drive accurate control assessment and high-quality assurance.
• Reporting to local management, Business Unit boards, the CFO, the Audit Committee and others, as required, to provide timely and meaningful insights.
• Build awareness and capability of control assessment and develop a network of subject matter experts across the Group such that local processes can be embedded and improved.

Risk Management

• Engage and advise management to improve risk management practices, leveraging experiences from other businesses to proactively support the identification of new and emerging risks and promote strategies to improve existing mitigations.
• Develop effective working relationships with key business stakeholders, building trust and becoming a valued source of support, challenge and guidance.
• Utilise external networks and industry specialists to keep up-to-date with relevant standards and best practice.
• Lead, motivate and develop others in the Internal Audit team  and risk owners across the Group to build skills, knowledge and professional development through coaching and feedback.
• Drive the practical identification and ongoing assessment of mitigating actions across the Group and agitate for further action where required. This will support a clearer connection with the assessment of net risk and the agreed risk appetite.
• Maintain and embed the rhythm of risk reviews across the business and periodically refresh the Group risk register. Support the work of the Group Risk Committee and facilitate quarterly meetings to deep dive on specific risks to the business to deepen the Committee's understanding and drive specific interventions where necessary.
• Fully utilise Optro and establish its use to realise the expected efficiency benefits within the function and for stakeholders across the Group.

You will bring: 

• Sound knowledge of project management techniques and approaches to change management, alongside proven programme and/or project delivery experience.
• A relevant professional qualification in finance and/or risk assurance discipline with extensive experience and understanding of finance function operations, processes and services.
• Familiarity and awareness of IT and financial systems, particularly in the context of their impact on the control environment.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to quickly build credible relationships across the Group but particularly with senior stakeholders at a Business Unit Board level, the Executive Board, Risk Committee and Audit Committee.
• Proven people management skills, and the ability to work across and motivate cross-functional teams in the delivery of complex projects / programmes.
• Ability to work co-operatively alongside others while retaining the capacity to form and articulate independent views and opinions.

A HOME FOR RARE CHARACTERS

William Grant & Sons: a home where Rare Characters thrive.

We value every employee for their rare character, distinctive skills, experience and perspectives. Every one of our colleagues has a role to play in helping us to achieve our growth ambitions.

At William Grant & Sons, our vision is to be A home where rare characters thrive. We value all colleagues for their rare character, distinctive skills, experience and perspectives. Diversity & Inclusion is at the heart of how we do things at William Grant & Sons, fully aligned to our purpose and our company values. We strive to create an environment where we can all be our best and bring our whole selves to work.

OUR AGILE WORKING PHILOSOPHY

Our agile working philosophy is to “Have your best work day everyday”.
Built on trust, we empower our rare characters to have their best work day every day. Where flexibility and positive working experiences help employees to feel connected and release potential across our teams.
We are open to discussing possible agile/flexible working options as part of the recruitment process.

INCLUSIVE RECRUITMENT PROCESS

Diversity & Inclusion is at the heart of how we do things at William Grant & Sons, fully aligned to our purpose and our company values. We want to ensure that our recruitment process is inclusive.

This vacancy is being advertised directly by William Grant & Sons. Unauthorised copying, reposting, or distribution of this advert by job boards, aggregators, or recruitment agencies is not permitted without prior written approval.