Business Assurance Lead

A strong Internal Control environment and effective Risk Management process is critical to Aston Martin. Effective engagement with a wide range of Internal and External stakeholders including Internal Audit & Risk Management and External Audit is critical to the successful delivery of this role, with the requirement to support and challenge individuals of all levels within the business. The role will work with process and control owners to ensure that a robust, fit for purpose internal control framework is in place across AML. This will entail control design advisory input and assurance activities to demonstrate control design and operational effectiveness. Key Duties and Responsibilities: Accountabilities:

• Maintaining compliance with Internal Control legislation; keeping up to date with emerging changes and reporting requirements and providing business wide coaching
• Active involvement in the Provision 29 Material Control Programme across Aston Martin to identify control improvements through standardisation and simplification, leveraging automated controls as effectively as possible
• Work with Functional and Business teams as well as the IT function to ensure maintenance of robust controls
• Partner key stakeholders during relevant Internal Audit Operational reviews and through closure of recommendations
• Ensure adherence to the Aston Martin compliance timetable to meet Internal and External Audit requirements, both within the Business Assurance team and in partnership with the functional controls champions
• Attendance at local Finance and IT governance forum's in support to the Business Assurance Manager / Head of BA
• Develop an understanding of the Aston Martin IPE process (System report and Spreadsheet interrogation) and deliver compliance testing thereof.
Outputs:
• Clear understanding of ongoing Internal control requirements and monitoring of delivery across Aston Martin.
• Maintained Internal Control compliance throughout periods of business / process change.
• Policies and procedures in place in critical business areas.
• Clear action tracker and reduction in the number of overdue items.
• Internal and External Audit requirements are met.
• Structured, minuted, governance meeting structure in place.
• Completed IPE testing scripts to feed into the overall evidence suite.
• Status reporting on material control assurance testing progress
• Assessments of control deficiencies identified
  
  Professional accounting qualification, ACA/ICAEW, ACCA or equivalent
• Strong technical and analytical skills
• Working in a Sarbanes Oxley or equivalent compliant Organisation
• Designing, implementing, improving and maintaining controls
• Proven track record of working to tight timelines and critical deliverables
• Interrogation of user role profiles.
• Use of Information Produced by the Entity (spreadsheets and system reports)
• Qualified Accountant / auditor (e.g. ACA, ACCA, CIMA, CIIA)
Behaviours:
• Strategic Thinking
• Ability to work autonomously
• Effective communication
• Coaching and delivery of training
• Internal and External Stakeholder Management
• Delivery to tight deadlines
• Persuasive - urge, influence and convince others
• Methodical - orderly in action, thought and expression
• Flexible - adapt to situation and people as required
• Supportive - give encouragement and help others
• Quick to act - gets things started without delay, Highly committed 'can do' attitude
  
  The Business Assurance department is responsible for providing internal control advisory and assurance services to the business by acting as subject matter experts and partnering with business process owners to ensure that the internal control environment is designed and operating effectively and supported by appropriately documented procedures and risk and control matrices. The department is responsible for leading the UK Corporate Governance Code Provision 29 Material Controls programme.