Manager, Internal Audit

Since Aspen was founded in 2002, we have become a leading, diversified specialty insurance and reinsurance company. We respond thoughtfully and creatively to find the best outcomes for our clients and business partners through carefully-tailored solutions.

We believe the way we work is just as important as the work we do, and we are guided by our core values of respect, honesty, trust and professionalism.

Aspen is a great place to develop your career offering an exciting and challenging environment where achievement is rewarded.

The work pattern for the job is Hybrid 

The minimum and maximum salaries for this job role are below:

Minimum Salary -  160,000.00 

Maximum Salary -  200,000.00 

The Role:

Are you ready to join an established team that has longevity and diversity? To be part of a global team that has strong communication skills. To work for a leader that wants you to bring your ideas to the table. 

We have an opportunity to assist the Group Head of Internal Audit delivering the Internal Audit Plan, reporting to the Audit Committee, and helping management to improve the effectiveness of risk management, control, and governance processes across the organization.

This role would manage 2 individual contributors, also working with your counterparts to manage the global team.

Our Aspen Values are expected to be reflected in the delivery and performance of every role.

Key Responsibilities:

1. Audit Plan Development:
   • Support Creation: Assist in developing a high-quality, flexible, and commercially focused audit plan that addresses key risks.
   • Risk Focus: Ensure the audit plan is risk-focused and adaptable to changing business environments.
2. Relationship Management:
   • Framework Development: Help develop and maintain a relationship framework with key business unit leaders.
   • Risk Monitoring: Identify, prioritize, and monitor changes in risk profiles.
   • Communication: Communicate the status and results of the audit plan delivery to relevant stakeholders.
3. People Management:
   • Manage: Manage, resource, motivate, develop and focus direct report(s) to ensure the required standards of performance and support the continuing personal and professional development of all team member
   • Delegation and oversight: Effectively delegate tasks whilst retaining oversight and responsibilities for their actions
4. Resource Allocation:
   • Plan Management: Actively manage sections of the audit plan, including resource allocation and scheduling.
   • Support Team: Provide support to team members to ensure the successful delivery of the audit plan.
5. Methodology and Policies:
   • Development and Maintenance: Assist in developing and maintaining internal audit methodologies, policies, and procedures.
   • Continuous Improvement: Identify areas for improvement and discuss them with audit management for implementation.
   • Quality Assurance: Oversee or lead individual quality assurance reviews, and any subsequent team development / actions e.g. updating team methodology, providing training

6. Best Practices:
   • Stay Informed: Maintain awareness of best practices and emerging trends in internal audit.
   • Team Communication: Communicate relevant best practices and trends to the team and other colleagues.
   • Incorporation: Lead efforts to incorporate best practices into team practices where applicable.
7. Industry Knowledge:
   • Technical Knowledge: Maintain up-to-date technical and subject knowledge of the insurance industry.
   • Regulatory Awareness: Stay informed about relevant regulatory requirements and practice guidance from the Chartered Institute of Internal Auditors (CIIA).
   • Sarbanes-Oxley: Ensure detailed knowledge of Aspen’s Sarbanes-Oxley requirements is reflected in the audit plan and approach.
8. Training and Development:
   • Annual Training Plan: Support the development and rollout of the annual training plan for the internal audit team.
9. Professional Conduct:
   • Integrity and Independence: Maintain clear independence from management and act with integrity, due skill, care, and diligence.
   • Regulatory Cooperation: Be open and cooperative with regulatory bodies such as the FCA and PRA.
   • Customer Focus: Pay due regard to the interests of customers and ensure they are treated fairly.

This role requires a proactive approach to managing risk and ensuring the effectiveness of internal audit processes, while also fostering a culture of continuous improvement and professional integrity.

Skills & Experience:

• Audit, Accounting or other professional qualification (CMIIA, Consultative Committee of Accountancy Bodies (CCAB), or Chartered Institute of Insurers (CII)) with at over five years progressively responsible professional-level auditing experience.
• 6+ years working within an organization preferably:
  • within local financial services or Insurance/Reinsurance industry
  • as part of an internal / external audit team
  • some experience of global financial services or Insurance/Reinsurance industry
• Experience managing / coaching staff (preferably 1+ years with line management responsibility)
• Good experience working on control frameworks e.g. Sarbanes-Oxley framework / COSO
• Thorough knowledge of audit procedures, including risk driven audit planning techniques and methods, design of testing approaches for controls and the requirements of the Standards for the Professional Practice of Internal Auditing of the Chartered Institute of Internal Auditors
• Experience working with data and data tools
• Experience of project / change management audit (preferred)
• Strong ability to gain the confidence and respect of management and staff through attributes such as professionalism and positive attitude.
• Strong ability to communicate clearly and effectively, both orally and in writing.
• Able to gather, analyze, and evaluate facts, and prepare and present concise oral and written reports.
• Strong ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships throughout the organization
• Strong ability to motivate staff through proper direction and counselling.
• Adaptable to change in a fluid commercial environment 

At Aspen we know that having a diverse and inclusive workforce is good for our people, good for our business and good for the environments in which we operate.  We therefore welcome applications from people which allows us to draw on diverse cultures, perspectives, skills and experiences.