Audit Manager

At M&G, our purpose is to give everyone real confidence to put their money to work. With a heritage dating back more than 175 years, we have a long history of innovation in savings and investments, combining asset management and insurance expertise to offer a wide range of solutions.

Our two distinct operating segments, Asset Management and Life, work together to provide access to balanced, long-term investment and savings solutions.

Through telling it like it is, owning it now and moving it forward together with care and integrity; we are creating an exceptional place to work for exceptional talent.

We will consider flexible working arrangements for any of our roles and offer workplace adjustments to ensure you have the support you need to succeed in your role.

Description of the role :

Internal Audit is an independent, objective assurance function that is critical to meeting our business ambitions whilst also protecting the interests of our customers by ensuring that the internal control, risk and governance frameworks are always fit for purpose. We look beyond financial risks and statements to consider wider issues such as the organisation's reputation, growth, its impact on the environment and the way we treat our customers and employees.

As an Audit Assignment team member and often leader you will be helping to deliver meaningful improvements across the business by engaging with stakeholders to identify risk and control improvements across a range of different business functions; helping you develop an understanding of the business as well as building confidence & presentation skills through exposure to Senior Management.

This is a key role in the Internal Audit function for those with at least seven years’ experience in financial services or internal / external audit and experience in Financial Crime would be preferable. The role is intended to bring the role holder up to the level where they have :

• •an expert level of understanding in the workings of both a Financial Services Group and an Internal Audit function;
• •a good understanding and demonstration of the behaviours required to succeed in a respectful workplace where teamwork is essential;
• •confidence to lead and train staff in performing internal audit assignment;
• •an ability to quickly assess key operational processes and identify operational risks and controls, and deficiencies / inefficiencies inherent within them;
• •an ability to lead all aspects of audit assignments without supervision, applying relevant project management techniques, tools and people skills in line with best practice;
• •an ability to articulate effectively both orally and in writing to senior stakeholders with minimal correction needed; and,
• •confidence to challenge assumptions and articulate findings to the most senior stakeholders.

To succeed you will need to demonstrate the following qualities:

• •be able to apply financial crime relevant knowledge and experience to the audit assignments
• •be eager to learn, to take on new challenges, and to take ownership of your work;
• •be able to build relationships to work collaboratively;

• •be able to challenge, be challenged, and to value and respect the views of others;
• •be willing to share your knowledge including specific to Financial Crime and ideas and ask for help when you need it;
• •be able to lead and motivate others; · be able to review and process information quickly; and, be able to communicate clearly to meet the needs of your audience.

Your main responsibilities will include:

Planning & Risk Assessment

• •Overseeing and taking responsibility for the work delegated to and performed by team members.
• •Taking responsibility for the identification of, and request for, information needed to help identify key risks, key controls and scope areas.
• •Identifying meetings required with auditees to develop an understanding of business processes and attending / running those meetings.
• •Preparing key planning documentation such as audit planning memorandum, risk and control matrix including testing strategies as directed and required in accordance with the requirements of the Internal Audit Standards Manual.
• •Ensuring that TeamMate+ records of processes, activity and risk are updated appropriately.

Audit Performance

• •Travelling to different sites when necessary to meet relevant staff and review documents and information.
• •Taking responsibility for the design and performance of audit testing across financial crime processes but from time to time may include different business/operational areas.
• •Performing and/or overseeing audit testing across financial crime areas but from time to time may include different business/operational areas.
• •Producing and reviewing audit files and working papers to ensure that they are of a consistently high standard in accordance with the requirements of the Internal Audit Standards Manual for all work performed under your responsibility.
• •Treating the personal data of our customers, employees and other individuals lawfully and in accordance with current Data Protection laws, and other related legislation.
• •Ensuring that the assignment is completed to time and budget or explaining and documenting why this is not possible.

Audit Reporting

• •Leading and/or supporting in the discussion of the results of audit testing and any resultant observations with stakeholders linking back to financial crime regulations.
• •Raising exceptions to inform observations and/or drafting observations to a very good standard in line with the requirements of the Internal Audit Standards Manual for inclusion in the draft report with minimal correction required.
• •Proposing/reviewing proposed ratings for issues raised, and in most cases the overall report, in line with the requirements of the Internal Audit Standards Manual.
• •Overseeing and reviewing the documentation of audit observations written by more junior team members.
• •Where required; drafting all other elements of final reporting to a high standard in line with the requirements of the Internal Audit Standards Manual such that minimal correction is needed.
• •Ensuring that reporting is completed on time and in line with the audit plan.
• •Performing issue assurance and support coordination and monitoring of issue closure on MetricsStream and TM+.

Business Partnering

• •Ensuring that affected stakeholders are informed about the scope and purpose of the audit and all aspects of the audit timeline at the onset of the assignment and kept appraised of progress as the assignment progresses.
• •Leading / assisting in the discussion of the results of audit testing with stakeholders to agree observations to be raised.
• •Building relationships with stakeholders through acting with integrity, professionalism, and respect at all times to ensure that the Internal Audit function is seen in the correct light.
• •Taking responsibility for specified relationships; ensuring that periodic meetings are held and any relevant committees attended with the Community Lead and the audit universe data on TeamMate+ kept up to date in respect of those activities.
• •Consider feedback obtained from the auditee and considering if any items need to be escalated to Audit Operations to potentially update Audit processes.

Team Management

• •Where managing staff on assignments set clear objectives and expectations; and provide meaningful assignment appraisals to help develop more junior staff.
• •Assisting and helping to train more junior members of the team in a constructive and productive manner on all aspects of completing audit assignments.
• •Providing constructive 360 feedback during audit and in post audit assignment debriefs and proactively seeking for feedback from colleagues in the function including from more junior colleagues.
• •Develop a challenging but realistic personal development plan with your mentor manager.
• •Developing good professional working relationships with colleagues behaving in a