Compliance and Internal Audit Manager

Job Role: Compliance and Internal Audit Manager

Location: Canary Wharf – London

Hours: Full-time, Monday–Friday 9:00–17:00

Job Role

The Compliance and Internal Audit Manager is responsible for managing and coordinating the institution’s compliance and assurance activities, ensuring ongoing adherence to the Office for Students (OfS) Conditions of Registration and other relevant regulatory, statutory, and institutional requirements. The role leads the development and implementation of compliance monitoring and internal audit frameworks, undertaking assurance reviews across academic and professional service functions to identify risks, monitor controls, and support continuous improvement. The postholder will provide regular reporting and assurance to governance committees on compliance performance, regulatory risks, internal audit outcomes, and institutional readiness for external scrutiny. The Compliance and Internal Audit Manager will work collaboratively with colleagues across the institution to embed a culture of compliance, accountability, and good governance, with particular responsibility for coordinating compliance activities relating to ongoing OfS registration requirements, including Condition C (Protecting the Interests of Students).

Key Responsibilities

A. Office for Students (OfS) Registration:

• Coordinate institutional activities to ensure ongoing compliance with the Office for Students (OfS) Conditions of Registration.
• Lead compliance monitoring arrangements relating to OfS Condition C (Protecting the Interests of Students), ensuring appropriate controls, evidence, and assurance mechanisms are maintained.
• Support institutional compliance with all other ongoing OfS registration conditions through monitoring, reporting, and assurance activities.
• Maintain a comprehensive register of regulatory obligations, compliance requirements, and associated evidence.
• Monitor developments within the higher education regulatory environment and advise colleagues on emerging compliance requirements and risks.
• Work with policy owners and functional leads to ensure policies, procedures, and operational practices remain aligned with regulatory expectations.
• Coordinate responses to regulatory information requests and compliance reviews as required.

B. Internal Audit and Assurance:

• Develop and manage the institution’s annual internal audit and compliance review programme.
• Conduct risk-based internal audits, compliance reviews, and assurance checks across academic and professional service functions.
• Evaluate the effectiveness of internal controls, governance arrangements, policies, and operational processes.
• Prepare audit reports identifying findings, risks, recommendations, and areas for improvement.
• Monitor the implementation of agreed management actions arising from internal and external audits.
• Maintain oversight of audit recommendations and provide regular progress updates to the Senior Management Team and relevant committees.
• Support preparations for external audits, reviews, inspections, and regulatory scrutiny.

C. Institutional Compliance Monitoring:

• Develop and maintain institutional compliance monitoring frameworks and schedules.
• Coordinate periodic compliance checks across departments to assess adherence to regulatory, statutory, and institutional requirements.
• Identify compliance risks, areas of non-compliance, and emerging issues requiring corrective action.
• Support departments in implementing practical solutions and improvement plans to address compliance gaps.
• Maintain institutional compliance records, action logs, and evidence repositories.
• Monitor compliance with policy review schedules and institutional governance requirements.

D. Reporting and Risk Management

• Produce regular compliance, audit, and assurance reports for the Senior Management Team, Board of Governors, and relevant committees.
• Analyse compliance data, audit outcomes, and institutional performance indicators to identify trends and risks.
• Support the maintenance and monitoring of institutional risk registers, ensuring compliance-related risks are appropriately captured and managed.
• Escalate significant compliance concerns and regulatory risks as appropriate.
• Contribute to annual compliance statements, regulatory returns, and governance reporting.

Person Specification

• Experience in compliance, audit, governance, quality assurance, risk management, or regulatory affairs within higher education or a regulated environment.
• Strong understanding of the Office for Students (OfS) Regulatory Framework and Conditions of Registration.
• Experience of planning and undertaking internal audits, compliance reviews, or assurance activities.
• Experience of developing and implementing compliance monitoring frameworks and reporting processes.
• Knowledge of CMA requirements, UK GDPR, Prevent, safeguarding, and higher education regulatory obligations.
• Experience of preparing reports and presenting findings to senior stakeholders.
• Ability to interpret complex regulatory requirements and translate them into operational actions.
• Excellent analytical, investigative, and problem-solving skills.
• Strong organisational and project management skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities.
• Experience of working collaboratively across multiple functions and stakeholder groups.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• High levels of accuracy, attention to detail, and professional judgement.
• Experience of compliance monitoring relating to OfS ongoing Conditions of Registration.
• Experience of compliance management within a UK higher education provider.
• Experience of risk management and institutional assurance frameworks.
• Relevant professional qualification in compliance, audit, governance, risk management, or higher education administration.
• Experience of supporting external reviews, audits, or regulatory inspections.
• Experience of developing compliance dashboards, management information, and assurance reporting.
• Annual leave (7.2 weeks)
• Company Sick Pay.
• Statutory maternity and paternity pay.
• Employee Assistance Programme (HA Wisdom Wellbeing)
• Virtual GP access (Livi)
• ‘Speak Up Service’ – confidential support service to report any workplace concerns
• Specialist physical and mental wellbeing support services with 24/7 confidential counselling support (Wisdom)
• Financial, legal and medical advice services provided (Wisdom)
• Life & Leadership coaching (Wisdom)
• Financial coaching (MUNNY)
• Discounts and perks, offering savings on shopping, activities and more (Bright Exchange)
• Self development and Self taught trainings.

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