Controls Senior Specialist - UKPI

The Controls Senior Specialist supports the business across the full controls lifecycle, partnering with operational teams to strengthen risk management practices and embed effective, sustainable and scalable controls. The role combines controls advisory, control design, testing and continuous improvement activities. Operating with a high degree of autonomy, the Senior Controls Specialist acts as a trusted partner to the business, providing practical guidance and constructive challenge to improve control effectiveness.

What You'll Do:

• Partner with business teams to identify risks and design effective operational controls.

• Support the embedding and ongoing ownership of controls across end-to-end business processes

• Independently scope, deliver and report on controls activity, including control design and operational effectiveness assessments.

• Identify control gaps and lead analysis of issues, ensuring root causes and remediation needs are clearly defined.

• Provide confident and proportionate challenge to stakeholders to strengthen the control environment

• Present control insights, themes and outcomes within governance forums

• Review and quality assure deliverables, supporting junior team members through coaching, knowledge sharing and leading by example in both technical and behavioural standards.

• Contribute to continuous improvement of the Business Controls Framework

What We're Looking For:

• Strong experience in Controls, Risk, Internal Audit or Operational Risk within a regulated environment.

• Proven ability to independently scope, deliver and report on control design assessments, operational effectiveness reviews and thematic analysis, ensuring conclusions are well‑reasoned and evidence‑based.

• Experience supporting or assessing an end-to-end control environments

• Ability to operate independently and exercise sound risk judgement, ensuring conclusions are well reasoned and evidence based.

• Highly effective at building strong relationships across operational teams, influencing decision‑making and ensuring risk and control considerations are well understood and embedded.

• Strong attention to detail, ensuring clarity, accuracy and completeness of evidence and outputs

• High‑quality verbal and written communication, particularly in governance forums

How We Work

Vanguard has implemented a hybrid working model for the majority of our crew members, designed to capture the benefits of enhanced flexibility while enabling in-person learning, collaboration, and connection. We believe our mission-driven and highly collaborative culture is a critical enabler to support long-term client outcomes and enrich the employee experience.