Controls Assurance Manager

Job Description

abrdn plc is one of the world’s largest investment companies, dedicated to enabling clients and customers to plan, save, and invest for the future. Our purpose is to invest for a better future by creating a meaningful impact on the lives of our clients, employees, society, and shareholders.

About the role:

We are seeking a highly skilled Internal Controls Lead to establish and manage a centralised control testing function within abrdn. This 12-month fixed-term contract role is pivotal in ensuring robust internal controls by supporting the stand-up and rollout of the centralised testing model across our global business, including all three business segments and central functions.

This role involves overseeing the design, implementation, and delivery of a centralised testing model, encompassing process mapping, control design evaluation, and the assessment of operating effectiveness. The ideal candidate will bring expertise in internal controls, a strong understanding of IT controls, and the ability to lead a high-performing team to deliver comprehensive assurance services.

This is a unique opportunity to contribute to a critical initiative at abrdn, shaping the foundation of a centralised control testing function. You’ll work alongside talented professionals in a dynamic, purpose-driven organisation that values collaboration, innovation, and the continuous development of its employees.

Key Responsibilities:

Team Leadership:

• Lead and manage a team of control testers to deliver high-quality control testing across abrdn’s control environment.

• Provide training, guidance, and best practices to the team to ensure consistent and efficient delivery.

Control Testing and Reporting:

• Oversee testing of the design and operating effectiveness of controls, ensuring high-quality evidence standards.

• Collaborate with business leads to discuss and agree upon testing results, particularly for controls identified as ineffective or requiring improvement.

• Deliver clear, accurate reporting of control testing results to key stakeholders across the business.

Process and Collaboration:

• Drive the centralization of control testing processes, including process mapping and control evaluation.

• Work collegially with the broader assurance team to support overall deliverables and other risk-related activities.

About the candidate:

• Qualified accountant or auditor (e.g. ICAS, ACA, ACCA, CIMA, or equivalent)

• Extensive experience in internal control testing, including evaluating design and operating effectiveness.

• Strong expertise in IT controls, with experience in testing or overseeing IT control environments.

• In-depth understanding of internal control frameworks, including control quality and evidence standards.

• Demonstrated experience in managing cross-functional projects or initiatives.

• Familiarity with global control testing environments and reporting to diverse stakeholders.

Our benefits

There's more to working life than coming home with a good salary. We have an environment where you can learn, get involved and be supported.

When you join us, your reward will be one of the best around. This includes 40 days’ annual leave, a 16% employer pension contribution, private healthcare and a range of flexible benefits – including gym discounts, season ticket loans and access to an employee discount portal. You can read more about our benefits here.

Our business

Enabling our clients to be better investors drives everything we do. Our business is structured around three distinct areas – our vectors of growth – focused on our clients’ changing needs. You can find out more about what we do here.

We’re committed to providing an inclusive workplace where all forms of difference are valued and which is free from any form of unfair or unlawful treatment. We define diversity in its broadest sense – this includes but is not limited to our diversity of educational and professional backgrounds, experience, cognitive and neurodiversity, age, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, religion or belief and ethnicity and geographical provenance. We support a culture that values meritocracy, fairness and transparency and welcomes enquiries from everyone.If you need assistance or an adjustment due to a disability please let us know as part of your application and we will assist.