Audit & Assurance Manager

About the role

The Audit & Assurance Manager plays a pivotal role in strengthening AQA's internal assurance capability. Operating within the CEO's Office and the Assurance team, this role leads a small team of internal auditors to deliver high-quality, risk-based audits across the organisation. It supports AQA's strategic objectives by providing independent insight into the effectiveness of internal controls, governance, and risk management processes. The role contributes to a culture of continuous improvement, compliance, and operational excellence, ensuring AQA remains resilient, forward-looking, and aligned with regulatory expectations and internal standards.1. Audit Leadership & Delivery Lead the planning, execution, and reporting of internal audits across business areas, ensuring audits are risk-focused, insightful, and add value. Develop and maintain a rolling audit plan aligned with organisational priorities and strategic risks. Ensure audit findings are clearly communicated, with practical recommendations and follow-up mechanisms in place. 2. Team M

Responsibilities

• In this role, you'll be responsible for:
• Leading the planning, delivery and reporting of risk based internal audits that provide clear, practical insight.
• Managing and developing a small team of internal auditors, ensuring quality, consistency and professional growth.
• Building strong relationships with senior stakeholders and governance forums to ensure audit outcomes are understood and acted upon.

Requirements

• Substantial experience delivering and leading internal audits in complex or regulated environments.
• Strong understanding of internal audit, risk management and control frameworks.
• The ability to influence, challenge and support stakeholders constructively at all levels.
• Proven people management skills, including coaching and developing audit capability.
• CMIIA or CIA (preferred), demonstrating senior internal audit credibility
• ACA or ACCA acceptable where accompanied by substantial internal audit leadership experience

Benefits

Additional Information

At AQA, we're committed to advancing education and we're committed to our people. As the largest provider of academic qualifications in the UK , we mark over 10 million exam papers each year and it's our people who make this happen. Audit & Assurance Manager Permanent Manchester - £64,000 - £70,700 Hybrid (office based two days per week) Introduction This role offers a significant opportunity to shape and strengthen how assurance operates at AQA. You will lead audit activity that provides confidence in governance, risk management and internal controls, while helping the organisation learn and improve. Your work will support a culture of accountability, proportionate challenge and continuous improvement across AQA. Purpose of the role In this role, you will lead internal audit and assurance activity across AQA, ensuring audits are risk based, insightful and aligned to organisational priorities. You will provide independent assurance to senior leaders, the Internal Control Group, the Audit, Risk and Compliance Committee and the Board of Trustees on the effectiveness of controls, governance and risk management processes. By leading a small team of auditors and working closely with stakeholders, you will help raise assurance maturity, embed consistent audit practices and ensure findings translate into meaningful and proportionate improvement.

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