Controls Assurance Senior Advisor

Railpen•Darlington, SC

23h•Hybrid

About The Position

An exciting new created opportunity for an Assurance Senior to join our Assurance, Quality and Governance team, on a permanent basis, based in our Darlington office (hybrid working). Who we are Railpen is responsible for the safekeeping and investment of around £34 billion in assets and the administration of several pension schemes, including the Railways Pension Scheme, one of the UK's largest and longest established pension funds. Our heritage of looking after the pension needs of the rail industry and its employees gives us our name and our unique outlook on how we serve our members. Railpen takes a holistic view, focusing on how we serve members today and how we can positively impact the communities and the world they will retire into. Our values of integrity, community and alignment are the guiding principles that influence our behaviour. They help us make decisions and shape our relationships with others. They’re what we stand for. You will actively demonstrate our values, helping to create a safe environment, to place the needs of the community above oneself and, through a culture of ‘fair challenge’, align to the best interests of our members. To learn more about Railpen including our values, culture and purpose, visit our LinkedIn Life page here. The role As the Assurance Senior, you will be support the design and maintenance of the first line control monitoring framework that spans all aspects of pensions administration, including manual processes and workarounds. You will also ensure the controls required to support compliance with the General Code of Practice and other regulatory guidance from The Pensions Regulator are included within the monitoring framework. As part of this role you will support the Assurance Manager with the end-to-end delivery of the annual AAF 01/20 report, including coordination with internal teams and service auditors. Collaboration with Internal Audit, Risk, and Compliance teams to align assurance activities and share insights, is key for this role. This role is not eligible for visa sponsorship. Applicants must have the legal right to work in the UK. The person The successful candidate will have proven experience in a control assurance/audit environment. Previous experience of working within regulated industry is key for this role. We are looking for someone with excellent analytical, communication, collaboration and stakeholder management skills. You will have the ability to constructively challenge assumptions and established practices. What we can offer you Rewarding you A competitive salary (depending on experience) 28 days annual leave plus bank holidays Generous annual bonus plan We provide membership of the Railways Pension Scheme, a Defined Benefit arrangement under which you get a pension for life and a lump sum when you retire, based on your length of service and pay 4x Life Assurance cover Colleague referral scheme Heath & Wellbeing Private Medical Insurance Employee assistance programme Health cash plan Eye care vouchers Flu vaccination Lifestyle We support hybrid and flexible working along with very generous family leave including 12 months full pay maternity leave and 6 months full pay paternity leave Buy and sell holidays Give as you earn scheme Paid volunteering days Flexible half days leave Electric vehicle leasing Cycle to work scheme Next Steps If you would like to apply, please click on the apply button or visit our Careers Page by 19th January 2026. Railpen is committed to creating an inclusive and diverse environment, we value diversity and welcome people from all backgrounds and walks of life At Railpen we know that it’s the talent of our people that makes us good at what we do and enables us to continue to achieve our mission to pay members’ pensions securely, affordably and sustainably. The unique nature of Railpen offers our people a wide variety of interesting opportunities for innovation, thought leadership and personal development. We encourage people to challenge, explore unconventional ideas and give each other the space to learn from our mistakes. We take time to listen to each other’s ideas and understand what we each do, and what we need from each other to help us be at our best. Railpen is committed to creating an inclusive and diverse environment, we value diversity and welcome people from all backgrounds and walks of life.

Requirements

proven experience in a control assurance/audit environment
Previous experience of working within regulated industry
excellent analytical, communication, collaboration and stakeholder management skills
ability to constructively challenge assumptions and established practices
Applicants must have the legal right to work in the UK

Responsibilities

support the design and maintenance of the first line control monitoring framework that spans all aspects of pensions administration, including manual processes and workarounds
ensure the controls required to support compliance with the General Code of Practice and other regulatory guidance from The Pensions Regulator are included within the monitoring framework
support the Assurance Manager with the end-to-end delivery of the annual AAF 01/20 report, including coordination with internal teams and service auditors
Collaboration with Internal Audit, Risk, and Compliance teams to align assurance activities and share insights

Benefits

competitive salary (depending on experience)
28 days annual leave plus bank holidays
Generous annual bonus plan
membership of the Railways Pension Scheme, a Defined Benefit arrangement under which you get a pension for life and a lump sum when you retire, based on your length of service and pay
4x Life Assurance cover
Colleague referral scheme
Private Medical Insurance
Employee assistance programme
Health cash plan
Eye care vouchers
Flu vaccination
hybrid and flexible working
generous family leave including 12 months full pay maternity leave and 6 months full pay paternity leave
Buy and sell holidays
Give as you earn scheme
Paid volunteering days
Flexible half days leave
Electric vehicle leasing
Cycle to work scheme