Senior Analyst, Risk and Compliance Assurance

The Risk Assurance & Insight function supports Baillie Gifford's Investment Risk, Compliance, Business Risk and Anti-Financial Crime functions through second-line monitoring, assurance, risk oversight, reporting, training coordination and operational support activities. The Risk and Compliance Assurance team provides independent check and challenge across key regulatory, compliance, operational, investment and financial crime risk areas. The team assesses whether controls are designed and operating effectively, identifies areas for improvement and supports the business in maintaining effective risk management arrangements. Data, management information and technology are used to improve the quality, consistency, coverage and efficiency of monitoring, assurance and reporting activity., The Senior Analyst, Risk and Compliance Assurance will support the delivery of the firm's second-line Risk and Compliance Assurance programme across Investment Risk, Compliance, Business Risk and Anti-Financial Crime. The role holder will perform risk-based monitoring and assurance activity, including thematic reviews, control testing, surveillance reviews and targeted oversight work. They will assess the effectiveness of key controls, identify emerging risks and produce clear, evidence-based findings and recommendations. The role requires strong judgement, attention to detail and a deep understanding of how to plan, execute and conclude assurance work. The role holder will work closely with colleagues across the CRO function and wider business, providing constructive challenge and supporting timely remediation of identified issues.Responsibilities

• Deliver risk-based monitoring and assurance reviews across Investment Risk, Compliance, Business Risk and Anti-Financial Crime in line with the agreed Risk and Compliance Assurance plan.
• Scope and plan reviews by understanding the underlying risk, regulatory obligation, process, control environment and available evidence.
• Perform control design and operating-effectiveness testing, thematic reviews, surveillance reviews and targeted monitoring using appropriate sampling and evidence standards.
• Review and challenge evidence, identify control gaps, weaknesses, emerging risks and root causes, and reach clear conclusions supported by the work performed.
• Draft concise, evidence-based findings, actions and recommendations that distinguish clearly between material issues, improvement opportunities and observations.
• Engage constructively with process owners and senior stakeholders to test conclusions, agree proportionate actions and support timely remediation.
• Track management actions to completion and independently validate closure where required.
• Support trade and e-communications assurance activity, including review and investigation of alerts and analysis of relevant trading, communications and conduct data.
• Use data, management information and AI-enabled tools where appropriate to improve testing quality, coverage and insight, while retaining professional judgement over conclusions.
• Prepare clear reporting for senior colleagues and governance forums, drawing out themes, trends, recurring issues and changes in risk exposure.
• Maintain awareness of relevant regulatory, business and industry developments and reflect these in assurance planning, scoping and testing.
• Contribute to the continuous improvement of assurance methodology, documentation, quality assurance and team practices.
  
  Strong experience delivering second-line monitoring, assurance, oversight, internal audit, external audit or control testing, preferably within financial services or asset management.
• Good understanding of risk and control frameworks across regulatory, conduct, operational, investment and financial crime risk areas.
• Demonstrable experience scoping and executing risk-based reviews, testing controls, analysing evidence and reaching defensible conclusions.
• Experience producing clear findings and recommendations and discussing them constructively with senior stakeholders and control owners.
• Understanding of assurance methodology, including risk assessment, control design, operating effectiveness, sampling, evidence standards, issue grading and action validation.
• Knowledge of conduct, regulatory, operational and financial crime risks, including how these may arise through trading activity, business processes or communications.
• Experience of trade surveillance, e-communications monitoring or other specialist oversight activity would be beneficial.
• Ability to use data, management information and technology to support assurance work and identify trends, anomalies or potential issues.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, sound judgement and the confidence to provide constructive independent challenge.
• Academic, business, compliance, risk or audit-related qualifications would be helpful, but are not essential.
The type of candidate that we're looking for You will be an experienced assurance or control professional who understands what good assurance looks like from planning through to final conclusion. You will be comfortable moving from detailed evidence review to a clear view of what matters and why. You will be able to ask effective questions, challenge constructively and distinguish between technical control failures, broader risk themes and opportunities to improve. Your conclusions will be proportionate, evidence-based and clearly communicated. You will be organised, curious and comfortable working across a broad range of risk areas. You will also be willing to use data and technology to improve assurance activity, without losing sight of the professional judgement and independence that underpin credible second-line assurance. Critical Skills
• Data literacy
• Digital effectiveness
• Improvement mindset
• Openness and discernment
• Team working
  
  At Baillie Gifford, we are committed to fostering an inclusive and respectful culture in which each of our colleagues can thrive and develop. We believe that our clients are best served by a diverse workforce with the experiences, ideas and perspectives that this brings.