Benefits Risk & Assurance Specialist

Blair West are supporting a well established Financial Services business to find a Benefits Risk & Assurance Specialist. This role plays a pivotal part in the Benefits area, acting in a first-line capacity to identify, manage, and mitigate risks.

Reporting to the Director of Benefits Governance & Standards, the position also contributes to the delivery of regulatory returns, key control frameworks, and assurance processes to ensure ongoing compliance and operational excellence.

The opportunity:

• Provide ongoing risk monitoring, challenge, and oversight of Benefits first-line control mechanisms.
• Deliver accurate and timely inputs for the annual Master Trust supervisory return.
• Manage the AAF (01/20) key controls and lead report publication across Benefits and related functions.
• Supply first-line control assurance MI through the BG&S monitoring programme to inform effective decision-making.
• Advocate for members by supporting issue resolution, ensuring both corrective and preventative actions are taken.
• Collaborate in governance and risk meetings, offering constructive challenge and encouraging open issue reporting.
• Lead the risk event process within Benefits, acting as the liaison with the Risk function.
• Serve as the key contact for external audit engagements relating to the Benefits area.

You’ll be the ideal candidate for this position if you have:

• Experience working in a risk or assurance role within pensions, benefits, or financial services.
• Strong understanding of control frameworks and first-line assurance processes.
• Knowledge of Master Trust regulations and reporting requirements.
• Proven ability to monitor and challenge risk management practices.
• Experience liaising with external auditors and regulators.
• A track record of supporting operational excellence and continuous improvement.
• Strong analytical skills to interpret MI and identify trends or areas for improvement.
• Excellent stakeholder engagement skills, with the ability to influence and challenge constructively.

The benefits included with this opportunity:

• Hybrid working model offering flexibility and work-life balance.
• Opportunity to contribute directly to regulatory compliance and governance within a leading organisation.
• Involvement in high-impact projects with visibility across senior leadership and key stakeholders.

Our commitment

Blair West is an equal-opportunity employer. We embrace diversity and inclusion at every stage of the recruitment process. We are committed to fairness, equality, and ongoing diversity training for our team to give our candidates and clients a feeling of belonging during their experience with us. Please speak to their consultant if you require reasonable adjustments at any stage during their experience with us.