Risk & Compliance Assurance Director

Korn Ferry has partnered with our client on their search for the role, Risk & Compliance Assurance Director.

The Company

At National Grid, we are committed to delivering safe and reliable energy to the customers and communities we serve.

We are one of the largest investor-owned energy companies in the US — serving more than 20 million people throughout New York and Massachusetts.

We are at the heart of one of the greatest challenges facing our society — transforming our electricity and natural gas networks with smarter, cleaner, and more resilient energy solutions to meet the goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Every day we work with stakeholders to promote the development and implementation of more sustainable, innovative and affordable energy solutions.

We are proud of the contributions our work and our people make towards the prosperity and wellbeing of our customers, communities and investors.

For more information, follow us on X, watch us on YouTube, friend us on Facebook, and find our photos on Instagram.

Purpose of the Position

Support the delivery of the organization’s Group-wide Enterprise Risk Management Framework and Processes, ensuring conformance with internal policies, methodology, and relevant regulations, including Provision 29 of the UK Corporate Governance Code 2024.

Leads the team responsible for overseeing and ensuring the effectiveness of risk management in New England. This includes oversight, challenge and monitoring of the application of National Grid’s Enterprise Risk Management (ERM) Framework and advising on risk management, including risk assessment and analysis, mitigations, controls, and assurance strategies. This role reports to the New England General Counsel with a dotted line to the Chief Risk Office.

The role also leads and oversees delivery of the New England's Compliance Controls Testing program and works closely with the Chief Compliance Officer and CRO Office to ensure a good practice, risk-based approach is implemented and executed.

The Risk & Compliance Assurance Director is an important Business Partner to the General Counsel and BU Leadership teams, providing trusted advice and guidance.

Key Accountabilities

• Lead and manage a team of risk specialists to carry out key risk management activities to apply National Grid’s ERM framework, oversee and advise on the application of ERM in first line businesses, and facilitate robust governance and reporting.
• Provide advice to the first line on the application of the ERM framework and risk management issues and concerns.
• Coordinate, support and advise risk owners on risk identification, assessment and analysis providing good practice guidance in line with National Grid’s policies and procedures, and insight from own experience and external research and thought leadership.
• Responsible for advising on implementation of risk-based mitigation and control activities to manage risks. Coordinates and overseas monitoring of key risks, including key risk indicators.
• Create transparent and insightful risk reporting for leadership, relevant governance committees, and the CRO using National Grid’s core risk reporting functionality, supplemented with additional insight and analysis as needed.
• Deliver education and training to upskill first line stakeholders on designing and managing risks including emphasis on alignment with National Grid's ERM framework. Ensure Risk team has appropriate continuing professional education and development.
• Develop and maintain strong stakeholder relationships and appropriate engagement with business leaders and other key stakeholders to provide support, guidance and challenge in their risk management activities. Key business partner and contact for Business Unit leadership and coordinates with Group Assurance Director on controls testing to provide holistic BU perspective to leadership.
• Work with CRO and collaborate with peer networks across National Grid for continuous improvement and best practice implementation of ERM.
• Oversee planning, execution and reporting of required compliance controls testing in line with internal methodology and external good practice. This requires coordination with Group Assurance to ensure a coordinated approach and positive stakeholder engagement.
• As needed, collaborate on compliance controls and assurance projects including advising and supporting the design and implementation of controls.

The Candidate

Knowledge, Experience and Technical Know How

• Strong leadership skills and demonstrable technical experience leading risk and assurance teams with appropriate ERM and controls testing specialist skills and capabilities. Demonstrable commitment to integrity and ethical values.
• Ability to effectively create, maintain and leverage senior stakeholder relationships and create sustainable partnerships by being a subject matter expert and applying this practically to support strategic goals, sharing and leading on best practice.
• Excellent verbal and written skills to communicate with, collaborate with and present to Executives and senior management delivering actionable insight.
• Proven leader with ability to motivate, guide and coach other team members. Track record for people management and performance management. Strong ability to effectively manage projects and prioritize effectively.
• Continuous improvement and value adding mentality and ability to offer insightful recommendations that are pragmatic, address root causes, and lead to risk management, including process and controls, improvements.
• Experienced in leading controls testing teams and background in testing with sound understanding of methodology from relevant qualifications and experience e.g. Accounting, Internal or External Audit Qualification.
• Experience in using Governance Risk and Compliance (GRC) tooling and reporting for controls testing. Should also have strong grasp of visualization tools (primarily Power BI).
• Experience in Utilities or related industries preferred.
• Over 10 years’ experience in controls testing or assurance field (including practice and industry).

Qualifications

• 10 years of experience in professional risk management field, audit/assurance, or related professional field, including experience leading Enterprise Risk Management (ERM) projects and teams with Executive reporting responsibilities, and practical experience applying the 3 Lines Model.
• Bachelor’s degree (or equivalent) in risk management, business administration, accounting or similar relevant field. Postgraduate degree a plus but not required.
• Professional qualification in risk management, finance or audit from a recognized Institute (e.g., Enterprise Risk Management Certified Professional (ERMCP), Certified Risk Manager (CRM), Certified Risk Management professional (CRMP), Chartered Accountant (ACA, ACCA, ICAS), Certified Public Accountant (CPA) or Certified Internal Auditor (CMIIA or CIA)).

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