Controls Manager

Hertfordshire, England, United Kingdom

7/11/2025

We are expanding our team! Currently seeking a Controls Manager. Join us in developing and implementing a company-wide Controls Framework to identify and document material controls while ensuring their ongoing effectiveness.

Ideal candidates will possess the necessary skills and experience to assess process-level risks, design mitigating controls, and establish an assurance model for each control. Additionally, you will play a crucial role in rolling out the Controls Framework across the entire organisation.

Key Responsibilities:

• Perform the documentation of business wide material controls and key financial controls. Identify control design gaps, and monitor the completion of remediation activities.
• Assist with the roll out of the material controls and key financial controls, including communication, training, and ongoing support to Process Owners, Control Owners and Control Operators.
• Manage and perform the initial design testing of material controls and key financial controls, and oversee initial execution of first line assurance activity, liaising with the related testing resources (such as Internal Audit) to refine the control wording where appropriate, monitor assurance outcomes, and resolve control issues.
• Manage and perform operational effectiveness testing of material controls and key financial controls, ensuring that testing is robust, in line with best practice, and that identified issues and actions are monitored and resolved in a timely manner.
• Administer and maintain the Controls Management System to ensure risks and controls information remains current and there is ongoing compliance across the business with the requirements of the Controls Framework (e.g. tasks and testing are being performed on time).
• Assist with the preparation of reporting to key stakeholders, including Executive Committee, Audit & Risk Committee and Finance Leadership Team.
  
  

What are we looking for:

• A- Level or equivalent (Essential)
• 2-3 years experience minimum in an Internal Audit / Internal Controls role, with the following duties:
• Identifying, documenting and understanding processes, risks and controls across all areas of the business (i.e. operational as well as financial)
• Production and maintenance of Risk and Control Matrices (RACMs) to capture detailed risk and control information
• Assessing control design and operating effectiveness
• Identifying appropriate remediation activities for control deficiencies and supporting the business to complete them
• Qualified accountant (ACA, ACCA, CIMA, or similar) (Preferred)
• Implementing and maintaining a Control Framework (Preferred)
• Proven ability to prioritise, meet deadlines and follow through to completion on projects, requests and tasks (Essential)
• Reporting to ‘C Level’ Executives and Non-Exec Board members (Preferred)
• Design and implementation of an audit / controls management / GRC system (Preferred)
• Creating and delivering training content to Company wide stakeholders (Preferred)
• Good understanding of change management principles, techniques and tools (Preferred)
• Ability to identify, engage and tailor communication to the relevant stakeholders (Preferred)
• Ability to interrogate concepts and ideas with effective questioning to ensure understanding and clarity of direction (Preferred)
  
  

What can we offer you?

You’ll be supported with fantastic learning and development and have the opportunity to grow and develop your career with us.

We’ll also equip you with a benefits package that includes

• Competitive bonus
• Save-as-you-earn scheme
• Contributory pension scheme
• Colleague discount
• Discount platform including savings and cash back at numerous retailers, savings on gym membership, cycle to work scheme
  
  

Our widely recognised wellbeing strategy is something we’re proud of at Wickes. As part of this, we offer a range of health and wellbeing benefits and support, including an Employee Assistance Programme, financial education & loans, and access to parental, menopause and fertility support.

By giving you the support you need to do well at work, and the flexibility to make life work for you. We are giving you a career that doesn’t put your life on hold. Where you can be yourself, do your best work, and make a positive difference every day.

We recognise the value of bringing our teams together to collaborate, support each other and build on our amazing culture. We are also encouraging our teams to work flexibly, with a blend of remote / office working.

About Us:

Wickes is a multi-channel retailer operating in the home improvement market. With 50 years in industry, Wickes now generates revenue in excess of £1.6bn across 230 stores delivered by 8,000+ colleagues.

But it is the Wickes culture that we are really proud of. It's a collaborative, down to earth, fun and inclusive environment where people feel part of a winning team. All our colleagues come from different backgrounds, but what we all have in common is a determination to succeed and a passion for being the best we can be. If that sounds like you, we’ll make you feel right at home.

Vacancy Reference #

Please contact us here if you require any adjustments within the application process. If you require any reasonable adjustments at the interview stage you will have an opportunity to inform us when we invite you to interview. Please note, this link is only for reasonable adjustments required - general enquiries, or direct CV applications cannot be accepted via this form.