Head of Audit Portfolio

Head of Audit Portfolio, London, Permanent

We’re looking for a Head of Audit Portfolio to help shape a clear, well-managed audit portfolio in an organisation at the centre of UK retail payments. This role offers the chance to work in a setting where scale is real and visible: Pay.UK’s systems process over 11 billion transactions worth over £10 trillion. For an audit leader with substantial experience, this requires using your capabilities in a complex environment with major responsibility, where detailed planning, practical judgment, and dependable delivery matter each day.

You’ll join an organisation that is open about its purpose and grounded in trust. We value clear thinking, constructive challenge and shared accountability. If you’re looking for a leadership role where you can bring structure to a broad audit portfolio and support high standards in an essential national service, we’d like to hear from you.

Accountabilities

• Oversee the planning and management of the audit portfolio, making sure audits are prioritised, scheduled, and delivered in a clear and consistent way.
• Review audit plans, findings and reports to ensure work is evidence-based, well documented and aligned with agreed standards.
• Work with senior stakeholders to maintain visibility of audit activity, track progress and support timely responses to audit actions.
• Monitor portfolio-level risks, dependencies and delivery issues, and put in place practical steps to keep work on track.
• Prepare clear updates on portfolio status, themes and outcomes for leadership discussions and governance forums.

This role exists to provide oversight and coordination across the audit portfolio so that audit activity is planned and delivered in a structured, consistent way. As Head of Audit Portfolio, you help create clarity across a complex environment and support consistent standards in work that contributes to trust, integrity and accountability at Pay.UK.

Qualifications, Skills and Experience

• Experience leading an internal audit portfolio, audit programme or similar audit planning function within a regulated environment.
• Knowledge of audit planning, reporting, risk assessment and follow-up tracking across multiple concurrent audits.
• Experience reviewing audit plans, findings or reports and ensuring work meets agreed professional and governance standards.
• Experience presenting portfolio status, risks and outcomes to senior stakeholders, governance groups and audit committee
• Engaging with and building relationships with Executive Committee members.
• Experience coordinating audit activity across multiple stakeholders and maintaining delivery against plan.
• Demonstrated ability to lead audit innovation.
• Experience auditing across more than one of the following areas: Financial services, cybersecurity, operational resilience, TPRM.

Inclusivity

At Pay.UK, we value diversity and inclusivity. Research has shown that candidates from underrepresented groups may hesitate to apply unless they meet all the requirements listed. We encourage all qualified candidates to apply, regardless of how closely their skills and experience match the requirements. We are committed to supporting accessibility needs and creating a welcoming environment for all employees. Become part of our team and contribute to the creation of an inclusive work environment that values everyone's unique input.

Who we are

Pay.UK maintains and develops the UK retail payment systems and standards that are core to the economy being able to function on a day-to-day basis.

From Bacs to Faster Payments and cheques – we act as the single operator for all UK retail payments. We put the needs of consumers and businesses at the heart of everything we do, working in the public interest to ensure that the systems the country relies on for its banking transactions are safe, open, innovative and resilient.

Our payment systems underpin the services that enable funds to be transferred between people and institutions. In 2024, the UK's retail payment systems processed 11 billion transactions worth over £10 trillion through Bacs Direct Credit, Direct Debit, Faster Payments, and cheques, and our Current Account Switch Service has facilitated over 9 million switches since it’s launch in 2013.

Every day, individuals and businesses use the services we provide to get their salaries, pay their bills and make online and mobile banking payments. Our vision for the future is to enable a vibrant economy, with Pay.UK delivering robust payment infrastructure and standards for the benefit of consumers and businesses nationwide.

Benefits & additional information

• 12% Non-contributory pension
• Discretionary annual bonus
• 30 days annual leave (excluding bank holidays)
• Private medical insurance, life assurance, income protection, health cash plan, dental insurance, Bupa medicals etc
• Employee assistance programme
• Cycle to Work Scheme
• Season ticket loan
• Annual fitness subsidy of up to £500 per annum
• Working from home policy - minimum 40% in the office (eg. 2 days in the office over a 5 day working week)

Please note:

• Some of our benefits are only available to colleagues after meeting the requirements of the probationary period.
• Pay.UK employee benefits are not available to contractors and are only available to permanent and fixed-term employees.