Key Control Testing Manager (BCC Cairo)

The core purpose of this role is to lead a Cairo-based team of five Control Assessors delivering defined Key Control testing across Insurance and Functions, in support of effective first line ownership of risks and controls.

As our First Line Key Controls Testing Team Manager you will lead, coach and manage a team of five Control Assessors based in Cairo, supporting the senior UKI first line leader and business control owners to evidence that key controls are operating effectively across Insurance and Functions.

Responsibilities:

• Lead, manage and develop a team of five Control Assessors based in Cairo, setting clear objectives, monitoring performance, providing coaching and supporting ongoing capability development.
• Plan, prioritise and allocate control testing activity across the team, ensuring work is delivered to agreed timelines, methodology, evidence standards and quality expectations.
• Provide first-line quality review and challenge over completed testing, ensuring findings are evidence based, clearly articulated and supported by sufficient, relevant and reliable evidence.
• Act as the primary day-to-day contact for UK senior leaders, business control owners and international colleagues, managing expectations and ensuring effective communication across locations and time zones.
• Build trusted relationships with stakeholders across Insurance, Functions, Risk and Compliance, using strong influencing skills to secure timely input, resolve issues and progress agreed actions.
• Oversee testing of controls that support regulated activities, customer outcomes, operational resilience, conduct risk, financial crime, data quality, third party oversight and SMCR-relevant accountabilities.
• Ensure SMART actions are agreed with control owners to address findings from control testing and that progress is tracked through to satisfactory closure.
• Prepare and present concise control performance reports, findings summaries and action tracking updates for senior management, governance forums and relevant Risk and Compliance stakeholders.
• Identify themes, issues and opportunities to improve Key Controls, including simplification, standardisation, automation and enhancements to testing ways of working.
• Support the First Line in preparing for RCSA activity, second line assurance reviews, internal audit activity and regulatory reviews by maintaining high-quality evidence, records and reporting discipline.
• Promote a positive, inclusive and high-performing team culture, ensuring colleagues understand business priorities, regulatory expectations and the importance of strong customer outcomes.

Requirements:

• Experience leading, coaching or supervising a team, ideally within an assurance, risk, compliance, operations, controls or regulated business environment.
• Strong people management skills, including objective setting, workload management, performance feedback, capability development and creating an inclusive team environment.
• Excellent stakeholder management skills, with the confidence and judgement to work with senior leaders, business control owners and colleagues across international locations.
• Experience in process engineering, process improvement, internal audit, risk and controls, assurance, compliance monitoring or control testing is desirable.
• Experience developing, documenting and improving controls, including defining control objectives, control descriptions, testing requirements, evidence standards and expected operating frequency.
• Ability to assess process design, identify key control points and support the team to translate process risks into proportionate control and testing requirements.
• Evidence of operating in highly regulated environments, with an understanding of the importance of adherence to regulatory, operational and policy requirements.
• Have an understanding of FCA rules and handbooks and how they apply to Bupa and the customer experience across the regulated entity.
• Knowledge of ICOBS standards and principles is desirable, including how they support fair customer outcomes in insurance activity.
• Demonstrate sound reasoning skills and the ability to form balanced judgements based on evidence, including when reviewing the work of others.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to explain findings, control gaps and required actions clearly, constructively and credibly to senior stakeholders.
• Good critical thinking skills, diligence and the ability to present practical solutions to problems.
• Strong collaborator with an eye for continuous improvement and the ability to identify opportunities to strengthen team practices, processes and control standards.
• Adaptable and flexible, with the ability to lead a team through changing priorities and support effective engagement across locations and time zones.
• High diligence and excellent record keeping standards, with the ability to reinforce consistent standards across the team.
• Work on own initiative, consulting with UK senior leaders and relevant colleagues as and when required.
• Continually review existing practices to maximise the benefits for the business and improve team effectiveness.
• The jobholder works in a regulated environment and must operate in line with regulatory and operational rules and guidance. In any situation of uncertainty, the jobholder must escalate to the senior UK leader or relevant accountable owner.