This vacancy is only available to existing Civil Servant employees and employees of accredited non-departmental public bodies (NDPBs). Please review the "Eligibility" section before you apply.
General Information
Salary
The national salary range is £40,783 - £47,361 London salary range is £44,736 - £51,884 salary will be dependent on your base location
Working Pattern
Full Time, Flexible Working
Vacancy Approach
Cross Government
Location
London, National
Region
London, National
Closing Date
13-Apr-2026
Post Type
Permanent
Civil Service Grade
SEO
Number of jobs available
1
Reserve List
12 Months
Job ID
16092
Descriptions & requirements
Job description
Job Title
Risk and Accountability Manager
Department
Strategy & Corporate Services
Team
Corporate Services
Job Grade
SEO
Number of Posts 1
Reports to Head of Corporate Services
Job Purpose
Reports to Head of Corporate Services
Job Purpose
Reporting to, and working with, the Head of Corporate Services and Director of Strategy & Corporate Services, the Risk & Accountability Manager will be responsible for ensuring that risk management, governance and accountability frameworks are robust, transparent and aligned with the Board’s statutory duties and responsibilities as an Arms-Length Body of the MoJ. This role will work to ensure that the Parole Board’s governance functions are of a high quality, ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements and best practices and therefore support effective decision making at board and committee level across the Parole Board.
You will need to be highly organised, have a strong understanding of corporate governance and risk management.
You will need to be highly organised, have a strong understanding of corporate governance and risk management.
Scope of Responsibilities:
Governance
• Develop, implement, and maintain governance policies, frameworks, and procedures at the Parole Board;
• Advise the Head of Corporate Services/Director of Strategy & Corporate Services on governance matters, risk and compliance obligations;
• Provide reports, papers and support to the Audit & Risk Committee to facilitate committee management;
• Ensure there is alignment of governance practices with the Parole Board’s strategy and values.
• Contribute to initiatives to strengthen governance frameworks and organizational resilience.
Risk Management
• Develop and maintain the Board’s risk management strategy, maintaining an up to date risk register and ensure timely reporting to stakeholders.
• Ensure risk managers are managing risks proportionately.
• Provide advice to the Head of Corporate Services as Senior Information Risk Officer (SIRO).
• Oversee the Board’s compliance with legal, regulatory, and ethical standards;
Other governance and assurance responsibilities
• Provide support and advice to the Head of Corporate Services as Data protection Officer and Information Asset Owner for the Parole Board;
• Provide assurance on GDPR compliance and gaps and work with with the Information Commissioner’s Office on dealing with any breaches.
• Ensure the Board has a robust information assurance policy and strategy and significant information risks are properly managed;
• Respond to Freedom of Information Requests within the deadline and maintain a register to capture these;
• Develop and maintain a robust business continuity plan for the Parole Board. Ensure this is communicated to all staff and members to raise awareness and understanding of roles and responsibilities. Regularly test the recovery plan;
• Provide advice and support to the Head of Corporate Services as the main point of contact with the GIAA. Ensure their annual programme of audit is on track; recommendations from audits are logged and actioned and report on progress of these;
• Provide advice and support on health and safety matters to all staff and members at the Parole Board, liaising closely with the HR team to do so.
• Line manage one EO.
Primary Deliverables
• Develop, implement, and maintain governance policies, frameworks, and procedures at the Parole Board;
• Advise the Head of Corporate Services/Director of Strategy & Corporate Services on governance matters, risk and compliance obligations;
• Provide reports, papers and support to the Audit & Risk Committee to facilitate committee management;
• Ensure there is alignment of governance practices with the Parole Board’s strategy and values.
• Contribute to initiatives to strengthen governance frameworks and organizational resilience.
Risk Management
• Develop and maintain the Board’s risk management strategy, maintaining an up to date risk register and ensure timely reporting to stakeholders.
• Ensure risk managers are managing risks proportionately.
• Provide advice to the Head of Corporate Services as Senior Information Risk Officer (SIRO).
• Oversee the Board’s compliance with legal, regulatory, and ethical standards;
Other governance and assurance responsibilities
• Provide support and advice to the Head of Corporate Services as Data protection Officer and Information Asset Owner for the Parole Board;
• Provide assurance on GDPR compliance and gaps and work with with the Information Commissioner’s Office on dealing with any breaches.
• Ensure the Board has a robust information assurance policy and strategy and significant information risks are properly managed;
• Respond to Freedom of Information Requests within the deadline and maintain a register to capture these;
• Develop and maintain a robust business continuity plan for the Parole Board. Ensure this is communicated to all staff and members to raise awareness and understanding of roles and responsibilities. Regularly test the recovery plan;
• Provide advice and support to the Head of Corporate Services as the main point of contact with the GIAA. Ensure their annual programme of audit is on track; recommendations from audits are logged and actioned and report on progress of these;
• Provide advice and support on health and safety matters to all staff and members at the Parole Board, liaising closely with the HR team to do so.
• Line manage one EO.
Primary Deliverables
• Governance and assurance
• Risk Management, problem-solving and compliance
• Communication
Person Specification
Essential
• Risk Management, problem-solving and compliance
• Communication
Person Specification
Essential
• Strong understanding of governance & compliance.
• Experience of risk management.
• Excellent analytical, and decision-making skills, with the ability to interpret data and make recommendations.
• Strong communication skills, with the ability to influence and align cross-functional teams around goals.
Desirable
• Experience of risk management.
• Excellent analytical, and decision-making skills, with the ability to interpret data and make recommendations.
• Strong communication skills, with the ability to influence and align cross-functional teams around goals.
Desirable
• Risk management qualification;
• An understanding of the role, structure and processes of the
Parole Board;
• Experience of working in the Criminal Justice System.
• An understanding of the role, structure and processes of the
Parole Board;
• Experience of working in the Criminal Justice System.
About the Parole Board:
The Parole Board is an independent court-like body that carries out risk assessments on prisoners to determine whether they can be safely released into the community We do that with great care and public safety is our number one priority.
The Parole Board is an independent court-like body that carries out risk assessments on prisoners to determine whether they can be safely released into the community We do that with great care and public safety is our number one priority.
All Parole Board decisions are solely focused on whether a prisoner would represent a significant risk to the public after release. Not all decisions Members make are popular, but they make these decisions fairly and objectively.
The Board is made up of about 230 secretariat staff based in our London Head Office and over 350 Members who make decisions on risk and hold hearings virtually or at prisons around the country.
The Parole Board is an executive non-departmental public body, sponsored by the Ministry of Justice. Staff who work for the Parole Board Secretariat are Public Servants and not Civil Servants.
About the role:
By ensuring our governance, risk and assurances frameworks and processes are robust and of a high quality, you will play a key role in safeguarding the organisational integrity of the Parole Board, in supporting effective decision making at board and executive levels and contribute to effective oversight of all the Parole Board’s activities. You will work closely with a number of colleagues across the senior leadership team to embed governance into everyday operations.
Main Duties:
As set out in the job description above.
Behaviours
We will assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
• Managing a Quality Service
• Communicating and Influencing
• Working together
• Seeing the big picture
Security:
Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is Security Cleared.
Accessibility
The Parole Board is a disability confident recruiter. Accessibility requests will be carefully considered and, where reasonable, actioned.
Whilst the Parole Board office is principally located in London, and, for the purposes of organisational management and administration, it is not required to conduct business in Welsh. However, the Parole Board welcomes applications from candidates who speak Welsh and English as part of its commitment to treat both languages on a basis of equality in the conduct of public business and administration of justice in Wales, as far as is both appropriate and reasonable, and to reflect the community it serves.
Office requirements
This role is hybrid. You will be required to spend 20% of your time in the office. For some meeting, you will be required to attend in person in the Parole Board’s London office.
Selection process details
The Board is made up of about 230 secretariat staff based in our London Head Office and over 350 Members who make decisions on risk and hold hearings virtually or at prisons around the country.
The Parole Board is an executive non-departmental public body, sponsored by the Ministry of Justice. Staff who work for the Parole Board Secretariat are Public Servants and not Civil Servants.
About the role:
By ensuring our governance, risk and assurances frameworks and processes are robust and of a high quality, you will play a key role in safeguarding the organisational integrity of the Parole Board, in supporting effective decision making at board and executive levels and contribute to effective oversight of all the Parole Board’s activities. You will work closely with a number of colleagues across the senior leadership team to embed governance into everyday operations.
Main Duties:
As set out in the job description above.
Behaviours
We will assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
• Managing a Quality Service
• Communicating and Influencing
• Working together
• Seeing the big picture
Security:
Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is Security Cleared.
Accessibility
The Parole Board is a disability confident recruiter. Accessibility requests will be carefully considered and, where reasonable, actioned.
Whilst the Parole Board office is principally located in London, and, for the purposes of organisational management and administration, it is not required to conduct business in Welsh. However, the Parole Board welcomes applications from candidates who speak Welsh and English as part of its commitment to treat both languages on a basis of equality in the conduct of public business and administration of justice in Wales, as far as is both appropriate and reasonable, and to reflect the community it serves.
Office requirements
This role is hybrid. You will be required to spend 20% of your time in the office. For some meeting, you will be required to attend in person in the Parole Board’s London office.
Selection process details
This vacancy is using Success Profiles, and will assess your Behaviours, Experience and Strengths. At the interview stage you will be assessed against Behaviours and Experience.
Additional Information
The Parole Board offers a range of benefits:
For nationally advertised campaigns, candidates will be appointed to their nearest Justice Collaboration Centre or Justice Satellite Office. This will be discussed and agreed with the successful candidate(s) on the completion of pre-employment checks.
The Parole Board offers a flexible working system in many offices. Standard full time working hours are 37 hours per week. Parole Board welcomes part-time, flexible and job-sharing working patterns, where they meet the demands of the role and business needs. All applications for part-time, flexible and job-sharing working patterns will be considered in accordance with the Parole Board’s Flexible Working policy.
Annual Leave
Annual leave is 25 days on appointment and will increase to 30 days after five years’ service.
There is also a scheme to allow qualifying staff to buy or sell up to three days leave each year. Additional paid time off for public holidays and 1 privilege day. Leave for part-time and job share posts will be calculated on a pro-rata basis.
Pension
The Civil Service offers a choice of pension schemes, giving you the flexibility to choose the pension that suits you best.
Training
The Parole Board is committed to staff development and offers an extensive range of training and development opportunities.
Networks
The opportunity to join employee-run networks that have been established to provide advice and support and to enable the views of employees from minority groups to be expressed direct to senior management. There are currently networks for employees of minority ethnic origin, employees with disabilities, employees with caring responsibilities, women employees, and lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender employees.
Support
- A range of ‘Family Friendly’ policies such as opportunities to work reduced hours or job share.
- Access to flexible benefits such as voluntary benefits, retail vouchers and discounts on a range of goods and services.
- For moves to or from another employer or moves across the Civil Service this can have implications on your eligibility to carry on claiming childcare vouchers. You may however be eligible for alternative government childcare support schemes, including Tax Free Childcare. More information can be found on www.GOV.UK or Childcare Choices. You can determine your eligibility at https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk/.
- Paid paternity, adoption and maternity leave.
- Free annual sight tests for employees who use computer screens.
A Great Place to Work for Veterans
The "Making the Civil Service a Great Place to work for veterans" initiative includes a guaranteed interview scheme to those who meet the minimum criteria to provide eligible former members of the Armed Forces with opportunities to secure rewarding jobs. Allowing veterans to continue to serve their country, and to bring highly skilled individuals with a broad range of experience into the Civil Service in an environment, which recognises and values your previous service in the Armed Forces.
For further details about the initiative and eligibility requirements visit: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/making-the-civil-service-a-great-place-to-work-for-veterans
Redeployment Interview Scheme
Civil Service departments are expected to explore redeployment opportunities before making an individual redundant. The MoJ are committed, as part of the Redeployment Interview Scheme, to providing opportunities to those who are 'at risk of redundancy'.
MoJ are able to offer an interview to eligible candidates who meet the minimum selection criteria, except in a limited number of campaigns. Candidate's will not be eligible for the Redeployment Interview Scheme if they are applying on promotion.
Civil Service Nationality Rules
This job is broadly open to the following groups:
- UK nationals
- nationals of the Republic of Ireland
- nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
- nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window) https://www.gov.uk/settled-status-eu-citizens-families
- nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
- individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
- Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service
Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window) https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/nationality-rules
Reserve list
A reserve list may be held for up to 12 months from which further appointments may be made for the same or similar roles.
Contact Information
MoJ:
If you require any assistance please call 0345 241 5359 (Monday to Friday 8am - 6pm) or e mail moj-recruitment-vetting-enquiries@resourcing.soprasteria.co.uk
Please quote the job reference: 16092
HMPPS
If you require any assistance please call 0345 241 5358 (Monday to Friday 8am - 6pm) or e mail moj-recruitment-vetting-enquiries@resourcing.soprasteria.co.uk
Please quote the job reference: 16092
Job Description Attachment
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Risk & Accountability Manager Job Description (SEO).docx (Job Description Attachment)
Application form stage assessments
Behaviours
A sift based on the lead behaviour, Managing a Quality Service, may be held if a large number of applications are received. If a large number of applications remain after the initial sift, your application will be progressed to a full sift, where all behaviours will then be considered.
Behaviours Application Form Question Word Limit
250
Managing a Quality Service
Communicating and Influencing
Working Together
Seeing the Big Picture
Experience
We will assess your experience for this role via the following methods
Statement of Suitability
Statement of Suitability
Guidance for the Statement of Suitability
Please refer to the essential and desirable criteria as a guide to support your demonstration of suitability for the role.
Evidence of Experience
Statement of Suitability
Interview stage assessments
Interview Dates
Expected: week commencing 20/04/26
Behaviours
Managing a Quality Service
Communicating and Influencing
Working Together
Seeing the Big Picture
Strengths
Strengths will be assessed but these are not shared in advance. To learn more about Strengths and how they are assessed please click here.
Level of security checks required
Baseline Personnal Security Standard (BPSS)
Use of Artificial Intelligence (Al)
Artificial Intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.