Job Title & Grade: Core Assurance & Risk Manager SEO

Contract Type: Permanent

Salary range (depending on location): National - £42,914 - £46,182 London - £49,325 - £53,081

Please note that unless you are currently employed by the Civil Service and are earning more than the minimum above, if successful you will be offered the minimum for the grade depending on your location.

Location: Bristol, Cardiff, Liverpool, London, Nottingham or South Tyneside Office

Regular travel to our other offices may be required for collaboration with staff.

Please note that whilst this role is open to all Civil Servants, you can only apply for London office if you are a current LAA staff member based in those offices. This is due to and in line with the LAA's Location Strategy and the Cabinet Office's Places for Growth Strategy.

Minimum Working Pattern:

If you are applying for a part-time role, please note that to meet business demands we need cover for a minimum of 30 hours and to cover four days of the week

To meet legal requirements, if you are between the ages 16-18 and you are a successful candidate, you will be required to complete an apprenticeship after your initial on the job training.

The Legal Aid Agency

We are an executive agency of the Ministry of Justice (MoJ). We are responsible for operationally administering the legal aid fund to provide criminal and civil legal aid advice to people in England and Wales.

Our people are at the heart of achieving excellence. Employing around 1,200 colleagues across England and Wales, we feel proud to have some of the best People Survey results in the Civil Service.

Contract Management & Assurance

Our core purpose is to ensure the delivery of accessible, high quality, value for money services to the client and contributing to the MOJ delivery of a modern Courts and Justice system. We do this through efficient management of the provider base and assurance activities that identify and mitigate risk. 

Our Directorate is made up of:

Core Assurance and Risk Management, Counter Fraud & Intelligence, Corporate Assurance, Risk and Secretariat.

Core Assurance & Risk Management

The CARM team is responsible for identifying, assessing and reducing error on the part of the LAA, our providers and applicants. It does so by completing a programme of audits, independently verified by the National Audit Office, and by undertaking reviews of providers’ files on behalf of the wider business. It works together with stakeholders to reduce the risk of error, and to manage recoupments where error has occurred.

Job Summary

The Core Assurance & Risk Manager leads geographically dispersed teams responsible for measuring, understanding and reducing risk across the Legal Aid system.

This is a leadership role that combines people management, operational delivery and technical assurance expertise. You will lead teams of auditors and analysts, ensuring high-quality work is delivered to demanding deadlines while creating an inclusive, supportive environment where colleagues can perform at their best.

Working with senior leaders across the Legal Aid Agency and external stakeholders, you will build strong relationships, influence decision-making and provide constructive challenge to improve processes, reduce error and protect public funds.

Success in this role requires someone who can confidently balance people leadership with technical expertise, communicate complex issues clearly and maintain credibility when working with senior stakeholders on difficult or sensitive issues.

The work you lead directly helps ensure legal aid funding reaches those who need it most whilst maintaining public confidence in the stewardship of public money.

Why Join Us?

This is an opportunity to lead a high-performing team at the heart of the Legal Aid Agency's assurance and stewardship activity.

You will play a key role in ensuring that public funds are used appropriately, helping to protect the integrity of the legal aid system and ensuring support reaches those who need it most.

As Core Assurance & Risk Manager, you will:

• Lead and develop geographically dispersed teams of auditors and analysts.
• Influence senior stakeholders across the Legal Aid Agency and beyond.
• Shape assurance activity that supports strategic decision-making.
• Drive improvements that reduce risk, improve quality and deliver better outcomes.
• Work on issues that have a direct impact on public confidence and value for money.

This is a varied and rewarding role for someone who enjoys leading people, solving complex problems and working collaboratively to achieve meaningful outcomes.

You'll join an organisation that values inclusion, continuous improvement and professional development, with flexible ways of working and opportunities to build your career across the Ministry of Justice.

Key Responsibilities

Leadership

• Lead, motivate and develop a geographically dispersed team of auditors and analysts.
• Create an inclusive culture that promotes wellbeing, continuous improvement and high performance.
• Set clear expectations and objectives and ensure colleagues have the support and development needed to succeed.
• Manage performance effectively and provide coaching, mentoring and constructive feedback.
• Ensure all personal and team objectives are achieved to the required standard and within agreed timescales.

Stakeholder Engagement and Influence

• Build and maintain effective relationships with internal and external stakeholders.
• Influence decision-making through evidence-based recommendations and professional challenge.
• Communicate complex findings clearly and confidently to a range of audiences.
• Represent the team within working groups, projects and governance forums.
• Provide constructive challenge where risks, errors or control weaknesses are identified.

Assurance and Risk Management

• Lead assurance activity to identify, assess and reduce risk and error within the Legal Aid system.
• Refine and improve assurance methodologies to ensure they remain robust, proportionate and compliant with National Audit Office requirements.
• Analyse complex information and make recommendations that improve processes, controls and outcomes.
• Work collaboratively with stakeholders to identify solutions that reduce error and improve service delivery.
• Provide constructive challenge where risks, errors or control weaknesses are identified.

Essential Knowledge, Experience and skills

• Experience of leading and developing teams to deliver high-quality outcomes in a complex operational environment.
• Effective communication skills, with the ability to explain complex information clearly and confidently to a range of audiences.
• Experience of building productive relationships and influencing stakeholders at different levels.
• The ability to provide constructive challenge and manage difficult conversations professionally and effectively.
• Experience of delivering results through others whilst managing competing priorities and deadlines.
• Effective analytical skills, with the ability to interpret complex information and identify risks and opportunities.
• Experience of using evidence and insight to improve performance, processes or services.
• The ability to interpret and apply guidance, policy or regulatory requirements.

Desirable Knowledge, Experience and skills

• Knowledge of Legal Aid Agency systems and processes.
• Experience of assurance, audit, compliance, risk management or quality assurance activities.
• Strong Microsoft Office skills, particularly Excel.

Person Specification

We're looking for someone who:

• Enjoys leading and developing people.
• Can balance attention to detail with a focus on the bigger picture.
• Builds credibility quickly and maintains strong stakeholder relationships.
• Is comfortable challenging established thinking where improvements can be made.
• Communicates confidently and adapts their style to different audiences.
• Remains calm and effective when working under pressure and to tight deadlines.
• Uses data, evidence and insight to support decision-making.
• Creates an inclusive environment where colleagues can thrive and perform at their best.