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LAA Job Description Template V11 07.07.2026
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 high-quality assurance reporting and insight to support organisational decision-making.
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.
Application Process
To apply please submit a CV and statement of suitability showing how you meet the essential criteria in no more that 1000 words.
Your statement should demonstrate your ability to do all the essential criteria listed, using examples can help strengthen your application.
Please note that we only require a CV and Statement of Suitability for your application. The wording on this advert may suggest that an Experience question is also required, however this is not necessary.
Should a large number of applications be received, an initial sift may be undertaken using the lead criteria below:
Experience of leading and developing teams to deliver high-quality outcomes in a complex operational environment.
Candidates who pass the initial sift will progress to a full sift, or progress straight to interview.
Interview / assessment Process
If you are successful through the application stage, you will be invited to an interview / assessment centre in person or via Microsoft Teams where you will be assessed against the following:
Strengths relevant to the role
The following Behaviours:
Leadership
Managing a Quality Service
Delivering at Pace
Communicating and Influencing. Please note, this behaviour will be assessed via a stakeholder engagement role play exercise. The role play is designed to reflect situations regularly encountered within the role. You will be expected to use your webcam and share your screen.
Your Experience of implementing, promoting, or understanding diversity and inclusion policy - Diversity is the presence of difference, this can include one or more of the protected characteristics (Gender, Age, Race, Disability etc.) or it can be about working patterns, whether we like to jump into a task or reflect on it before acting. Inclusion is how we welcome, value, and celebrate diversity, giving everyone a voice, tapping into ideas, and enabling everyone to be themselves at work and achieve their potential.
For this grade/ role we would expect the candidate to demonstrate understanding of the terms Diversity and Inclusion and be able to explain why they are important in a work environment. We would also expect examples of action they have taken to embrace diversity (e.g., increasing understanding for self or others) or improve inclusion at a team or wider group level.
Shortlisting is planned for week commencing 24th August 2026
Interviews are planned for week commencing 14th September 2026
If you would like more information on this opportunity, please contact - Greg Cowley, Head of Stewardship, greg.cowley@justice.gov.uk
The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain, and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see the Civil Service People Plan and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy.
As a Disability Confident organisation, we will offer a guaranteed interview to candidates with a disability who meet the essential criteria for this role. Under the Equality Act 2010 a disability is defined as a physical or mental impairment which has a substantial and long-term adverse effect on your ability to carry out normal day-to-day activities which has lasted, or is expected to last, at least 12 months.
If you are responding to a role within the Legal Aid Agency and would like to be considered under the guaranteed interview, please indicate this in your application and let us know of any reasonable adjustments you may require during the sift or later selection processes.
The LAA’s goal is to build an organisation that is open and inclusive and truly values and celebrates the diversity of its workforce. One that reflects and understands the needs of the diverse society we serve. This is regardless of social background, gender, age, ethnicity, sexual orientation, beliefs, disabilities or long-term illness or caring responsibilities.
Reasonable Adjustments
We are committed to ensuring our recruitment process is inclusive and accessible to all. If you have a disability or long-term condition (for example dyslexia, anxiety, autism, a mobility condition or hearing loss) and need us to make any reasonable adjustments to support you through the recruitment process, please let us know by adding the information to the applications system or emailing LAARecruitment@justice.gov.uk after you have applied so that we can discuss options with you.
If you have any complaints about this recruitment activity, please share your concerns by emailing LAARecruitment@justice.gov.uk initially. We aim to respond to any complaint within 10 working days.
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