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The role of Internal Audit & Risk (‘IA&R’) is to provide independent and objective feedback to the Audit Committee and Business Leadership on key risks to the business and the effectiveness of mitigating controls. The remit is extensive and covers all commercial and functional activities. The team also provides consulting support to project teams on the design and implementation of business process controls and conducts investigations in the event of a significant control failure. Key businesspartners for IA&R are the Audit Committee, Executive Directors, Business Unit Directors and Functional Heads

Summary

We are looking for a candidate with an analytical mentality, with a passion in data. As a Data Analytics Manager, you will be leading all data activities within the IA&R team and supporting ongoing M&S transformation by providing independent and objective feedback to the Audit and Executive Committees on key risks and the effectiveness of mitigating controls.

You'll be doing this by designing and leading delivery of data analysis, assessing processes, documenting issues, and following up on audit actions.

You will be in a unique position with exposure to all parts of the organisation from business strategy to the shop floor.

What is the role?

• The role reports into the Head of Internal Audit & Risk and currently includes one direct report.
• Leading data analytics project delivery, comprising scoping, development, validation, testing and reporting of data routines. It is wide-ranging, covering all business areas in the UK and internationally and involves interaction and engagement across all levels of the organisation.
• Working with core audit team members to define and outline the best data analytics for audits.
• Supporting the continuous improvement objectives of the Internal Audit Data function, building effective relationships with partners and supporting ad hoc projects as needed, such as those linked to investigations or risk management.
• The successful candidate will assess how control activities are designed and whether they operate effectively.
• The candidate will work with business partners to improve and strengthen the business by identifying corrective actions that are effective, commercial and pragmatic.
• There will be limited UK and International travel (approximately 5-10%).

What are you accountable for achieving?

• Leading data analytics activities, ensuring that business relevance and commercial focus is maintained. This will include delivery of a clearly articulated risk assessment, test programme and audit report, addressing key risks and audit objectives in line with the Internal Audit methodology.
• Flexing the audit scope in light of emerging challenges or issues.
• Presenting results clearly, concisely, and objectively and working with the rest of the team to report appropriately and recommend future actions.
• Ensuring that key business partners are involved throughout the audit, with regular progress updates provided in order to avoid unexpected results.
• Maintain quality and integrity standards.
• Delivering against functional important metric targets.
• Working with partners to embed currently developed testing routines to implement planned, rapid delivery.

Development of Internal Audit Plan

• Development of the annual data routine plan by proposing relevant audits and targeted data analytics projects for inclusion, as identified through business knowledge and discussion with key partners. Supporting potential revision of the plan during the year.

Relationship Management

• Actively developing strong relationships with a wide range of business contacts to gain knowledge and insight into the issues affecting the business and maintaining effective partnerships with business management teams.
• Discussing and presenting findings and observations with senior leadership.
• Engaging with the broader data community across the M&S business and contribute to discussions to ensure there is a consideration of processes and controls.

Action follow up

• Maintaining regular contact with action owners to obtain progress updates and drive timely completion of audit actions.
• Supporting compilation of the audit action status reports for Leadership and Audit Committees.

Continuous Improvement

• A desire to update and expand knowledge of good practices, professional developments, industry changes and sharing these across the team.
• Continued development of new data routines in targeted areas.
• Supporting the Internal Audit management team and the department L&D plan with regards to digital skills.
• Providing ideas and challenge to improve our methodology, the control environment and the effectiveness of business processes.

What skills do you need?

• Excellent communication, both written and verbal and the ability to make complex analysis understandable by a non-technical business partner.
• Ability to create development programmes from first principles where no prior files exist, for ambiguous or abstract operational and commercial business processes.
• Line manager experience.
• A strong teammate, capable of building and maintaining effective relationships.
• Customer focused, with the confidence to deal with and influence at all levels.
• Integrity and objectivity.
• Commercial savvy with the ability to make practical recommendations that will add new value to the business.
• Excellent analysis and problem-solving skills, with the ability to challenge where necessary.
• A curious and sceptical mentality.

What technical knowledge do you need?

• A Data Analytics background (with a relevant data qualification such as a degree), preferably with knowledge of / experience in Internal Audit.
• Demonstratable, dedicated, practical experience in this field
• Practical knowledge of how to apply and use coding (such as the use of SQL and Python and/or R).
• Preferable knowledge of risk and control audit methodologies and practical experience of auditing techniques, including risk assessment, controls evaluation, different testing methodologies (substantive and non-substantive) and audit report writing.
• Experience with the Microsoft Power platform suite (such as PowerBI) would be an advantage.
• Experience of retail and multi-channel environments would be an advantage.

Some of the benefits include:

• Work-life balance and hybrid working.
• Colleagues and environment that inspire you to be your best.
• 20% discount on M&S products.
• A range of wellbeing support (including free counselling and a virtual GP for you and immediate family).

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M&S is ready to push boundaries to lead the retail industry into a greener, speedier, more inspiring digital era. That’s why we’re revolutionising how we work and offering our most exciting opportunities yet. There’s never been a better time to be part of our team. Marks & Spencer aims to be an inclusive organisation, trusted and admired by our colleagues, customers and suppliers. Join us and make an immediate impact.

We are committed to an active Inclusion, Diversity and Equal Opportunities Policy, which starts with our recruitment and selection process, and we are happy to talk flexible working.

If you consider yourself to require reasonable adjustments to any part of our recruitment process, we invite you to share those requirements with us when completing your application. We will make every effort to ensure your needs are met to provide a fair and transparent process of assessment.