Associate Director/director, Controls and Assurance

At M&G our vision is:
_to become the best loved and most successful savings and investment business _and we’re looking for people who are excited about joining us on our journey. We’re digitally transforming and investing heavily in technology and innovation to develop new and improved customer propositions that really raise the bar for our customers. To help us achieve our vision we’re looking for exceptional people who live our values and behaviours and who can inspire others; embrace change; deliver results and keep it simple.

What you can expect from us:
We are committed to creating an environment where you can be exceptional at all you do. To help us deliver this, we promise to:

- Challenge Your Limits by creating a stimulating working environment and providing opportunities for you to be involved in meaningful and challenging work
- Support Your Aspirations with a commitment to learning and development that helps you achieve and build your experience with people who want you to succeed
- Value Your Input whereby leaders and managers will involve you in key decisions, listen to your thoughts and recognise the important contribution you make
- Balance Your Life through a work life partnership that focuses on making this an inclusive, diverse and friendly place to work and offers the flexibility and support that enables everyone to be at their best

The Role:
The Controls & Assurance Team perform control related activities across the M&G Investments businesses. The purpose of the role is to manage implementation of M&G Plc’s operational risk policies and standards and for ongoing identification and mitigation of operational risks across the Investments and Product and Distribution businesses in Asia covering all the jurisdictions within which the business operates. An important focus for the Controls & Assurance Manager Asia role will be to support the Real Estate business from a First Line risk and control perspective. M&G Real Estate Asia manage approximately $12billion of direct and indirect property investments with assets in Singapore, Australia, South Korea and Japan, and with over 70 staff across M&G Real Estate Asia covering fund management, acquisitions, debt strategy and origination, asset management, operations and IT. The role holder will need to work effectively and collaboratively with the business and all key stakeholders (including functions) to strengthen the control environment across Investments in Asia
_._

Key Work Level Accountabilities:
Manager or Expert:
- For people managers, accountable for managing and motivating others to ensure quality of delivery to customers and stakeholders-
- Applies judgement to deliver outcomes, evaluating a range of potential solutions, considering the impact for customers, cost and risk- Manages conflicts that may impact delivery- Challenges upwards given knowledge of delivery and awareness of complex systems and the broader picture- Identifies and anticipates need for changes to continuously improve quality and efficiency of output- Manages resources and risks using expert judgment, know-how and experience

Key Responsibilities for this role:
- Perform the First Line Business Risk Partner role covering all the Investments and Product and Distribution businesses in the Asia region establishing effective working relationships with key M&G Asia business stakeholders as well as with the broader UK-based First Line Controls and Assurance team.- Undertake a regular cycle of risk and control self-assessment (RCSA) update and review in conjunction with the M&G Asia businesses and in line with M&G Plc policies and standards; Undertake the required updates to the- MetricStream system.- Support with preparation, content and delivery at the relevant M&G Asia governance meetings including the M&G Real Estate Asia Risk Committee, M&G Real Estate Asia Board/HoldCo and Audit Committee meetings.- Identify and manage conflicts of interest and mitigating actions/controls with the Conflict Owner; Undertake the required updates to the MetricStream system- Maintain and update the Risk and Control Matrices (RCM’s) in conjunction with the respective Asia businesses and jurisdictions; Ensure there is a complete population of RCM’s across the Investments business in Asia.- Identify key controls from the RCM’s across Asia and co-ordinate the testing of these controls with the business.- Co-ordinate Risk Event management for Asia with the broader UK based Risk Event Management team.- Support the Private Assets and Alternatives Business Risk Partner team with the annual M&G Real Estate Asia Service Organisation Control (SOC) reporting and transition to a Type 2 report.- Work with the business to identify risk issues, the recording of these as self-identified issues on MetricStream and escalation or risk acceptance processes where applicable.- Support the business with ongoing risk and control SME advice, e.g. emerging risks, Second Line and Audit reviews, train