Operational Compliance Auditor

Job Description

Supporting the business in the management and provision of Health, Safety, Fire & Security governance and compliance, the Operational Compliance Auditor will be a trusted business partner of operations and in particular the Group Standards and ComplianceManager.Working cohesively across all aspects of operational safety, the role holder will be responsible for the design and delivery of health, safety, fire and security compliance audits at our properties. The audits will be independent of operations and will contributeto the `3rd line of defence` in our compliance framework. The audits will compliment and test the inspections that are undertaken within operations at the 1st and 2nd lines of defence.The role holder will monitor and assist with the prioritisation of remedial action delivery, working with the health and safety team to assess risks within the context of the whole property. The role would help to achieve our objective of consistency acrossall of our operations, the sharing of best practice and drive continuous improvement.This role is within new team that will provide assurance across the whole business - to Finance, HR, IT, Operations, Property and Estates. The company`s assurance & risk team needs to build trust and be a corporate advisory team; taking on a wide range oftopics in many areas of the business. For this reason, it is important to have a track record of delivering results as well as excellent communication and influencing skills and above all, the determination to really make a difference.What You`ll Be DoingRelationship building with colleagues across Unite, including senior management and external stakeholders, is key to this role and you will have the experience, confidence and credibility to do this. The success of the team will depend on building trustand being a `critical friend` to the wider business, identifying areas of risk and opportunity, and then working with the teams to design and implement improvements. Some specific responsibilities are set out below:

• Business partner with the Group Standards and Compliance Manager and colleagues in Health, Safety, Fire & Security function, Central Operations function and Insurance & legal team
• Support the Group Risk and Assurance Director in the design and implementation of the compliance audit programme
• Provide independent third-line assurance to operations in respect of our statutory obligations and company commitment to Health, Safety, Fire & Security
• Work in partnership with Health & Safety and Estates to understand `whole property risk` and determine prioritisation of remedial actions in that context
• Support the co-ordination of any outsourced compliance audit requirements and work collaboratively with them to ensure on time and quality delivery
• Work with the HS& Fire, GDPR and InfoSec teams to embed systems of control leading to BSI / other appropriate standards as appropriate
• Undertake ad-hoc audits as required
• Undertake root cause analysis where audits reveal systemic failures in the adherence to policy and/or procedures
• Prepare reports for stakeholders, including senior leaders, the Executive and Audit Committee
• Work with the L&D and Comms team to develop and implement all company training and awareness in relevant compliance matters
• Represent the team at the working groups as necessary

What We`re Looking for in You

• Skills and Knowledge - Required
• Experience in the execution of compliance audits
• Excellent project management skills
• First class communication skills
• Team orientated and able to work collaboratively with other colleagues to deliver results
• Willingness to travel
• Wants to progress in a growing business
• Self-sufficient and able to prioritise and carry out tasks with minimum supervision
• Desirable:
• Audit qualification, attendance at auditor training (Training can be provide for the right candidate)

What You`ll Get in Return

• An annual bonus so you can share in the company`s success
• 25 days` paid holiday
• Pension - based on how much you save, we`ll contribute 1% more
• Flexible working opportunities
• Shared Parental Leave - 18 weeks full pay
• Other benefits include, ShareSave, Bike to Work, Charity Match, amazing discounts and more!

About Unite StudentsFounded in 1991, Unite Students is a FTSE 100 business and the UK`s leading provider of purpose-built student accommodation. You can find us in 25 leading university towns and cities, with 74,000 students calling US home! We are driven by our values, culture,and a commitment to develop diverse and inclusive teams, filled with positive energy and new ideas.Instinctive inclusion. We know that to create and maintain a happy healthy organisation, we have to work hard to ensure inclusion isn`t just what we do but who we are.People make Unite Students. Employees, students and neighbours all contribute to building environments where we can all thrive.Room for EveryoneWe`re proud to be an employer that embraces individuality, and we`re passionate about building inclusive teams. We focus on creating a collaborative culture where you can be you, where your voice is heard, and where you can truly belong.We take great pride in being rated Gold Investors in People and are constantly striving to provide the highest standard of learning and development opportunities and professional pathways for our people. Building a home for success, for both our employees and students, requires exceptional people with a passion for creating room for everyone, doing what`s right, keeping US safe, and raising the bar. Join us as we build better experiences for studentsthat live with us.We are US.