Quality Assurance Review Lead / Project Manager

BNP Paribas is a leading bank in Europe with an international reach. It has a presence in 73 countries, with more than 196,000 employees, including around 149,000 in Europe. The Group has key positions in its three main activities: Domestic Markets, International Financial Services (whose retail-banking networks and financial services are covered by Retail Banking & Services) and Corporate & Institutional Banking, which serves two client franchises: corporate clients and institutional investors.

BNP Paribas Corporate and Institutional Banking is a globally recognised leader offering capital markets, securities services, financing, treasury and advisory solutions.

Business Area / Department Overview

The Hub UK is a geographical Hub, covering all activities in the UK and Channel Islands.

The Hub has several audit teams (around 60 auditors), based in the UK. These teams are split by business activity covering all activities within their area of responsibility, except for OFAC $ Clearing (which is covered by the Inspection Centrale Financial Security Audit Line). Each team is headed by a Deputy Head of Hub reporting to the Head of Hub who, in turn, reports to a Deputy Head of IG Head Office.

The Hub’s remit is to provide audit services to the Businesses, Operations and Functions in the UK, Ireland and Channel Islands in close liaison with Senior Management and Head Office entities. The main focus is to help the organisation accomplish its objectives by bringing a systematic approach to evaluate and improve the effectiveness of the governance, risk management, and internal control processes.

Our Audit Hub provides employees with an excellent grounding in all aspects of the business, and regular interaction with Management enables strong relationships to be built, allowing a robust understanding in all aspects of the businesses.

Having performed successfully in this role, the individual will have the benefit of a broad range of career opportunities within the Group – both within Internal Audit and wider business lines/functions; in the UK and abroad. A comprehensive training programme is in place to ensure continued professional development.

Purpose & Scope of Role

The Quality Assurance Review Lead will play an active role in the Hub UK, performing quality assurance reviews across all of the audit business areas in the Hub. This reviews will focus on ensuring compliance with UK regulatory requirements, the Institute of the Internal Auditors (IIA) standards and the BNP Paribas IG’s methodology as well as identifying areas for further development.

The role will also involve project managing:

• The role out of the new audit tool “TeamMate” and ensuring that it is effectively being used within the Hub.

Key Responsibilities Of Role

Specific responsibilities associated with this role include:

Quality Assurance Review

• Design a comprehensive quality assurance programme for the Hub.
• Perform and document quality assurance reviews to assess accurate and consistent compliance with and adherence to UK regulatory requirements, IIA standards and IG’s How To Methodology (including Audit Guides and Risk & Control Matrices) and IG Policies and Procedures.
• Review audit related documentation, including Work Program Memos, audit work papers, and audit reports.
• Determine if audits identify and assess risks and controls identified as part of the Risk Assessment process.
• Write quality assurance review reports, including compliant and non-compliant attributes.
• Identify improvement opportunities, offer specific recommendations, and provide feedback to the audit teams (collectively and/or individually) to improve their performance and execution of audits.
• Monitor the action remediation plans as well as the quality of audit execution and documentation across audit teams.
• Maintain and update audit templates on a regular basis, to reflect feedback from stakeholders or to incorporate new/changed regulatory expectations or IG Head Office requirements.
• Keep abreast of the evolution of auditing standards and key regulations notably covering market activities and compliance risk management.
• Develop and maintain relationships with other Quality Assurance professionals, and other stakeholders as part audit activities.
• Train staff members as needed
• Deliver clear presentations to Senior Management and IG Management.
• Adopt and promote strong ethical values.

Project Management

TeamMate (Audit Management Software)

• Managing the role-out of the new tool “TeamMate” across audit teams within the Hub.
• Developing a plan for the implementation of the tool (with key stakeholders), ensuring the plan is implemented effectively and on a timely basis, providing feedback to senior management on implementation and working with stakeholders to ensure the tool is meeting its objectives.
• Developing user guides that support team members in implementing the tool.
• Providing guidance and support (i.e. through workgroups and presentations) so that users feel supported in the implementation of the tool.

For both activities above, establish an effective and proactive relationship with IG Head Office and other Professional Practice Teams across IG and externally. Also, ability to work independently, meet deadlines as well as adapt to new situations and approaches.

Year One Critical Success Factors

• Successfully build credibility through internal and external partnerships
• Deliver tangible value in the various areas of responsibility.
• Set priorities, create policies, procedures and standards as deemed necessary

Essential Experience

Experience, Qualifications & Competencies

• Years of successful experience in audit (minimum 5 years)
• Strong consultancy experience notably in covering quality assurance reviews (audit related/IIA standards/regulatory requirements)
• Past key projects management.
• The knowledge of TeamMate (audit management software) will be a strong asset for this position.
• Strong knowledge of financial products, capital markets, banking industry and the related risks.

Essential Competencies

• Strong analytical skills: including ability to understand quickly the critical steps in a process, synthesise and process complex information and understand the related risks of various nature, including use of data.
• Good drive: self-motivated and proactive
• Thorough and organised with an ability to prioritise and work under time-pressure.
• Strong communication skills: ability to listen, clear oral and written communication.
• Capacity to effectively interact with varied stakeholders, IG management and Regulators.
• Fast learner.
• Ability to work in a team although affirming a strong independence when issuing QA recommendations.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree
• IIA certification

Primary Location

GB-ENG-London

Job Type

Standard / Permanent

Job

COMMUNICATION

Education Level

Bachelor Degree or equivalent (>= 3 years)

Schedule

Full-time