AQA
Commercial Governance, Audit & Risk Lead
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At AQA, we’re committed to advancing education and we’re committed to our people. As the largest provider of academic qualifications in the UK, we mark over 10 million exam papers each year and it’s our people who make this happen.
Commercial Governance, Audit & Risk Lead
Permanent
Manchester: £42,500 - £49,500
Hybrid working – a minimum of 2 days per week in the office
Help Commercial leaders make better decisions through strong governance, meaningful insight and effective risk management.
This newly created role is ideal for someone who enjoys bringing structure to complexity, using data to inform decisions and helping teams operate with confidence.
Working at the heart of AQA's Commercial directorate, you'll support leaders to understand risk, strengthen governance, improve performance reporting and ensure audit and assurance activities translate into meaningful action.
You'll have visibility across a broad range of commercial activity, working with stakeholders at all levels to improve processes, track progress, challenge constructively and help ensure priorities remain on track.
If you enjoy joining the dots, turning information into insight and creating clarity in a complex environment, this is an opportunity to make a visible impact.
What's in it for you?
- A newly created role with the opportunity to shape governance, audit and risk activities across Commercial.
- Regular exposure to senior leaders and decision-making.
- A varied role spanning governance, assurance, risk management, business continuity and performance reporting.
- The opportunity to influence improvements and help teams work more effectively.
- A broad view across Commercial and its strategic priorities.
- A 35-hour working week with flexible, hybrid working.
- 25 days' annual leave, rising to 30, plus Christmas closure days.
- A benefits package including a pension which could see a combined contribution of up to 18.5%, BUPA healthcare support, wellbeing programmes and volunteering opportunities.
- Being part of AQA's inclusive and values-led culture, with opportunities to join a variety of employee networks, including LGBTQ+, neurodiversity, empowering women, wellbeing, ethnic diversity and Interfaith.
In this role, you'll be responsible for:
- Supporting governance, assurance and audit activities across Commercial.
- Helping leaders identify, understand and manage risk.
- Turning data, metrics and reporting into meaningful insight.
- Supporting the delivery of audit actions and continuous improvement activity.
- Producing performance reporting and management information for senior stakeholders.
- Supporting business continuity and assurance planning.
- Driving accountability through effective tracking, reporting and follow up.
- Building strong relationships across Commercial and the wider organisation.
You'll thrive in this role if you have:
- Experience in governance, risk, audit, assurance, compliance, PMO or a similar environment.
- Experience working within a regulated organisation.
- Demonstrable stakeholder management skills and the confidence to challenge constructively.
- Excellent organisational skills and attention to detail.
- Experience using data, reporting or performance information to support decision-making.
- The ability to balance competing priorities and meet deadlines.
- A proactive approach and a reputation for following things through to completion.
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You do not need to come from education. We welcome applications from candidates with experience in governance, risk, audit, compliance, financial services, healthcare, utilities, public sector organisations or other regulated environments.
Diversity and Inclusion Statement
At AQA, we are committed to fostering a workplace that celebrates diversity and promotes equity and inclusion. We believe that a diverse team brings richer perspectives and drives better outcomes. Our ED&I strategy ensures that everyone, regardless of religion, ethnicity, gender identity or expression, age, disability, sexual orientation or background, is valued, respected and empowered to thrive. We actively promote inclusive language, avoid stereotypes and strive for representation across all dimensions of diversity. We welcome applications from individuals of all backgrounds and lived experiences.
What's Next?
To apply, please upload your most recent CV and a short profile with your motivations and transferable skills outlined.
Applications close at 23:59 on Wednesday 19th August 2026.
The recruitment process is expected to include a short screening call with a recruiter followed by a face-to-face interview with a task and values and experience-based questions in our Manchester offices on Friday 28th August.
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We have a preferred supplier list (PSL) in place. Unsolicited CVs will be treated as a gift. We will not be subject to or liable under your terms and conditions for agency fees.
Full Job Description
Summary
AQA is much more than just an awarding organisation, our purpose is to advance education by enabling teachers and students to realise their potential. Our purpose is the reason AQA exists - we're here to make a positive difference in the world by bringing out the best in teachers and students.
This pivotal and highly visible role sits within AQA’s Commercial Team, reporting directly to the Head of Commercial Planning and Performance. Leading the design, implementation of the commercial team’s risk management, assurance and performance framework the post holder provides oversight and expert advice, ensuring commercial excellence and regulatory compliance through robust internal controls and data-driven decision-making. They are also responsible for the performance reporting of the area, gathering of insights, data and metrics to support the performance dashboard.
Landscape
The Commercial Governance, Audit, Risk and Performance Lead plays a pivotal role in strengthening the integrity, resilience, and performance of AQA’s Commercial Directorate. Working closely with the Senior Leadership Team, the role ensures that commercial activity is underpinned by robust governance, effective risk management, and high-quality assurance practices that support informed data driven decision making as well as developing and providing oversight of overall performance reporting for the teams.
The postholder enables the Senior Leadership Team to monitor progress, evaluate effectiveness, and drive continuous improvement. By integrating governance, risk, assurance, and performance reporting, the role ensures that the Commercial Directorate operates with clarity, confidence, and strategic alignment—supporting AQA’s mission to advance education and empower teachers and learners.
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Responsibilities
Commercial Governance
- Maintain and evaluate governance frameworks to ensure transparency, accountability, and compliance with statutory requirements.
Audit & Assurance
- Lead audit assurance activities across the commercial teams. Provide independent assurance that controls are effective and objectives are being met. Manage external audits and monitor the implementation of audit recommendations.
Business Continuity
- Review and challenge commercial business continuity plans represent the commercial directorate as part of business wide continuity planning.
Risk Management
- Identify and mitigate commercial risks. Maintain proactive directorate, manage escalated risk in line with corporate risk registers and embed a "risk-aware" culture within the commercial teams. Work with risk owners to implement control measures and mitigation strategies.
Performance Reporting
- Design and maintain performance dashboards that translate raw data into actionable insights for SLT. Prepare and present comprehensive reports to SLT, Audit Committees, and Boards.
Activities
- Running governance meetings, preparing agendas, and tracking actions.
- Checking that commercial decisions follow internal policies and regulatory requirements.
- Advising senior leaders on governance best practice and compliance expectations.
- Coordinating external auditors, ensuring they have access to required information.
- Tracking audit recommendations and following up with teams to ensure completion.
- Reviewing commercial business continuity plans to ensure they are realistic and robust.
- Maintaining the commercial risk register and ensuring risks are accurately scored.
- Facilitating risk workshops with teams to identify new or emerging risks.
- Working with risk owners to define mitigation plans and monitor progress.
- Tracking KPIs, commercial performance, and risk indicators.
- Preparing monthly and quarterly performance packs for SLT and committees.
- Working closely with the Systems and Workflow Manager to report on current and planned initiatives across the commercial division, specifically via Airtable reporting mechanisms.
Need to Know (to be successful in this role, you will need to know):
- Strong analytical, problem solving, and strategic skills.
- Experience on risk management, internal audit or compliance.
- Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to influence senior leaders.
- Understanding of relevant frameworks and regulatory requirements.
- Customer Centric approach delivering excellent customer outcomes and fostering the conditions that enable them.
- Ability to prioritise work to meet deadlines in a highly pressured environment.
- Work collaboratively with others and build strong business relationships.
- Experience using Airtable or similar nocode/lowcode platforms to report on performance.
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