Lead Auditor (12 month FTC) Hybrid role

Position Profile:

Pearson Education Limited is certified currently to ISO9001, ISO22301 and ISO27001 at various Pearson UK sites. The responsibility for the maintenance of these third party certifications lies with the Business Improvement and Regulation division, part of the Qualification and Assessment Services division led by Pearson’s responsible officer, who reports directly to the Managing Director for School Assessment and Qualifications.

The Audit and Quality department runs an annual audit programme consisting of internal audits of teams and processes, secure suppliers and ISO management systems, supporting the awarding organisation part of the Pearson business.

The Audit team consists of a Lead Auditor, Auditors and Senior Auditors who are responsible for carrying out audits across the business.

You will:

• Ensure the successful running of the Audit function

• Be responsible for planning and delivering an annual audit and monitoring programme which ensures compliance with internal policies, regulatory requirements, and adherence to external business standards such as ISO9001 (Quality Management), ISO27001 (Information Security) and ISO22301 (Business Continuity)

• Oversee internal audits so they are delivered to the annually agreed audit plan and are consistent in approach

• Support the team of auditors and ensure they are fully trained and competent for carrying out their audit roles and responsibilities and carry out audits effectively

• Support external audits for maintaining our business certifications and regulatory obligations

• Advise the business on good process management, achieve change in business procedures, to ensure continued compliance with internal policies, regulatory and business certifications

• Drive continual improvement of own team processes

Key Role-Specific Deliverables

You will be responsible for:

• The development and delivery of an audit programme that meets all regulatory and business requirements. This includes preparing an annual audit proposal approved by senior management

• Management of annual audit schedule to ensure it delivers its planned objectives and is cost effective

• Ensuring audits are conducted in the most efficient manner possible and within procedure

• Carrying out a number of allocated audits from planning to completion which demonstrate best practice to the audit team

• Working with the business to agree appropriate audit scopes that support the drive for continual improvement

• Approval of audit reports before their publication. Ensuring they are clear, timely, in agreed formats and are of the highest quality

• Developing, delivering and supervising a supplier audit programme that ensures the integrity of Pearson qualifications

• Overall management of audit action plans to ensure they are fully completed by the business in a timely manner, including those resulting from third party assessments

• Be the catalyst in training, supervising and developing the Auditors and sharing industry/best practice

• Developing and maintaining audit evidence and data that demonstrates compliance with regulatory requirements, internal policies, ISO9001, ISO27001, ISO22301 and other external standards

• Analysing audit findings and suggesting good practice and areas for business process improvement

• Leading on Management Reviews that support our business certifications, particularly in relation to the audit function

• Driving an audit awareness programme to ensure the business understands the importance of the audit function

• Managing department procedures and documentation relating to audit

• Supporting the scheduling of external audits from our business certifications providers and ensuring the business is prepared for these audits

• Developing and implementing a comprehensive set of key performance indicators that provides insight into the quality of audit process for the Audit team

• Representing the division in internal and external forums

• Undertaking the lead or supervision of specific projects

• Support the broader work of division by working across the various functions when required

Key Challenges

• Supervising audits via matrix organisational structure

• Implementation of the quality and information security management systems, balancing regulations, rules and standards with business needs and priorities

• Adaptive approach when contacting the many and often diverse functional groups across the business

• Ensuring that quality and improvement opportunities are maximised

• Influencing management through negotiation, persuasion and exemplary written and verbal communication skills

• Professional, customer focused, service provision representation of the division

• To act as arbiter to resolve non-compliance issues

• Flexibility in organisation and planning of activities to accommodate business needs and priorities whilst still achieving tight time schedules in relation to audit, improvement projects, and third party assessments

• Reporting in an accurate, timely, consistent and effective manner appropriate to the intended audience

Key Measure of Success

• Maintenance of ISO22301, ISO9001 and ISO27001 certifications;

• Measurable improvements in business processes.

Previous Work Experience

Essential:

• Demonstration of strong analytical and communication skills

• Exemplar report writing skills

• Exemplar time management skills, to lead by example

• Excellent organisational ability

• Extensive people supervisory or management experience

• Audit experience of at least two of the following ISO standards Quality Management, Business Continuity, Information Security or other equivalent experience

• Lead auditor status

Desirable:

• Responsibility for leading a regulatory process or function

• Regulatory background

• Experience of risk management processes

Systems, Tools & IT Literacy

• Excellent ability in Word, Excel, and other Microsoft applications

Education, Qualifications & Training

• Degree educated

• ISO Lead Auditor training on ISO9001, 27001 and 22301

Personal Style and Behaviour

• Flexible in approach and able to use own initiative to develop creative solutions to problems

• Able to deal with sensitive and contentious issues with diplomacy and integrity

• Committed to continual improvement

• Keen to use own skills and share knowledge to support the wider division in achieving business objectives

• Clear communicator, comfortable making decisions, flexible enough to manage a fluctuating workload and able to maintain good working relationships inside and outside the organisation

• Keen to share knowledge and experience of audit

Strengths you’ll need

• Provide a customer focused service

• Communicating with influence

• Working with others to achieve goals

• Delivering goals in a changing environment

• Taking creative and innovative approach to work

• Maximising potential in self and others

Place of Work and Regular Working Pattern

This role is a hybrid role, with some travel to London and our other sites including Manchester and Hellaby when required.

Some travel may also be required for external visits to Pearson suppliers, and centres for audits. Occasionally, you may need to stay overnight in order to undertake these.

Please apply directly on our website including your CV and a covering letter outlining your reasons for applying for the role.

Your rewards & benefits

We know you’ll do great work, so we give a lot back with some of the best benefits in the business. We know one size doesn’t fit all, so our workplace programs meet the different needs of our diverse teams, and their families, too.

Please see our attractive UK benefits here: Pearson Jobs - Benefits

What to expect from Pearson

Did you know Pearson is one of the 10 most innovative education companies of 2022?

At Pearson, we add life to a lifetime of learning so everyone can realize the life they imagine. We do this by creating vibrant and enriching learning experiences designed for real-life impact. We are on a journey to be 100 percent digital to meet the changing needs of the global population by developing a new strategy with ambitious targets. To deliver on our strategic vision, we have five business divisions that are the foundation for the long-term growth of the company: Assessment & Qualifications, Virtual Learning, English Language Learning, Workforce Skills and Higher Education. Alongside these, we have our corporate divisions: Digital & Technology, Finance, Global Corporate Marketing & Communications, Human Resources, Legal, Strategy and Direct to Consumer. Learn more at We are Pearson.

We value the power of an inclusive culture and also a strong sense of belonging. We promote a culture where differences are embraced, opportunities are accessible, consideration and respect are the norm and all individuals are supported in reaching their full potential. Through our talent, we believe that diversity, equity and inclusion make us a more innovative and vibrant place to work. People are at the center, and we are committed to building a workplace where talent can learn, grow and thrive.

Pearson is an Affirmative Action and Equal Opportunity Employer and a member of E-Verify. We want a team that represents a variety of backgrounds, perspectives and skills. The more inclusive we are, the better our work will be. All employment decisions are based on qualifications, merit and business need. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, ethnicity, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, national origin, protected veteran status, disability status or any other group protected by law. We strive for a workforce that reflects the diversity of our communities.

To learn more about Pearson’s commitment to a diverse and inclusive workforce, navigate to: Diversity, Equity & Inclusion at Pearson.

If you are an individual with a disability and are unable or limited in your ability to use or access our career site as a result of your disability, you may request reasonable accommodations by emailing ppsmhr@pearson.com.

Note that the information you provide will stay confidential and will be stored securely. It will not be seen by those involved in making decisions as part of the recruitment process.

Job: GENERAL BUSINESS OPERATIONS

Organization: Assessment & Qualifications

Schedule: FULL_TIME

Req ID: 11890