Compliance and Internal Audit Officer

About this role

Job Role: Compliance and Internal Audit Officer

Hours: Full-time, Monday–Friday, 9:00am–5:00pm

Job Role

The Compliance and Internal Audit Officer supports Victoria College of Arts and Design (VCAD)’s compliance, assurance, and governance activities, ensuring ongoing adherence to the Office for Students (OfS) Conditions of Registration, regulatory requirements, and internal policies and procedures. The role is responsible for coordinating compliance monitoring activities, undertaking internal compliance reviews, maintaining evidence and audit records, and supporting institutional assurance processes. The postholder will work closely with academic and professional service departments to identify compliance risks, track actions, and contribute to the continuous improvement of governance and regulatory compliance arrangements.

Key Responsibilities

Regulatory Compliance

• Support monitoring of compliance with the Office for Students (OfS) Conditions of Registration.
• Maintain and update compliance registers, evidence of repositories, and regulatory action trackers.
• Assist in gathering evidence to demonstrate compliance with regulatory requirements.
• Monitor policy review schedules and support policy owners in maintaining compliance.
• Track regulatory updates and escalate emerging requirements or risks.
• Assist with responses to regulatory information requests and reviews.

Internal Audit and Assurance

• Assist in delivering the annual internal audit and compliance review programme.
• Undertake compliance checks and assurance reviews across academic and professional service functions.
• Gather, analyse, and document evidence relating to internal audits and compliance reviews.
• Draft audit findings, recommendations, and follow-up reports.
• Monitor progress against agreed audit actions and maintain audit recommendation logs.
• Support preparations for external audits, inspections, and reviews.

Compliance Monitoring

• Conduct routine compliance monitoring activities across departments.
• Review institutional processes, records, and practices against regulatory and internal requirements.
• Identify areas of non-compliance or control weaknesses and escalate concerns appropriately.
• Support departments in implementing corrective actions and improvement plans.
• Maintain accurate compliance records and monitoring documentation.
• Support the coordination of institutional compliance projects and reviews.

Governance, Risk and Reporting

• Produce regular compliance and audit reports for senior management and committees.
• Maintain compliance-related risk registers and action plans.
• Analyse compliance data and identify trends requiring attention.
• Escalate significant compliance concerns to the Compliance and Internal Audit Manager or relevant senior staff.
• Support the preparation of annual compliance reports, governance reports, and regulatory submissions.
• Contribute to institutional risk management and assurance activities.

Person Specification

Essential

• Educated to degree level or equivalent experience.
• Experience in compliance, audit, governance, quality assurance, risk management, or administration within a regulated environment.
• Understanding of regulatory compliance and assurance principles.
• Experience maintaining records, reports, databases, or compliance documentation.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent attention to detail and accuracy.
• Ability to interpret policies, procedures, and regulatory requirements.
• Strong organisational skills with the ability to manage competing priorities.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office, particularly Excel, Word, and PowerPoint.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to work collaboratively with a range of stakeholders.

Desirable

• Experience within a higher education provider.
• Knowledge of the Office for Students (OfS) Regulatory Framework.
• Understanding of CMA requirements, UK GDPR, Prevent, safeguarding, and related compliance requirements.
• Experience supporting internal audits, compliance reviews, or external inspections.
• Experience using risk registers, action tracking systems, or compliance dashboards.
• Professional qualification or training in compliance, audit, governance, risk management, or quality assurance.

Benefits

• Annual leave (7.2 weeks)
• Workplace pension scheme.
• Company Sick Pay.
• Statutory maternity and paternity pay.
• Employee Assistance Programme (HA Wisdom Wellbeing)
• Virtual GP access (Livi)
• 'Speak Up Service' - confidential support service to report any workplace concerns
• Specialist physical and mental wellbeing support services with 24/7 confidential counselling support (Wisdom)
• Specialist menopause support, including online CBT (Wisdom)
• Financial, legal and medical advice services provided (Wisdom)
• Life & Leadership coaching (Wisdom)
• Financial coaching (MUNNY)
• Discounts and perks, offering savings on shopping, activities and more (Bright Exchange)
• Self development and Self taught trainings.