Cyber Essentials (CE) Assessor - UK (Remote)

About this role

*Salary:*£35,000 - £40,000 per annum (DOE)

About Cognisys

At Cognisys, we help organisations strengthen their security posture through expert Governance, Risk & Compliance (GRC) consulting, Penetration Testing and Managed Security Services.

Our consultants work alongside clients to solve complex security and compliance challenges, providing practical, business-focused advice that helps organisations build resilient security programmes and achieve regulatory compliance.

As we continue to grow our GRC Consulting practice, we're looking for a Cyber Essentials Assessor to join our expanding team.

The Opportunity

Cyber Essentials is often the first step organisations take on their cybersecurity journey, and the quality of that experience can shape how they approach security for years to come.

As a Cyber Essentials Consultant, you'll play a key role in helping organisations achieve and maintain Cyber Essentials and Cyber Essentials Plus certification. You'll guide clients through the certification process, provide practical security advice and ensure assessments are delivered accurately, efficiently and in line with the latest scheme requirements.

This is a client-facing consulting role where you'll combine technical knowledge with excellent communication skills, helping organisations understand not only what the certification requires, but why it matters to their business.

Working alongside our wider GRC Consulting team, you'll build trusted client relationships, support organisations in improving their security posture and contribute to the continued development of our Cyber Essentials service.

What You'll Be Doing

Client Consulting & Certification Delivery

• Lead clients through Cyber Essentials and Cyber Essentials Plus certification and recertification engagements..
• Conduct Cyber Essentials gap assessments, technical verification activities and certification reviews against the latest scheme requirements..
• Provide practical, business-focused advice to help clients improve their security posture and successfully achieve certification..
• Keep clients informed of changes to the Cyber Essentials scheme and evolving cybersecurity best practices..
• Build trusted relationships with clients by acting as a reliable advisor throughout the certification process..
• Ensure certification engagements are delivered accurately, efficiently and within agreed timescales..

Client Relationship Management

• Act as the primary point of contact for clients throughout Cyber Essentials engagements..
• Lead client onboarding sessions, progress reviews and certification meetings..
• Clearly explain technical findings, risks and remediation recommendations to both technical and non-technical stakeholders..
• Manage client expectations and proactively resolve issues or escalations..
• Support pre-sales discussions by providing technical input on Cyber Essentials services and certification requirements..

Continuous Improvement

• Produce high-quality client documentation and certification deliverables that meet Cognisys' standards for quality, consistency and professionalism..
• Maintain a strong understanding of changes to the Cyber Essentials and Cyber Essentials Plus schemes.
• Contribute to the development of internal processes, templates and delivery methodologies..
• Ensure Cognisys maintains its own Cyber Essentials certification and demonstrates the same security standards expected of our clients..
• Collaborate closely with colleagues across the GRC Consulting team to continually improve client outcomes and service delivery..

What Success Looks Like

Success in this role is about becoming a trusted advisor who makes the Cyber Essentials certification process straightforward, valuable and rewarding for clients.

You will

• Successfully deliver Cyber Essentials and Cyber Essentials Plus certification engagements, ensuring assessments are completed accurately, on time and in line with the latest scheme requirements.
• Build trusted relationships with clients by providing practical, commercially focused advice that helps them improve their security posture beyond simply achieving certification.
• Become a recognised subject matter expert within Cognisys for Cyber Essentials, keeping colleagues and clients informed of scheme updates and industry best practice..
• Produce clear, accurate and professional assessment reports and certification documentation that consistently meet Cognisys' quality standards.
• Effectively manage multiple client engagements simultaneously while maintaining exceptional organisation, communication and customer service.
• Support the continued growth of the Cyber Essentials practice by contributing to service improvements, delivery methodologies and internal knowledge sharing.
• Help maintain Cognisys' own Cyber Essentials certification and ensure we continue to demonstrate the security standards we advise our clients to achieve.
• Consistently embody Cognisys' values by taking ownership, delivering with excellence, collaborating as one team and always putting the client first.

About You

We're looking for someone who enjoys working with clients, solving security challenges and making cybersecurity accessible to organisations of all sizes.

You'll be naturally organised, proactive and comfortable managing multiple client engagements while communicating confidently with both technical and non-technical stakeholders.

Most importantly, you'll enjoy helping organisations strengthen their security posture through practical advice and exceptional client service.

Essential Skills & Experience

• Strong working knowledge of the Cyber Essentials and Cyber Essentials Plus certification schemes.
• Experience delivering, supporting or assessing Cyber Essentials engagements..
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills with the ability to explain technical concepts clearly to non-technical audiences.
• Experience conducting security assessments, compliance reviews or technical verification activities.
• Strong organisational skills with the ability to manage multiple client engagements simultaneously.
• Excellent written communication skills and attention to detail.
• A proactive, solution-focused approach with strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Comfortable working collaboratively across technical and consulting teams.

Desirable Skills & Experience

• Cyber Essentials Assessor status or previous experience acting as a Cyber Essentials Assessor.
• Previous consulting or client-facing experience within cybersecurity or professional services.
• Experience working with broader security frameworks such as ISO 27001, Cyber Essentials Plus, NIST or CIS Controls.
• Familiarity with Microsoft 365, Azure or endpoint security technologies.
• Experience supporting organisations through wider governance, risk and compliance initiatives.

Certifications

The following certifications are highly regarded

• Cyber Essentials Assessor.
• CompTIA Security+.
• CISSP (Certified Information Systems Security Professional).
• Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH).
• Microsoft Security Certifications (SC Series).
• ISO/IEC 27001 Lead Implementer or Lead Auditor.

Why Join Us?

At Cognisys, you will be part of a collaborative and innovative team that values your input and shares support. You'll have the opportunity to work on challenging projects that make a real impact for our clients. We'd love to hear from you if you want to challenge, lead and innovate! We're not just about the work; we're about the people. Join a team where innovation is celebrated, and your contributions are valued. We foster a collaborative environment where fresh ideas thrive, and professional growth is encouraged.

What we Offer

• Annual Leave: 25 days per year plus 8 English bank holidays.
• Additional Leave: 1 day of paid leave for your Birthday.
• Health & Wellbeing: Access to Westfield Health Care Cash Plan and an employee mental health and wellbeing platform.

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