Governance, Risk and Controls Manager

This role is offered on a secondment contract until mid-September 2027 to provide maternity leave cover.

As Governance, Risk and Control Manager, you will lead and deliver both recurring activities and time-bound initiatives that implement and embed effective governance, risk, control and compliance management across the first line. Your work will support one or more of the four core services: Risk Reporting and Insight, Controls Modernisation and Automation, Risk and Control Services, and Consumer Duty and Compliance.

You will support the Head of Group Governance, Risk and Control Services and Senior Managers in delivering the annual plan, strengthening compliance with the Group Risk Management Framework and enhancing the maturity of first-line risk, control and compliance management.

Assignments may include risk appetite, scenario analysis, BCBS compliance activity, regulatory compliance, Consumer Duty reporting, controls automation, and broader service or framework improvements. You will translate stakeholder requirements into clear delivery plans and measurable outcomes, applying structured delivery disciplines to meet agreed timescales, budgets and quality expectations.

Acting as a subject matter expert on the Group Risk Management Framework, you will provide advice, guidance, constructive challenge and thought leadership to first-line risk practitioners and senior stakeholders. You will work across the three lines of defence and support Society-wide responses to relevant regulatory reviews, enquiries and thematic activity.

This is an opportunity for an adaptable and influential risk professional to lead virtual teams, solve complex Society-wide challenges and improve the quality, consistency, scalability and efficiency of Group Governance, Risk and Control Services. Through simplification, modernisation, reporting, automation, data and technology, you will help enhance the way risk and control services are delivered across Nationwide.

We are happy to consider flexible working approaches to help you perform at your best.

This is a 10-month secondment opportunity.

At Nationwide we offer hybrid working wherever possible. More rewarding relationships are supported through our hybrid approach, bringing colleagues together across our UK wide estate, whilst also supporting generous access to home working. We value our time in the office to solve problems, to learn, and to feel connected.

For this job, you'll spend at least two days per week, or if part-time, you'll spend 40% of your working time, based at our Swindon, London or Glasgow office. If you’re based at our Glasgow office, this will apply from 1 April 2027 and ahead of that there will be a need to regularly connect with colleagues for collaboration events. There will also be a need to attend a quarterly meeting in either Swindon or London. If your application is successful, your hiring manager will provide further details on how this works.

You can also find out more about our approach to hybrid working here.

Whilst these locations are where we are primarily looking to fill the role, if you’re an internal applicant based in a different location, we would welcome your application and, if successful, your hiring manager will provide further details on how this could work for this specific role.

Nationwide is committed to the redeployment of our employees impacted by change, as such applications for redeployment candidates will be prioritised in this recruitment process.

If you’re a colleague on long-term absence (for example, on parental leave) or a temporary worker, please use your personal email address to submit an application.

What you’ll be doing

You'll play a key role in strengthening governance, risk, control and compliance management across the first line, leading a blend of recurring activities and strategic initiatives that help Nationwide meet its regulatory, risk and governance obligations. Your work could include supporting areas such as risk appetite, scenario analysis, BCBS compliance, regulatory compliance, Consumer Duty reporting and controls automation, ensuring these activities align with the Group Risk Management Framework and wider Society governance requirements.

Working closely with senior leaders and stakeholders, you'll translate business requirements into clear plans and achievable outcomes, applying structured delivery disciplines to ensure activity is delivered to agreed timescales, budgets and quality standards. You'll build strong, trusted relationships across the organisation, providing constructive challenge where appropriate and helping stakeholders navigate risk, dependencies and competing priorities.

As a subject matter expert in governance, risk, control and compliance, you'll provide advice, guidance and thought leadership, supporting the practical and consistent application of the Group Risk Management Framework. You'll collaborate across the three lines of defence, leading virtual teams to deliver complex, Society-wide outcomes and supporting a broad range of regulatory, policy, control and risk management activities.

You'll also play an important role in the wider success of Group Governance, Risk and Control Services, deputising for the Senior Manager, Governance, Risk and Control at key meetings, committees and forums, and supporting recruitment, selection and onboarding activities across the team.

Continuous improvement will be central to your approach. You'll identify opportunities to simplify and modernise processes, using data, reporting, automation, technology and process improvement techniques to enhance insight, scalability, efficiency and service delivery. By staying up to date with external developments and industry best practice, you'll bring fresh thinking and relevant insights that help improve outcomes for colleagues, customers and the Society as a whole.

About you

Essential measurable experience:

• Significant experience of risk management and the practical application of governance, risk and control frameworks within a first-line role in financial services or a similarly regulated environment, including the use of GRC systems

• Technical experience across governance, risk, control, compliance, reporting, insight, service delivery or change activities within a three-lines-of-defence environment. An industry-recognised qualification, or a willingness to work towards one, would be advantageous

• Proven experience of leading virtual teams to deliver specific, time-bound initiatives, service improvements and complex Society-wide outcomes

• Strong stakeholder management skills across the three lines of defence, including providing consultancy, advice, constructive challenge and influence at senior stakeholder level

• Excellent facilitation, written and verbal communication skills, with experience leading workshops, delivering training, facilitating project meetings and producing clear, concise Executive and Board-level papers

• Strong strategic and analytical thinking skills, coupled with learning agility and sound judgement, with the ability to translate complex requirements into practical solutions and resolve challenges where established procedures may not exist

• A strong commitment to high standards, continuous improvement and professional development, with the ability to deliver at pace while responding positively to robust challenge

Our customer first behaviours put customers and members at the heart of how we work together. They are the set of behaviours that every colleague needs to display, in every role:

• Feel what customers feel - We step into our customers’ shoes, using their feedback and insights to empathise with them and to understand their needs, so that every decision we make starts and finishes with our customers in mind
• Say it straight - We are brave in speaking out and saying what we think – we’re honest and direct with good intent, openly sharing diverse perspectives to reach the best conclusions and using language everyone can understand
• Push for better - We don’t settle for mediocrity, we challenge the status quo, taking responsibility for continuous improvement and personal development
• Get it done - We prioritise what will have the greatest impact, we are decisive, and we take accountability for delivering brilliant customer outcomes

You can strengthen your application by showing how our customer first behaviours resonate with you, and where you may have already demonstrated these.

The extras you'll get

There are all sorts of employee benefits available at Nationwide, including:

• 25 days holiday, pro rata
• Private medical insurance
• A highly competitive pension to help you build a strong foundation for retirement
• Access to an annual performance-related bonus
• Training and development to help you progress your career
• A great selection of additional benefits through our salary sacrifice scheme
• Life assurance to provide peace of mind for you and your loved ones in the event of your death
• Wellhub – access to a range of free and paid options for health and wellness
• Up to 2 days of paid volunteering a year

Banking – but fairer, more rewarding, and for the good of society

We forge our own path at Nationwide.

As a mutual, we’re owned by our members - those customers who bank, save or have a mortgage with us. We challenge the financial sector status quo. We don’t see customers as the engine of our own profit. We share our profits with them and put their needs first. Always there when they need us. Supporting them and their lives.

If you’re inspired by fairer finances, passionate about making a meaningful impact, and truly care about our customers, you’re one of us.

At Nationwide, you are challenged to grow and rewarded for doing so. Valued. Recognised. Inspired to be your best. As a community, we want our working lives to count. As a team, we celebrate what we achieve. As a standard-setter, we work for the good of customers, communities, and broader society.

We are purpose-driven. Uncompromisingly customer. Unstoppably Nationwide.

What to do next

If this role is for you, please click the ‘Apply Now’ button. You’ll need to attach your up-to-date CV and answer a few quick questions for us.

We respond to everyone, so we will be in contact shortly after the closing date to let you know the outcome of your application.

Keeping your data and personal information confidential is important to us. To find out more about how we use and process your data, please read our Privacy policy.

If you want to find out more about using AI in our recruitment process, please read more here.

Disability Confident

We’re not just guided by data, we’re driven by the real experiences of our people. We’re a Disability Confident Level 3 Leader, the highest level.

That’s why we’re constantly evolving our policies and practices to make sure everyone feels genuinely supported, valued, and empowered to champion inclusion. Whatever your needs, we’re here to support you. If you need any additional support throughout your application journey, email our team at Recruitment Support.

Apply safely with Nationwide

Recruitment scams can look convincing, so take a moment to check the role is listed on our official careers site and read our guidance on Don’t be conned by a job scam.

The hiring manager for this role is David Taylor, and the main recruitment contact is Sameena Rehman.

Interviews for this position are expected to take place from the week commencing the 11th November. We will let you know the outcome of your application shortly after the closing date. If you are shortlisted, we will share further details with you about the interview process.

Please note that should you be successful in securing this role, the job title on our internal systems will be Manager Framework Implementation.