Head of Control Assurance

About the role

Export Finance Australia (EFA), Australia's export credit agency, is looking for a Head of Control Assurance in Sydney. The role leads the enterprise control assurance function, giving independent, evidence-based insight into the design and effectiveness of key controls and driving improvements in control ownership, risk management and business processes. It advises the General Manager, Risk & Compliance, the Executive and relevant governance committees, and leads a specialist team.

Key responsibilities

• Set and lead the strategy, framework and delivery approach for the enterprise control assurance function, aligned with EFA's strategic priorities and risk profile.
• Lead the Line 2 control assurance function, covering methodology, planning, scoping, testing, quality review, reporting and communication of findings.
• Engage with internal auditors on their Internal Audit Plan coverage and scope, and identify systemic themes and cross-functional control dependencies.
• Advise the Executive and governance committees on control effectiveness, assurance outcomes, systemic issues and remediation, and report to the Executive Committee and BARC.
• Lead and improve the six-monthly attestations process and develop control assurance capability across Line 1 teams through guidance, tools and minimum standards.
• Develop reporting of the Integrated Assurance Plan and testing results in the Protecht enterprise risk management system, and carry out front-to-back process and system reviews.
• Lead, develop and motivate the Control Assurance team, and coach the wider Risk & Compliance function.

Required profile

• Minimum 10 years' experience in risk or internal audit in a government or financial services environment.
• Degree in a relevant discipline such as governance or risk (e.g. RMI or CAANZ).
• Australian citizenship at the time of application, and ability to obtain and maintain a baseline security clearance.

Required skills

• Demonstrated experience setting and leading a control assurance strategy, framework or methodology.
• Experience advising senior executives and governance committees on material control matters.
• Strong understanding of enterprise risk, including operational and reputational risk, and the regulatory landscape.
• Leadership, coaching and business partnering skills, with strong communication and time management.

What we offer

• Flexible working in a hybrid environment.
• Generous leave provisions and 18 weeks of paid parental leave.
• Fitness Passport and health and wellbeing initiatives, income protection insurance and gender affirmation leave.

Applications close on 8 November 2026; candidates apply by sending their CV to the employer's careers team.