Overview:

Location - Staines

Purpose statement:

• To drive a culture where customers are treated fairly across the Energy and FS businesses and collaborate with other "2nd Line of defence" functions across Centrica Group to develop/maintain an integrated & aligned approach to managing the risk of compliance with Laws and Regulations, to protect the profitability of the business, support positive customer outcomes, and protect the licence to operate.
• To provide independent, unbiased and impartial advice on Ofgem and FCA related issues. Act as a trusted partner to the Group in providing pragmatic advice which facilitates senior management in making strategic and operational decisions which is consistent with the firms regulatory and conduct risk appetite.
• To be a trusted advisor and a compliance professional who has demonstrated the ability to work with the first line of defence whilst exercising support and challenge as a second line team member.
• Input into the design of the Ethics & Compliance Advice Plan, providing advice, feedback and challenge as appropriate.

Accountabilities:

• Provide input into the Compliance Advice Methodology and annual Compliance Plan to ensure it remains effective.
• Maintain close working relationships with LRECS colleagues (e.g. Assurance & Governance, Regulation teams etc.) that sit outside of Advice with a view to maximising the efficiency and effectiveness of the overall E&C Compliance framework.
• Contribute to the Ethics & Compliance Advice Programme through the provision of advice to employees and strategic partners of Centrica who undertake regulated activities (Ofgem & FCA). The advice that you will provide will ensure that key compliance and conduct risks are appropriately identified, managed, and mitigated, in accordance with regulatory requirements and the business appetite for risk.
• To maintain a log of all material regulatory and conduct advice provided to key stakeholders. This will enable the E&C function to evidence that consistent and well thought through advice is provided to inform key stakeholders of potential impact of regulatory/conduct risks to facilitate informed management action.
• Understand regulatory developments, rules and guidance to determine what impact they may have on the business and provide pragmatic advice to senior management to enable them to effectively discharge their responsibilities.
• To escalate issues, risks and trends arising from advice and oversight activity to ensure the Advice Manager and other business stakeholders are engaged in a timely manner.
• Monitor management information, including Conduct Risk MI, looking for adverse trends and areas of concern. Feed concerns into the Advice & Assurance Manager, Compliance Advice & Assurance Plan and the Risk Universe as appropriate.
• Conduct regular call listening & testing as requested by the Advice Manager or Head of Compliance Advice & Governance in order that advisory resource can be flexed to concentrate on primary areas of risk.

Competencies:

• Awareness and experience of working in a regulated environment and understanding of a regulatory framework in FS or the UK energy market.
• Evaluate the materiality of issues/risks for customer and business impact and assess the adequacy of proposed remedial actions along with the timescales required to deliver them.
• Proven oral and written communication skills with the ability to explain complex compliance requirements and prove pragmatic advice to stakeholders.
• Engage with stakeholders in an open, honest, and productive manner to promote collaborative working.
• Effectively manage stakeholders and senior management during meetings by adapting the style of communication to suit the situation and the individual.

Work Experience:

• Experience in ethics & compliance advice in a team under regulatory oversight (e.g. from FCA/Ofgem) or educated to degree standard (Law or Economics degree preferable) with aspiration to work in a high performing regulatory function.