Head of Internal Audit and Risk

The opportunity

We are looking for an experienced and commercially minded Head of Internal Audit and Risk to lead our group-wide internal audit, controls and risk capability.

Operating across the UK, US and Europe, we build, own and lease long-life infrastructure assets. As a private equity owned business, we operate in a fast-paced environment where strong governance, effective controls and clear visibility of risk are critical to supporting investment decisions, protecting value and enabling sustainable growth.

This is a high-profile role with direct exposure to the Board, Audit Committee and private equity owners. You will provide independent, pragmatic insight into the effectiveness of our financial controls, key business processes, capital investment programmes and enterprise risks.

We are not looking to create unnecessary process or bureaucracy. We want an assurance and risk function that understands the commercial realities of the business, focuses on what matters most and helps leadership make better decisions.

What you'll be doing

You will lead a small team and take ownership of the group's internal audit and risk agenda, including:

• Developing and delivering a practical, risk-based internal audit plan focused on the areas that matter most to the business and its investors.
• Reviewing financial controls, commercial processes, asset build programmes, procurement, lease revenue, working capital and capital expenditure governance.
• Leading targeted reviews across project delivery, asset management, customer contracting, supplier management, revenue assurance, cost control, forecasting and financial reporting.
• Providing clear, concise and Board-ready reporting on findings, root causes, control weaknesses and agreed management actions.
• Assessing controls across multiple jurisdictions and identifying opportunities to strengthen governance while avoiding unnecessary complexity.
• Continuing to develop our enterprise risk framework, ensuring risks have clear ownership, appropriate mitigation plans and effective escalation.
• Helping senior leaders embed risk ownership into day-to-day decision-making, strategic priorities and value creation plans.
• Monitoring agreed remediation activity and ensuring actions translate into sustainable improvements.
• Coordinating with external audit, Finance, Tax, Legal and Compliance teams to ensure assurance activity is joined up and avoids duplication.
• Owning and delivering reporting associated with key risk oversight processes across the group.
• Building trusted relationships across our UK, US and European operations while maintaining the independence and objectivity required of the role.
• Leading and developing a team of two.

What we're looking for

You'll bring significant experience within internal audit, risk, controls, finance or assurance, ideally within a complex, multi-site or international organisation.

You'll also have:

• Strong knowledge of financial controls, business process auditing and risk-based assurance.
• A commercial mindset, with the judgement to focus on the risks and controls that genuinely impact value, cash, delivery, compliance and reputation.
• Experience presenting to and working with senior executives, Boards, Audit Committees, investors or private equity owners.
• The confidence to provide independent challenge while maintaining strong and constructive relationships with stakeholders.
• The ability to translate audit findings into practical actions and tangible business improvements.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to make complex issues clear and concise for senior audiences.
• A relevant professional qualification such as ACA, ACCA, CIMA or CIA, or equivalent relevant experience.
• Experience working across multiple countries or jurisdictions would be beneficial.
• Experience within infrastructure, telecommunications, real estate, asset leasing, construction, energy, transport or another capital-intensive environment would be particularly advantageous.

The person

You'll be someone who is naturally curious, credible and prepared to get into the detail when needed.

You'll be equally comfortable reviewing the effectiveness of a financial control, challenging the governance around a major capital programme and discussing the group's key risks with senior leadership.

Most importantly, you'll bring a pragmatic rather than theoretical approach to audit and risk.

You'll understand that effective assurance isn't about adding layers of process. It's about asking the right questions, identifying where the business is genuinely exposed and working with leadership to strengthen controls and decision-making.

Why join us?

This is an opportunity to take a highly visible role at the heart of an international, private equity owned business.

You'll have the scope to shape and develop the internal audit and risk capability, working closely with the CFO and senior leadership while gaining direct exposure to the Board, Audit Committee and owners.

For someone who enjoys combining technical expertise with commercial judgement, influence and the opportunity to make a tangible difference, this is a role with significant scope and impact.