Governance Assistant

An exciting and rare opportunity to provide hands-on support to the Governance Manager in delivering the governance and risk assurance plan. This varied and dynamic role involves supporting key governance processes, including the assurance framework, risk registers, policy management, compliance monitoring, and continuous process improvement. You will work closely with internal teams and branch operations, gaining exposure to the full breadth of governance activities. This role is ideal for someone looking to start their career in governance or develop their skills further, offering a supportive environment to learn, grow, and make a real impact.

Key Tasks

• Support the maintenance of the Group risk registers, help coordinate risk updates with owners, ensure information is up-to-date, and prepare concise summaries for stakeholders.
• Support the delivery of the Internal Assurance Framework program, assist with risk assessments, documenting controls and assist with periodic assurance assessments.
• Assist with building, maintaining and monitoring KRI (Key Risk Indicator) reports. Maintain clear assurance testing results within the Governance Risk & Control (GRC) system and produce clear reports for management using Excel, Word, and PowerPoint.
• Help manage the policy lifecycle: by maintaining the policy library, track ownership and review dates, and support updates.
• Assist with development of governance training and awareness activities and manage records of completion.
• Assist with preparation of governance meeting papers and Audit Committee packs, checking for accuracy and completeness.
• Support on compliance monitoring activities such as Anti-Money Laundering and GDPR, and other relevant regulations and legislations.
• Assist with Subject Access Requests (SAR) by helping gather information and tracking timelines.
• Provide support to branches, acting as a point of contact to record governance-related queries and issues for review.
• Assist with internal investigations, helping document and organise documentation and maintain confidentiality of records.
• Help capture and share best practice across branches, and document processes and standard operating procedures.
• Support continuous improvement of governance processes, and maintain tidy, auditable documentation within the GRC system.

Do you have experience in Visio?, Key Skill Requirements:

• Inquisitive nature, able to work under own initiative, with a strong willingness to learn.
• Excellent written communication; able to turn issues into clear, succinct narrative.
• Good analytical skills with competence in IT systems such as Excel, Word, PowerPoint; comfortable handling datasets.
• Critical thinking with the ability to understand problems and suggest improvements.
• Strong organisational skills; ability to manage multiple tasks and stakeholders.
• Approachable and collaborative, comfortable working across teams and with senior stakeholders.
• Essential ability to handle sensitive information with discretion.

Desirable but not essential:

• Experience working in a fast-paced office or operational environment.
• Basic awareness of risk assessments, control frameworks and walkthrough/testing methods
• Experience with process mapping tools (e.g. Visio,) and/or basic data visualization.
• Awareness of basic risk principles, internal controls, compliance, or closely related discipline.
• Relevant experience or study in business, compliance, risk or governance (however relevant training and educational opportunities will be offered).

• A competitive pay package.
• Generous discretionary bonus scheme
• Substantial staff discounts
• Training and development opportunities
• Holiday scheme which rewards length of service
• Holiday Purchase Scheme
• Perkbox discounts
• Contributory pension scheme
• Financial Planning Support
• Cycle to work scheme.
• Free parking
• Enhanced Maternity
• Enhanced Paternity
• Employee Assistance Programme
• Mental Health Support For any queries please call: 01482 262280

MKM is one of the fastest growing independent Builders Merchants in the UK and this role works directly with the Governance Manager of a business operating over 135 sites across the UK. With its unique business model which sees Branch Directors part-owning their branches, this results in a highly empowered culture with branches outperforming their competitors by some way. The business continues to grow rapidly with multiple new branch openings planned each year going forwards.