Head of Internal Controls and Assurance
PlayTech is looking for an accomplished Head of Internal Controls and Assurance to shape and strengthen its global assurance and internal control agenda. This is a high-impact leadership role for a professional who can build sustainable, risk-based frameworks, lead complex control transformation and turn detailed findings into clear, balanced reporting for senior management and Board-level audiences.
The successful candidate will bring strong technical depth together with commercial judgement, a hands-on delivery mindset and the influence to embed effective controls across a complex, changing and internationally distributed business. The role involves partnering with Finance, Technology, Internal Audit, Risk and external audit to align assurance activity and minimise duplication.
- Develop and maintain PlayTech’s assurance and internal control strategy, framework and operating model.
- Lead financial, operational and technology control transformation programmes, including preparation for evolving governance, regulatory and reporting requirements.
- Oversee the design, implementation and ongoing operation of a robust financial reporting control framework with clear ownership, documentation, evidence and management accountability.
- Establish proportionate, risk-based scoping, testing, remediation, certification and ongoing monitoring processes.
- Prepare clear, accurate and concise draft reporting on control effectiveness for senior management and Board-level audiences.
- Drive timely remediation of control deficiencies and sustainable improvements to underlying processes.
- Partner with Finance, Technology, Internal Audit, Risk, external audit and business leaders to align assurance activity and minimise duplication.
- Strengthen controls over financial reporting, consolidation, access management, segregation of duties, system-generated reports and third-party assurance.
- Identify opportunities to simplify, standardise, centralise and automate controls while maintaining appropriate assurance.
- Use AI, data analytics and automation to enhance processes, improve control effectiveness and strengthen assurance outcomes.
- Build, lead and develop a high-performing assurance team with clear accountability and a strong culture of continuous improvement.
- Significant senior-level experience in assurance, internal controls, external audit, financial controls or a closely related discipline within a large, complex organisation (required).
- Proven ability to design, implement or transform enterprise-wide control frameworks with sustained improvements in control maturity (required).
- Understanding of financial reporting control frameworks, including entity-level controls, process and risk scoping, control documentation, management certification and evidence standards (required).
- Experience leading risk-based scoping, control design, operating-effectiveness testing, deficiency evaluation, remediation and ongoing monitoring (required).
- Strong understanding of financial reporting, consolidation, close processes and complex accounting judgements (required).
- Practical experience of General IT Controls, access governance, segregation of duties and assurance over system-generated information (required).
- Experience providing assurance over major systems or finance transformation programmes (required).
- Ability to build credibility with senior stakeholders and work effectively across Finance, Technology, Risk, Internal Audit and external audit (required).
- Ability to balance assurance requirements with proportionality, cost and operational practicality (required).
- Recognised professional accounting qualification such as ACA, ACCA, CPA or equivalent, supported by degree-level education or equivalent professional experience (required).
- Experience in a listed or multinational organisation (nice-to-have).
- Experience supporting major regulatory change or a significant financial control maturity and readiness programme (nice-to-have).
- Big Four or equivalent external audit experience (nice-to-have).
- Experience establishing centres of excellence or centralised assurance activities (nice-to-have).
- Experience developing or implementing control technology, data analytics or workflow solutions (nice-to-have).
- Experience identifying and applying AI-enabled solutions to improve controls, assurance activity, process efficiency and insight generation (nice-to-have).
- Exposure to shared services, complex third-party environments or international operating models (nice-to-have).
Playtech plc is one of the world's largest gambling technology companies, providing software, platforms and content to online and land-based operators. Founded in 1999 and registered in the Isle of Man, it supplies casino, live casino, sportsbook, bingo and poker products, along with its IMS player-management platform. The company also runs B2C operations, most notably the Snaitech business in Italy. Listed on the London Stock Exchange, Playtech employs thousands of people across offices worldwide.