Head of Group Ethics and Financial Crime

Location: Belfast, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom

Base Location: Glasgow, Perth, Reading, London, Belfast or Dublin

Salary: £101,000 - £151,400 + car allowance, performance-related bonus, benefits

Working Pattern: Permanent | Full Time | Flexible first options available

The role

We are seeking a dynamic and strategic leader for this high‑impact opportunity to lead the recently established Ethics and Financial Crime function. This role is responsible for understanding, monitoring and managing SSE’s statutory obligations and risk profile across ethical conduct and financial crime, adding value to the delivery of SSE’s strategic objectives. This role reports to the Director of Group Risk and Audit, playing a critical role in SSE’s strong governance framework and system of internal control to minimise the risk of punitive compliance‑related penalties or reputational damage.

Responsibilities

• Be responsible for leading the provision of subject matter expertise, insight, challenge and advice on financial crime and related anti‑corruption legislation and regulatory obligations and compliance across all relevant jurisdictions and ensure that SSE continues to meet its statutory obligations and is cognisant of areas of future risk.
• Uphold the highest standards of integrity, fairness and transparency across SSE in terms of ethical conduct, ensuring that the right controls and systems are implemented across the Group in the context of SSE’s statutory obligations and risk profile and embedded in SSE’s organisational culture.
• Recommend and execute a strategic, risk‑based approach to communications and training across the Group that promotes and positively influences employees’ behaviours in relation to ethics and financial crime, underpinned by support and coaching to SSE’s senior leaders ensuring that they set the tone from the top.
• Guide and motivate a team expected to deliver consistently high performance in line with its purpose and mandate, taking account of external stakeholder engagement and benchmarking to ensure continuous improvement.
• Support and be responsible for complex investigations on ethical and financial crime matters. You will be involved in triage, management and input to incidents, identifying appropriate action to be taken or future controls that can be put in place to address identified issues.

Qualifications

• Detailed knowledge and experience in advising, influencing and overseeing change management on fraud and financial crime, market abuse, money laundering, bribery and corruption, conflict of interest and ethical conduct, ideally within the energy sector or an organisation with a GB/Ireland/International footprint.
• The ability to interpret complex legislation, navigate between high level principles and detailed operational activities and solve problems pragmatically. Willing to make decisions both within your own area of responsibility and identify issues that have a wider commercial impact.
• Demonstrate success in constructively challenging and enhancing existing practices while maintaining high standards.
• A collaborative and adaptable leadership style with a global perspective; experienced in matrix environments and working across multi‑disciplinary teams, with the ability to engage effectively from Board level to frontline employees.
• An articulate, confident communicator and influencer, with exceptional written, verbal, presentation skills who can inspire and motivate others, and build good working relationships with external stakeholders.

About SSE

SSE has a bold ambition – to be a leading energy company in an increasingly electrified world. We’re investing around £33bn in critical electricity infrastructure across the five years to 2030. Our investment, c£18m a day, will see us build the world’s largest offshore wind farm and transform the grid to deliver greener electricity to millions.

Our Group Risk & Audit teams work across the Group to help protect SSE from harm and act as its critical friend. We bring an organised, disciplined approach to assess and improve the effectiveness of meeting all risk management, controls and governance responsibilities, including UK Corporate Governance Code obligations. We provide independent, objective assurance, consultancy and advice to add value and improve SSE’s operational activities, helping SSE meet its purpose and strategy.

Benefits

• Discounts on private healthcare and gym memberships.
• Wellbeing benefits like a free online GP and 24/7 counselling service.
• Interest‑free loans on tech and transport season tickets, or a new bike with our Cycle to Work scheme.
• Generous family entitlements such as maternity and adoption pay, and paternity leave.

Equal Opportunity

SSE will make any reasonable adjustments you need to ensure that your application and experience with us is positive. Please contact kimberlee.anderson@sse.com or 01738 341523 to discuss how we can support you.

We’re dedicated to fostering an open and inclusive workplace where people from all backgrounds can thrive. We create equal opportunities for everyone to succeed and especially welcome applications from those who may not be well represented in our workforce or industry.

Application

Start your online application using the Apply Now box on this page. We only accept applications made online. We’ll be in touch after the closing date to let you know if we’ll be taking your application further. If you’re offered a role with SSE, you’ll need to complete a criminality check and a credit check before you start work.

Seniority level

Executive

Employment type

Full‑time

Job function

Quality Assurance, Finance, and Accounting/Auditing

Industries

Utilities, Oil and Gas, and Renewable Energy Semiconductor Manufacturing