Compliance & Audit Manager
Permanent
Location: Bedford
Hours: Full time, 50 hours a week, 10 hours a day
Pay: £70,000 - £75,000 pa
We are looking for a highly organised and detail-driven Compliance & Audit Manager to play a critical role on a major infrastructure project. This is a unique opportunity to take ownership of compliance, audit and assurance activities, ensuring the project meets all contractual, statutory and governance requirements from construction through to operation.
If you thrive in a fast-paced, complex environment and have a passion for governance, audit and continuous improvement, we want to hear from you.
About the Role:
As Compliance & Audit Manager, you will lead the development and delivery of robust compliance systems, provide independent assurance on controls, and ensure readiness for audits, regulatory inspections and key project milestones.
A key focus will be maintaining compliance with the project's Special Development Order (SDO) obligations, supporting construction, opening and operational phases.
You will be responsible for:
- Develop and maintain robust compliance frameworks, ensuring adherence to contractual, statutory, governance and planning requirements
- Manage and track all Special Development Order (SDO) obligations, including submissions, approvals, evidence and deadlines
- Plan and deliver a comprehensive audit and assurance programme, providing independent reporting to senior leadership and clients
- Identify, manage and resolve non-conformances, ensuring corrective and preventative actions are implemented effectively
- Oversee document control processes, maintaining accurate, audit-ready records and evidence packs for all project stages
- Ensure compliance across construction, environmental and site activities, including monitoring, inspections and approved plans
- Collaborate with internal teams, contractors and external stakeholders to support regulatory compliance and audit readiness
- Drive continuous improvement using audit findings, compliance data and lessons learned to enhance systems and performance
Why Join Us?
- Annual leave entitlement of 5.6 weeks
- Lifestyle Benefits – Mortgage and financial advice, vouchers for various shopping outlets and food stores, employee referral scheme.
- Learning & Development – we actively encourage progression and offer various eLearning courses, progression, training whilst on site, apprenticeships, and in-house training courses.
- Health and Wellbeing – Life assurance scheme, access to mental health support specialists
- Access to an Online GP for you and your dependents.
- Financial support
- Discounts on hundreds of retail sites
- Progression opportunities – many of our team go on to senior and site management roles
- A welcoming, respectful team culture
- Cycle to Work scheme
What we are looking for:
Essential Skills & Experience:
- Proven background in compliance, audit or assurance roles
- Strong understanding of governance frameworks and audit methodologies
- Experience managing non-conformances and corrective actions
- Knowledge of regulatory and planning compliance (e.g. SDO, DCO, S106)
- Excellent analytical, reporting and stakeholder engagement skills
- Experience building compliance registers, dashboards and audit-ready systems
- Ability to manage multiple priorities and statutory deadlines
Desirable:
- Degree in Business, Compliance, Risk, Construction or related field
- Professional certification (ISO Lead Auditor, IRCA, CQI, IEMA, etc.)
- Knowledge of ISO 9001, ISO 14001, ISO 45001
Interested? Apply now and secure your future with us!
Please be aware that, on occasion, we may close a vacancy earlier than the advertised deadline if we receive a high volume of strong applications
Wilson James is an equal opportunities employer and welcomes applications from all suitably qualified persons regardless of their race, sex, disability, religion/belief, sexual orientation or age. A criminal conviction will not necessarily be a bar to obtaining a position, however each case will be assessed on an individual basis. For information about Wilson James' commitment to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion, https://wilsonjames.co.uk/sustainability
Wilson James have been raising standards in security, construction logistics, aviation services, and technology for over 30 years. With 5,000 employees and a presence across over 300 client sites all over the UK, we are dedicated to delivering tailored solutions and top-tier customer service. As a leading managed service provider, we prioritise safety, efficiency, and customer satisfaction. Joining Wilson James offers the excitement of working with diverse, vibrant clients, making for a dynamic and engaging workplace.
Internal Applicants
At Wilson James, we support career growth and offer internal mobility to help employees explore new roles and advance within the company. Committed to promoting from within, we provide clear career pathways and continuous skill development. Unlock your potential by applying for exciting internal opportunities and new challenge. If you are currently employed under TUPE terms and conditions, please note that successful appointment to this role will be on Wilson James standard terms and conditions.
