Communications Controls Manager

At M&G our vision is: to become the best loved and most successful savings and investment business and we're looking for people who are excited about joining us on our journey. We're digitally transforming and investing heavily in technology and innovation to develop new and improved customer propositions that really raise the bar for our customers. To help us achieve our vision we're looking for exceptional people who live our values and behaviours and who can inspire others; embrace change; deliver results and keep it simple.

We know that an inclusive environment makes us more accessible and ensures we attract, engage, promote and retain exceptional people. We welcome applications from all individuals regardless of age, gender/gender identity, sexual orientation, ethnicity/nationality, disability, or military service and welcome those who have taken career breaks. We will consider flexible working arrangements or home working arrangements for any of our roles and also offer work place accommodations to ensure you have what you need to effectively deliver in your role.

What you can expect from us:
We are committed to creating an environment where you can be exceptional at all you do. To help us deliver this, we promise to:

• Challenge Your Limits by creating a stimulating working environment and providing opportunities for you to be involved in meaningful and challenging work
• Support Your Aspirations with a commitment to learning and development that helps you achieve and build your experience with people who want you to succeed
• Value Your Input whereby leaders and managers will involve you in key decisions, listen to your thoughts and recognise the important contribution you make
• Balance Your Life through a work life partnership that focuses on making this an inclusive, diverse and friendly place to work and offers the flexibility and support that enables everyone to be at their best

How do we support our employees:
All M&G plc employees will be supported in the workplace through our M&G Employee Assistance Programme (EAP). If you need counselling, confidential financial or legal advice. The service is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year and offers access to qualified professionals who can provide specialist information, advice and support on many issues. It offers a broad range of services, including help with family issues, maintaining work/life balance and mental health support.

The Role:
This role is primarily responsible for managing the review, approval and assurance of promotional communications for the range of funds created and managed across the Asset Management business. Partnering with key stakeholders within Asset Management as well as across Brand & Marketing and 2nd line Compliance, you will manage implementation and governance of the 'Global Communications Controls Framework' to meet the control requirements of the UK and global regulators. This role will report to Head of Global Distribution Governance and be a key part of the team deploying a robust control environment for Asset Management Communications.

Key Work Level Accountabilities:

Manager or Expert:

• For people managers, accountable for managing and motivating others to ensure quality of delivery to customers and stakeholders
• For technical specialists, accountable for delivering expert advice or service, using specialist knowledge and subject matter expertise
• Applies judgement to deliver outcomes, evaluating a range of potential solutions, considering the impact for customers, cost and risk
• Manages conflicts that may impact delivery
• Challenges upwards given knowledge of delivery and awareness of complex systems and the broader picture
• Identifies and anticipates need for changes to continuously improve quality and efficiency of output
• Manages resources and risks using expert judgment, know-how and experience

Key Responsibilities for this role:

• To work collaboratively with colleagues and take personal accountability to maintain and enhance controls you are responsible for to support improvement of the overall control environment, customers outcomes and a reduction in M&G's operational risk.
• Accountable for leading the global communications controls team within Asset Management to deliver consistent and compliant communications to customers and stakeholders.
• Deliver, fully embed and oversee controls for Asset Management communications, to fully implement the 'Global Communications Controls Framework'
• Operate assurance controls on communications approved by Asset Management staff on a delegated basis ('Business Approvals').
• Drive issue resolution across stakeholder groups to overcome challenges with delivery of promotional communications.
• Facilitate the introduction, maintenance and continuous improvement of technology to support implementation of Global Communications Controls Framework.
• Maintain RACI's for communications management and produce governance report to ensure adherence to the Global Communications Controls Framework and Asset Management risk & control requirements.
• Accountable for team's overall efficiency, ensuring all team members are appropriately trained and competent.
• Act as a liaison between teams within Asset Management and the Brand & Marketing function to establish, own and maintain product technical disclosures and information.
• Provide product technical support on questions arising from other teams, drawing on the SME input from specific Asset Management teams as needed.
• Establish a support model and co-ordinate the maintenance of promotional communications owned by Asset Management teams to ensure technically and factually consistent and accurate materials.
• Oversee end-to-end creation of fund technical marketing materials, including evidencing of permissions for use of 3rd party information. Feed into Brand & Marketing materials to ensure consistency by providing technical support to deliver key messages, product disclosures and approval of providing technical content in Brand & Marketing communications.
• Establish and maintain a support model to receive SME guidance from the Marketing Compliance team within Brand & Marketing and work in collaboration with them to deliver marketing related trainings, tools and guidance to Asset Management Teams.
• Drive continuous improvements to the customer experience through targeted monitoring activities of Asset Management communications.
• Actively contribute in sharing of best practices and know-how on all aspects of communications compliance to keep up-to-date on the latest developments.
• Liaise with and manage the relationship with Risk and Compliance Business Partners for Asset Management promotional communications.

Key Knowledge, Skills & Experience:

• Experienced team leader with in-depth knowledge of operational controls, risk management and quality assurance within financial services, preferably asset management.
• Must be investment literate with solid technical understanding of investment content.
• Strong delivery capabilities, able to deploy resource effectively and drive constant improvements to ways of working, standards, processes and controls.
• Rigorous attention to detail, planning and organization skills.
• Experience of applying regulatory requirements and embedding marketing control & governance policy.
• Strong relationship management skills, able to positively engage with a broad set of stakeholders.
• Basic understanding of key compliance and legislative requirements around financial promotion, data, social media, privacy, security and communication standards.
• Excellent verbal, written and influencing skills - in person and remotely. Able to understand the big picture and demonstrate attention to detail, driving out all of the relevant considerations as the basis for robust and sound decision making.
• Knowledge of investment concepts around asset classes and ESG investment, would be an advantage.
• Knowledge of M&G plc and our brands, products, services and distribution mechanisms is desirable.

Work Level: Manager or Expert
Recruiter Name: Emily Northcott

We live by four behaviours at M&G and we ask all our employees to:

• Inspire Others - Support and encourage each other, creating an environment where everyone can contribute and succeed
• Embrace Change - Be open to change, willing to be challenged and able to adapt quickly and imaginatively to new ideas
• Deliver Results - Focus on outcomes, set high standards and deliver with energy and determination
• Keep it Simple - Cut through complexity and bureaucracy, be clear and decisive and never overcomplicate things