Technology Risk & Controls Lead, ET & Corporate

WPP is the trusted growth partner for the world’s leading brands. We unite cutting-edge media intelligence and data solutions, world-class creativity, next-generation production, transformative enterprise solutions and expert strategic counsel in a single company – powered by exceptional talent and our agentic marketing platform, WPP Open, to help our clients navigate change, capture opportunity and deliver transformational growth. We work with the world's most valuable brands and have global reach across 100+ markets, with deep local expertise. Our people are the key to our success. We're committed to fostering a culture of creativity, belonging and continuous learning, attracting and developing the brightest talent, and providing exciting career opportunities that help our people grow. For more information, visit WPP.com. Why we're hiring: This role is responsible for leading the second-line controls assurance function across Business Platforms and Corporate applications and infrastructure, with a strong focus on IT General Controls (ITGC), SOX compliance, and audit readiness. As a key member of the central assurance team, you will drive the design, rollout, and continuous improvement of the controls assurance programme, ensuring a consistent, risk-based, and auditable controls environment across all in-scope systems. You will play a strategic role in shaping WPP’s compliance and controls posture to be more consistent, standardised, and repeatable. The focus is on enhancing control effectiveness while simplifying processes, leveraging automation, data-driven insights, and AI / agentic assurance capabilities to reduce audit burden and improve transparency of control performance. The role will also build and lead a high-performing team, embedding a culture of accountability, proactive risk management, and continuous improvement across the organisation. What you'll be doing: Team Leadership • Lead, coach, and develop a team of analysts supporting controls assurance activities. • Ensure high quality analysis, consistency of approach, and team capability growth. Strategic Contribution • Shape and improve WPP’s compliance and controls strategy across Business Platform and Corporate applications and infrastructure • Identify opportunities to enhance control maturity, simplify controls landscape and reduce risk. Controls Assurance Leadership (ITGC/ SOX Focus) • Own and lead the design and execution of the controls assurance programme across Business Platforms and Corporate • Act as the key interface with Internal and External auditors, ability to challenge testing discrepancies, scope creep or invalid findings • Ability to provide pragmatic remediation guidance Data, Reporting & Insight • Design and deliver dashboards and leadership-level reporting, providing real-time visibility of control effectiveness, audit findings/ themes and risk exposure trends AI/ Agentic Assurance Innovation • Lead the introduction and adoption of AI-enabled and agentic assurance approaches to enhance continuous controls monitoring, automated evidence validation and assurance Stakeholder Management & First-Line Enablement • Partner with IT, Finance, and Business teams to reinforce first-line ownership of controls, and understand interdependencies between IT and Finance controls • Act as a trusted advisor to senior stakeholders, translating complex risk and control issues into actionable insights What you'll need: Qualification Requirements (Desirable) • Strong experience in IT audit, ITGC and SOX compliance (SOX 404) • Experience designing and delivering controls assurance programmes at scale • Certifications such as CISA, CIA, CRISC advantageous. Skills / Experience Requirements • Proven ability to apply risk-based assurance approaches • Demonstrated experience leading and developing high-performing teams • Ability to operate at both strategic and hands-on level • Excellent documentation and communication skills. • Ability to operate in fast paced, multi…