Gurtej Rathore

Appointed to lead the transformation of Sport England’s risk and assurance function, I delivered a strategic, risk-based assurance programme aligned with government functional standards and public sector duties.

With full oversight of the corporate control environment and operational assurance, I gave the Executive Team and Board the insight and confidence to make informed, high-impact decisions. Leading training for the ELT and Board on risk appetite and tolerance, bridging the gap between strategic intent and governance and risk management operationalisation.

I inherited 144 outstanding internal audit actions and reduced these to 22 within 12 months, an organisation-wide improvement driven by designing and implementing a fit-for-purpose Governance, Risk and Compliance (GRC) framework.

This integrated internal audit with principal risk oversight, risk appetite, and tolerance across investment decision-making, governance structures, and strategic planning. The approach directly supported the organisation’s transformation and embedded a culture of accountability.

• Enterprise Risk Management: Designed and implemented a risk management framework, focusing on principal risks and value-driven investments.

• Integrated Assurance: Delivered impactful assurance activities aligned with the Integrated Assurance and Approvals Plan (IAAP), prioritising high-impact areas tied to strategic risks.

• Governance and Compliance: Developed anti-bribery, fraud, and whistleblowing policies, supported by training programs. Refined the risk and assurance universe to address governance gaps and drive continuous improvement.

• Counter-Fraud Strategy: Led fraud detection and prevention initiatives, managing external investigations and embedding counter-fraud tools into financial decisions.

• Strategic Stakeholder Engagement: Collaborated with senior leaders to embed a culture of accountability, integrating risk management into planning and execution. Delivered workshops to enhance knowledge and foster informed decisions.

• Transformational Change: Led transformational change audits and integrated assurance activities across international business units, including the UK, Ireland, Germany, Belgium, Spain, and Portugal.

• Project Lifecycle and Governance: Developed a robust assurance and governance lifecycle for ERM and CRM programs, focusing on enhancing governance, operational efficiency, and risk management practices.

• Technology and AI Integration: Introduced innovative assurance methodologies, including AI and data analytics, to improve audit effectiveness, streamline

processes.

• Audit and Risk Framework Development: Played a pivotal role in developing and advancing ISG’s internal audit and risk framework.

• Specialist Commercial Audits: Embedded specialist commercial audits across the most significant contracts and international sites, establishing clear measures to control and detect margin error.

• Integrated Assurance: Conducted public sector framework audits (MOJ, MOD, CCSS, DFE), ensuring compliance with legal frameworks and implementing an Orange Book approach to risk management.

• Counter-Fraud Oversight: Led whistleblowing case management and fraud investigations.

As a result of rapidly accumulating a wealth of knowledge across the Bovis Homes business, I earned a promotion to the role of Commercial Audit Manager at Vistry Group. This role highlights my leadership, operational expertise, effective communication with senior leaders, and contributions to risk management and process enhancement. During this tenure, I encountered and adeptly surmounted various challenges, including:

· Recruiting resources and effectively managing a team to facilitate plan execution.

· Developing a comprehensive Commercial Audit plan and successfully obtaining formal approval

· Crafting a new audit cycle, including scope, reports and RCMS.

My role involved the following key responsibilities:

Building the Commercial Audit Function: Created and led the Commercial Audit function, introducing a comprehensive audit plan and a new audit cycle to provide a strategic and holistic view of the organisation’s control environment.

Harmonisation of Processes and Controls: Standardised processes and controls across 23 business units, including during the integration of Linden Homes and Galliford Try’s Partnerships division.

Complex Site and Joint Venture Audits: Audited sites worth over £150 million, including Joint Ventures, while implementing measures to enhance compliance and financial oversight

As a business partner at Bovis Homes, my role was focused on helping the organisation embed a risk framework, adopting a COSO-integrated risk-based approach. To successfully do this, stakeholder engagement was at the centre of the role. Some of the reviews and responsibilities of this role are detailed below:

· Managed and executed diverse assurance and advisory assignments.

· Delivered annual board-approved audits, including End-to-End regional, Joint Venture, financial forecasting, and treasury audits.

· Collaborated on Control Risk Self-Assurance exercises and audit action follow-ups.

· Led critical assignments, identified risks, evaluated controls, and reported recommendations.

· Notable reviews included NHBC Bond management, sales price analysis, and Project governance.

· Presented findings to senior management and the Audit and Risk Committee.

Assisting the Head of Governance in delivering the internal audit plan, working with a co-sourced internal audit team to complete strategic and operational audits, ensuring regulatory and statutory compliance as well as the adoption of best practices across the organisation.