Governance Officer Job Description and Responsibilities

The Governance Officer role is for candidates with experience in compliance, risk management and corporate governance who can ensure effective oversight of policies, controls and regulatory obligations. Suitable applicants are detail oriented, confident in interpreting regulation and able to collaborate across functions to embed good governance into business operations.

Governance Officer Job Profile

The Governance Officer provides operational support for the organisation's governance framework, ensuring policies, procedures and reporting meet legal and regulatory requirements. This role focuses on maintaining internal controls, coordinating governance activities and delivering accurate governance information to senior stakeholders.

The postholder acts as a first point of contact for governance queries, supports board and committee processes and helps to drive continuous improvement in governance practice. The role requires clear communication, sound judgement and the ability to manage competing priorities within a regulated environment.

Governance Officer Job Description

The Governance Officer is responsible for implementing and maintaining governance processes that support corporate objectives and regulatory compliance. This includes preparing agendas and minutes for governance committees, maintaining policy registers, and ensuring that decisions are tracked and actioned in a timely manner. The role works closely with legal, risk, finance and operational teams to ensure consistent application of governance standards across the organisation.

In day to day work the Governance Officer will perform compliance monitoring, collate management information and produce periodic governance reports for executive and board review. The role requires proactive identification of control gaps and coordination of remediation activities, including preparing materials for internal and external audits. The officer will also support policy development and review, ensuring documents are current, approved and communicated appropriately.

The position involves engagement with regulators and stakeholders where required, and a responsibility to promote a culture of accountability and ethical behaviour. The Governance Officer will be expected to recommend improvements to governance arrangements, contribute to training and awareness activities and maintain comprehensive records that demonstrate governance effectiveness.

Governance Officer: Duties and Responsibilities

• Maintain and update the corporate governance framework, policy register and related documentation.
• Prepare agendas, papers and minutes for board, committee and working group meetings.
• Coordinate follow up on board and committee actions to ensure timely closure.
• Monitor regulatory developments and assess implications for governance and compliance.
• Conduct routine compliance checks and support targeted assurance reviews.
• Compile and present governance reports and management information to senior stakeholders.
• Support development, review and approval of policies, procedures and codes of conduct.
• Assist with the preparation and coordination of internal and external audits.
• Identify control weaknesses and liaise with business owners to implement remediation plans.
• Maintain registers of interests, gifts and hospitality and other compliance records.
• Provide guidance to colleagues on governance requirements and best practice.
• Support regulatory engagement and the preparation of returns or responses where necessary.
• Contribute to governance training, awareness campaigns and onboarding activities.
• Ensure secure storage and retention of governance documentation and evidence.

Governance Officer: Requirements and Qualifications

• Degree in law, business, governance, risk management or related discipline, or equivalent experience.
• 2 to 5 years practical experience in governance, compliance, risk or legal function within a regulated environment.
• Good understanding of corporate governance principles, regulatory regimes and compliance obligations.
• Proven ability to prepare high quality governance papers, reports and minutes.
• Strong attention to detail and a methodical approach to record keeping and documentation.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills with the ability to influence stakeholders.
• Demonstrable analytical skills and the ability to interpret regulatory requirements.
• Organisational skills with the ability to prioritise workload and manage multiple tasks.
• Experience supporting audit processes and remediation activities.
• Integrity, discretion and the ability to handle confidential information appropriately.
• Ability to work collaboratively across teams and to build effective working relationships.
• Professional qualifications in governance, compliance or risk management desirable but not essential.