Project assurance officer

Project Assurance Officer

Duration: 6 Months

Location: Milton Keynes & remote (hybrid)

Rate: £350 - £360 per day

IR35 Status: Inside

Start: ASAP

Role Overview

A Project Assurance Officer is required for our Government client with a strong understanding and experience of supporting PMO functions in complex, regulated project environments.

You will provide support to the delivery portfolio in terms of project assurance and governance, through the operation of project management processes, methodologies and governance; with the aim on minimising delivery risk and to allow projects to be delivered in line with agreed time, quality and cost metrics.

You will possess a strong understanding of project and programme governance, assurance frameworks, financial controls, and delivery oversight.

With a proven ability to produce accurate reporting, maintain control documentation, and support compliance with organisational standards.

Essential Skills & Experience required

As the Project Assurance Officer you will be highly proficient in Microsoft Excel and the wider Office Suite for data analysis and reporting.

Proactive and detail‑oriented who quickly adds value, works independently with minimal supervision, and collaborates effectively across multidisciplinary teams.

Demonstrable experience in a PMO or project support environment, ideally within technology, infrastructure, engineering, or public sector programmes.

Working knowledge of project and programme governance processes, including assurance and control frameworks.

Experience supporting project financial management, including budget tracking, forecasting, and variance reporting.

Understanding of project controls, including risk, issue, dependency, and change management (RAID).

Strong IT skills, particularly in Microsoft Office Suite, with advanced capability in Excel for reporting and analysis.

Ability to produce accurate, high‑quality reports and maintain assurance documentation.

Proven ability to work collaboratively within a team environment while supporting multiple stakeholders.

A self‑motivated and proactive approach, with the ability to work independently and manage competing priorities.

Desirable

• Professional membership of relevant bodies (e.g., RICS, CICES, APM, ICE).
• Experience in regulated, high complexity sectors (rail, nuclear, highways, utilities, aviation, defence).
• Legal or commercial qualifications.

Responsibilities

As the Project Assurance Officer you will:

• Undertake monthly cadence of assurance checks across the delivery portfolio at a project level, prioritising the work in accordance with strategic objectives.
• Organise and carry out regular project health checks with the project managers.
• Work with the project managers to ensure assurance activities are understood and actively managed.
• Gain assurance that delivery risks are being reported and mitigated, if required assist the project manager in the escalation of risk beyond the project.
• Provide assurance to Portfolio lead that projects adhere to agreed methodologies, processes and governance.
• Develop and produce monthly project compliance reporting to the business, liaising with the Project Management community where necessary to drive improvements to organisational project performance.
• Work with Business Improvement Manager and Project Assurance Manager to ensure root cause understood and implement fixes as required.
• Embed a culture of continuous improvement by providing iterative change to how delivery is governed and assured.
• Support senior management in advising on governance standards improvements.
• Able to advise and communicate governance and assurance activities and related change to process.