1st Line Security - Controls Testing Senior Analyst

Our Purpose

Mastercard powers economies and empowers people in 200+ countries and territories worldwide. Together with our customers, we’re helping build a sustainable economy where everyone can prosper. We support a wide range of digital payments choices, making transactions secure, simple, smart and accessible. Our technology and innovation, partnerships and networks combine to deliver a unique set of products and services that help people, businesses and governments realize their greatest potential.

Title and Summary

1st Line Security - Controls Testing Senior Analyst

Main Purpose of role:
The newly created Vocalink Control Office function is seeking a Senior Analyst within the 1st Line Control Testing team to support the delivery of control testing activities across Security control domains, within Vocalink Limited (VLL). VLL is a Bank of England regulated, Critical National Infrastructure (CNI) company that enables the payments of 90% of salaries, 70% of utility bills, most ATM transactions and every cheque cleared in the UK.
This role plays a key part in embedding a strong control environment by executing control testing, identifying control gaps, and supporting continuous improvement in risk management practices.

Key Responsibilities:
• Control Testing Execution
Support periodic testing of key and non-key controls in accordance with the Control Testing Methodology.
Assess control design and operating effectiveness against internal policies, standards, regulatory requirements, and customer obligations.
Timely collection of control testing evidence from relevant Control Owners to support scheduled testing activities.
Prepare clear and accurate test documentation, including test procedures, execution results, and supporting evidence.
Identify and document control deficiencies, ensuring timely escalation to the Manager and supporting remediation follow-up activities.
Monitoring the control testing mailbox to ensure timely review and response to incoming queries and submissions.
• Team Leadership, Collaboration & Stakeholder Engagement
Work closely with 1st Line teams to obtain evidence, clarify control processes, and support accurate testing outcomes.
Liaise with 2nd Line Security partners and Internal Audit as directed, ensuring transparency and alignment with control testing activities.
Contribute to the preparation of management information, dashboards, and thematic analysis for governance forums.
Support control owners by providing observations on control effectiveness and contributing to discussions on remediation approaches.
• Governance & Continuous Improvement
Adhere to established control testing standards, procedures, and documentation requirements.
Provide input on opportunities to streamline testing activities, improve efficiency, and enhance the consistency of outcomes.
Maintain awareness of relevant regulatory requirements, emerging risks, and industry practices, particularly within the security domains.
Contribute to strengthening the 3 Lines of Defence model by embedding robust and transparent testing practices.

Experience & Qualifications:
• Experience in control testing, or assurance, and risk management within security in a regulated environment.
• Good investigative and analytical experience (e.g. enquiry, scanning, analysis, interviewing, testing), problem-solving, and decision-making skills.
• Good understanding of control frameworks and standards (e.g., NIST, CRI, ISO and PCI-DSS).
• Ability to assess control design and operating effectiveness in complex environments and to identify control gaps and improvement opportunities.
• Good communication and stakeholder engagement skills.
• Professional certifications such as CISA, CRISC, ISO 27001 or equivalent is desirable.

Preferred Skills & Attributes:
• Bachelor’s degree in Information Technology, Computer Science, Cyber Security, or related field.
• Good Knowledge of security controls and IT general controls across platforms such as UNIX, HP Nonstop, and Windows.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (MS Word, MS Excel, MS Access and MS PowerPoint)
• Strong organisational skills with the ability to prioritise and manage multiple tasks.
• Self-starter with a continuous improvement mindset and a collaborative approach.

Corporate Security Responsibility

All activities involving access to Mastercard assets, information, and networks comes with an inherent risk to the organization and, therefore, it is expected that every person working for, or on behalf of, Mastercard is responsible for information security and must:

• Abide by Mastercard’s security policies and practices;

• Ensure the confidentiality and integrity of the information being accessed;

• Report any suspected information security violation or breach, and

• Complete all periodic mandatory security trainings in accordance with Mastercard’s guidelines.