The principal focus of the Business Risk Champion is to assist the Customer Services Director and assess risk across the Individual Pensions business area ensuring appropriate action is taken where risk is outside the accepted risk appetite. The management of risk follows the ‘three lines of defence’ model. The Business Risk Champion role is responsible for the effectiveness of the ‘first line of defence’ risk management and monitoring activities within the business area, including ensuring appropriate solution of Internal Audit and compliance monitoring issues and the maintenance of a robust control environment. 

The Business Risk Champion, acts as a “business partner” assisting the Customer Services Senior Leadership Team to ensure an appropriate and effective internal control framework exists, to ensure this is in line with the clients Risk model, as lead by the CRO and to ensure an appropriate and effective culture of accountability, responsibility and action is embedded within the business area. The role is also responsible for ensuring that the business area strategy is in accordance with risk appetite.

Responsibilities will include:

• Acting as an ambassador for and leading, developing and embedding a strong risk and compliance culture and environment for the Life and Pensions Business Area

Co-ordinating and providing effective, timely and succinct reporting to the CRO’s office (Head of Group Operational Risk) on the risk profile of the Life and Pension Business Area, including risk appetite, management action and internal audit related activity

Ensuring that the Business Area management are effectively identifying, assessing and managing risks, providing a facilitation, challenge, ‘filter’ and reporting role.

Ensuring that the risk and governance culture and agenda and the importance of robust and appropriate internal control processes remain high on the agenda of senior and line managers, and ensures a robust and appropriate policy framework across the business area

Ensuring that the clients policies, procedures and methodologies are adhered to and reported on within the Business Area

Liaising with other Business Risk Champions within the business to ensure that the approach taken within the business unit is consistent with other business areas

Providing strong leadership of the risk agenda within the business area, whilst taking a pragmatic and commercial view.

Requirements

Leadership skills with obvious gravitas and personal credibility

Strong strategic and commercial awareness

Strong programme management ability

Successful delivery of extracts of the regular risk reports to a Audit and Risk Committee or equivalent

Strong risk management experience

Broad understanding of relevant financial contexts, eg Economic Capital frameworks

Financial Services experience

Accounting or similar professional qualification