Head of Financial System Risk

Australian Prudential Regulation Authority; Sydney; On-site; AUD 190,000 - 260,000; Full time

Job summary

Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (APRA) seeks a Head of Financial System Risk to lead a team delivering system-wide risk analysis across banking, insurance and superannuation. You will shape supervisory responses, strengthen resilience, and collaborate with frontline supervisors to translate insights into policy and regulatory actions.

The role emphasizes leadership, strategic thinking and effective communication with Executives and stakeholders across APRA.

Qualifications

• Extensive knowledge of the Australian financial system and its sectors (banking, insurance, superannuation).
• Strong and proven people leadership skills.
• Ability to distil complex information, take a strategic view, and identify vulnerabilities.
• Clear, concise communication with Executives and peers.
• Adept at engaging, influencing and negotiating with stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Lead identification, assessment and monitoring of vulnerabilities and risks across banking, insurance and superannuation.
• Oversee framework implementation to monitor operating environment and identify risks.
• Communicate team outputs in key internal and external reports (e.g., System Risk Outlook).
• Provide trusted analysis and advice to APRA executives on supervisory and regulatory responses.
• Develop a high-performing team of analysts and managers with analytical excellence.

Job description

Australian Prudential Regulation Authority – Sydney CBD NSW

As the Head of Financial System Risk, you will lead a team responsible for providing APRA's system-wide perspective on vulnerabilities and risks, and analysis that shapes strategic regulatory responses and strengthens the resilience of Australia's financial system.

The team

The Cross-Industry Risk Division (CRD) houses all APRA risk specialist teams, bringing together a system-wide perspective and assessing priority areas for APRA's prudential response across all APRA's regulated industries. The division provides advice and collaborates with frontline supervisors to enable them to fulfil their supervisory function.

The Financial System Risk (FSR) team is part of the System Risk Branch in the Cross-Industry Risk Division (CRD) of APRA. The FSR team delivers analysis to support the overall Branch objective of identifying, assessing and responding to financial system vulnerabilities and risks. In doing so, it draws on insights from risk specialists across CRD and frontline supervision.

Key stakeholders are the peer System Risk teams (Geopolitical Risk, Macro-financial Risk, Climate Risk, and Stress Testing), the Financial and Non-Financial Risk teams in CRD, frontline supervisors, the Strategy team, Industry Groups, Policy Division and the APRA Executive. The Head of Financial System Risk may deal with a range of industry bodies and representatives of other regulatory bodies.

Key responsibilities

• Lead the identification, assessment and monitoring of existing and emerging vulnerabilities and risks in the financial system across banking, insurance and superannuation;


• Oversee the implementation of frameworks to effectively monitor the operating environment, identify and assess vulnerabilities;


• Identify changes in skills and capabilities needed to perform analysis, keeping abreast of industry and system developments;


• Ensure effective communication in key internal and external reports (such as the System Risk Outlook) that the team is responsible for;


• Provide trusted analysis and advice to APRA executives and stakeholders to inform supervisory, policy and regulatory responses to system risks;


• Lead and develop a high-performing team of analysts and managers, fostering a culture of curiosity, challenge, sound judgment and analytical excellence;


• Model inclusive leadership behaviours and instilling an open culture within the team, and across the Division, where divergent views are shared and respected;


• Build and maintain effective relationships with other areas of APRA, including frontline supervisors, risk specialists and executive leadership;


• Communicate the team's purpose and function under APRA's strategy and ensuring that they are understood consistently by the teams, APRA and relevant stakeholders; and


• Support the GM in leading the System Risk Branch and play an active role in the broader leadership team of the Division.

About you

• Extensive knowledge of the financial system, key financial sectors (e.g. banking, superannuation and insurance) and the broader economy;


• Strong and proven people leadership skills;


• Proven ability to bring a broader perspective, distil a broad range of information, take a strategic view, connect the dots and identify vulnerabilities, risks and interconnections when preparing and delivering analysis;


• Proven ability to communicate clearly, concisely and effectively with peers and Executives and execute for outcomes; and


• Adept at engaging, influencing and negotiating, demonstrated strong critical thinking and judgement.

To work with us, you need to be an Australian citizen with eligibility to obtain and maintain Australian Government Security clearance.

About APRA

The Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (APRA) places you at the heart of Australia's financial services industry. APRA serves the Australian community by helping ensure that financial institutions deliver on the financial commitments they make, within a stable, efficient and competitive financial system.

At APRA, we're committed to providing an inclusive workplace where everyone belongs, feels valued and respected. We aspire to attract and foster diversity of background, thought and experience, recognising that a broad range of perspectives, approaches and ideas makes us stronger, and better enables us to meet our obligation to protect the financial wellbeing of the Australian community. When applying, please inform us of any adjustments you may need during the interview process.