Head of Line 1 Risk & Compliance

SMC Executive; Sydney; Hybrid; AUD 300,000 - 460,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Executive remuneration package

Flexible working arrangements

Hybrid work model

Job summary

SMC Executive is seeking an experienced Head of Line 1 Risk & Compliance to lead risk and regulatory policy across Wealth Platforms. You will partner with the Executive, Board and Risk functions to embed a strong risk culture while delivering strategic objectives.

This highly visible role requires executive engagement, commercial judgment and governance oversight in a complex, regulated environment. Hybrid working arrangements and an executive remuneration package are on offer.

Qualifications

• Extensive experience leading Line 1 Risk, Compliance or Operational Risk functions.
• Strong knowledge of Australia's financial services regulatory landscape.
• Demonstrated experience interpreting regulatory requirements across complex businesses.
• Deep understanding of risk frameworks, governance, controls and compliance management.
• Proven ability to influence executive stakeholders and drive organisation-wide outcomes.
• Exceptional communication and stakeholder management capabilities.
• Strong leadership experience with a track record of building engaged, high-performing teams.
• Commercial acumen balancing risk management with strategic business objectives.

Responsibilities

• Lead and evolve the Wealth Platforms Line 1 Risk, Compliance and Regulatory Policy team.
• Drive ownership and accountability for risk management across the business.
• Provide strategic oversight of regulatory compliance obligations, policies and controls.
• Partner with executive leaders to identify, assess and manage key business risks.
• Lead risk profiling, control assurance and incident management activities.
• Serve as a primary point of contact for regulatory engagement activities and responses to regulatory reviews.
• Oversee regulatory change implementation and ensure emerging regulatory requirements are embedded.
• Deliver insightful risk reporting and analysis to executive committees and governance forums.
• Foster a strong risk culture that balances customer outcomes, compliance obligations and commercial objectives.
• Build, develop and lead a high-performing team of risk and compliance professionals.
• Work collaboratively with Line 2 Risk, Compliance, Internal Audit and key business stakeholders.

Skills

Leadership

Risk management

Regulatory policy

Governance

Stakeholder engagement

Regulatory engagement

Job description

• Growth Business, Leadership Role with Executive Level Engagement


• Executive Remuneration & Benefits on Offer

Our client - a highly recognised and established financial institution, is currently seeking an experienced Head of Line 1 Risk & Compliance to provide strategic leadership across risk management, compliance, regulatory policy and governance for its Wealth Platforms business.

This is a rare opportunity to join a business undergoing significant transformation and growth, leading the first line risk function within a complex, highly regulated environment. Working closely with executive stakeholders, the Board and Risk functions, you will help shape and embed a strong risk culture while enabling the business to achieve its strategic objectives.

Reporting to the senior executive overseeing Platform Operations, you will be accountable for leading the development, implementation and continuous improvement of the Line 1 Risk Management Framework across the business.

You will act as a trusted adviser to the Executive team, providing insight and challenge on risk, compliance and regulatory matters while ensuring the organisation remains aligned with regulatory obligations and industry best practice.

This is a highly visible leadership role requiring exceptional stakeholder engagement, commercial judgement and the ability to influence across complex operating environments.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and continue to evolve the Wealth Platforms Line 1 Risk, Compliance and Regulatory Policy team and function.


• Drive ownership and accountability for risk management across the business.


• Provide strategic oversight of regulatory compliance obligations, policies and controls.


• Partner with executive leaders to identify, assess and manage key business risks.


• Lead risk profiling, control assurance and incident management activities.


• Serve as a primary point of contact for regulatory engagement activities and responses to regulatory reviews.


• Oversee regulatory change implementation and ensure emerging regulatory requirements are effectively embedded.


• Deliver insightful risk reporting and analysis to executive committees and governance forums.


• Foster a strong risk culture that balances customer outcomes, compliance obligations and commercial objectives.


• Build, develop and lead a high-performing team of risk and compliance professionals.


• Work collaboratively with Line 2 Risk, Compliance, Internal Audit and key business stakeholders.

Candidate Experience

You will be a proven risk leader with deep experience operating within wealth operations/platforms, superannuation, investments or broader financial services environments.

You will bring:

• Extensive experience leading Line 1 Risk, Compliance or Operational Risk functions.


• Strong knowledge of Australia's financial services regulatory landscape.


• Demonstrated experience interpreting and implementing regulatory requirements across complex businesses.


• Deep understanding of risk frameworks, governance, controls and compliance management.


• Proven ability to influence executive stakeholders and drive organisation-wide outcomes.


• Exceptional communication and stakeholder management capabilities.


• Strong leadership experience with a track record of building engaged, high-performing teams.


• Commercial acumen and the ability to balance risk management with strategic business objectives.

Why Join?

• Executive leadership role with significant organisational influence.


• Opportunity to shape risk strategy within a large and complex wealth business.


• High-profile position partnering directly with executive leadership.


• Lead business-critical risk and compliance initiatives during a period of transformation.


• Competitive executive remuneration package & bonus.


• Flexible and hybrid working arrangements.


• Inclusive and collaborative organisational culture.

Melbourne or Sydney based