Claims Risk Lead

AXA; Bolton; Hybrid; GBP 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

AXA is seeking a Claims Risk Lead to develop and embed a robust risk management culture across its UK Claims teams. The role reports to the Head of Trading and Business Risk and requires guiding a high-performing team, shaping risk practices, and engaging senior stakeholders to ensure control effectiveness and regulatory alignment.

The successful candidate will oversee risk reporting, improve governance, and collaborate across Lines of Defence to drive continuous improvement in claims risk

Qualifications

• Proven experience in operational risk management within insurance or financial services, particularly in claims and customer contact.
• Strong understanding of claims processes, controls and associated risks, including fraud and loss management.
• Knowledge of FCA/PRA regulations and expectations related to claims and conduct risk.
• Ability to challenge operational practices and influence senior stakeholders effectively.
• Excellent analytical skills, with the ability to interpret MI and risk data to drive informed decisions.
• Skilled communicator, capable of simplifying complex risk concepts and facilitating discussions at senior forums.
• Proven track record of leading risk initiatives, embedding controls and fostering a risk-aware culture.
• Solutions-oriented, delivery-focused with strong organisational skills and attention to detail.
• Experienced people leader who is focussed on delivering a culture of high performance.

Responsibilities

• Lead the design, implementation and ongoing enhancement of the Claims risk management framework, ensuring alignment with UK and Group standards.
• Support the Head of Trading and Business Risk to maintain a holistic view of the Risk and Control profile across Claims.
• Provide risk expertise focussed on the delivery of claims strategy, transformation initiatives and projects.
• Support the development and monitoring of the Claims Risk Library, including risk assessments, control testing and path-to-tolerance activities.
• Act as a strategic partner to claims leadership, providing expert advice on key risks, controls and emerging risks to support decision-making.
• Oversee the delivery of risk reporting, MI, and assurance activities, ensuring insights are clear, actionable and aligned with regulatory expectations.
• Support third-party oversight, including supply chain and delegated authority risks, ensuring controls are fit for purpose.
• Collaborate with Line 2 Risk teams to embed risk frameworks, promote continuous improvement and develop risk maturity within claims functions.

Skills

Operational risk

Insurance domain

Claims processes

Regulatory knowledge

Stakeholder influence

Analytical skills

People leadership

Communication

Job description

About AXA:

AXA is a global leader in insurance and financial services, dedicated to helping customers protect what matters most to them. As the sixth-largest insurance company in the world, we provide a wide range of services, including health, car, home, and business insurance. We support millions of customers worldwide, helping them navigate life's uncertainties with confidence.

AXA Insurance UK, formed by uniting our Commercial and Retail teams under a single leadership, strengthens our core capabilities and our commitment to exceptional customer service

Job overview:

We're seeking a Claims Risk Lead to support AXA Insurance's Claims teams in embedding effective risk management practices. Reporting to the Head of Trading and Business Risk, you'll lead, inspire and develop a high-performing team of risk professionals, fostering a culture of excellence, continuous improvement and accountability. Collaborate across all lines of defence and senior levels across Claims to embed best practices and elevate risk maturity, you'll influence senior stakeholders and shape the risk framework's application to ensure robust, consistent and forward-looking risk practices are in place. Your leadership will drive continuous improvement, enhance governance and promote a risk-aware culture across our claims functions.

Key responsibilities:

• Lead the design, implementation and ongoing enhancement of the Claims risk management framework, ensuring alignment with UK and Group standards, which includes supporting the claims leadership team to ensure a solid awareness of and effective management of key risks.
• Support the Head of Trading and Business Risk to maintain a holistic view of the Risk and Control profile across Claims and ensure this remains up to date. This will include consideration of the sufficiency of controls in place to manage risk in line with appetite, assistance in the design of KRIs to track risk exposure, the design of clear path to green activity for out of appetite risk exposures and the development of broader risk processes and tools to ensure timely risk identification and management.
• Provide risk expertise focussed on the delivery of claims strategy, transformation initiatives and projects, ensuring risks are effectively identified and managed.
• Support the development and monitoring of the Claims Risk Library, including risk assessments, control testing and path-to-tolerance activities.
• Act as a strategic partner to claims leadership, providing expert advice on key risks, controls and emerging risks to support decision-making.
• Oversee the delivery of risk reporting, MI, and assurance activities, ensuring insights are clear, actionable and aligned with regulatory expectations.
• Support third-party oversight, including supply chain and delegated authority risks, ensuring controls are fit for purpose.
• Collaborate with Line 2 Risk teams to embed risk frameworks, promote continuous improvement and develop risk maturity within claims functions.

Work arrangements:

At AXA we work smart, empowering our people to balance their time between home and the office in a way that works best for them, their team and our customers. You'll work at least two days a week (40%) away from home, moving to three days a week (60%) from January 2027. Away from home means attending the office, visiting clients or attending industry events.

Your skills & experience:

• Proven experience in operational risk management within insurance or financial services, particularly in claims and customer contact functions.
• Strong understanding of claims processes, controls and associated risks, including fraud and loss management.
• Knowledge of FCA/PRA regulations and expectations related to claims and conduct risk.
• Ability to challenge operational practices and influence senior stakeholders effectively.
• Excellent analytical skills, with the ability to interpret MI and risk data to drive informed decisions.
• Skilled communicator, capable of simplifying complex risk concepts and facilitating discussions at senior forums.
• Proven track record of leading risk initiatives, embedding controls and fostering a risk-aware culture.
• Solutions-oriented, delivery-focused with strong organisational skills and attention to detail.
• Experienced people leader who is focussed on delivering a culture of high performance.

As a precondition of employment for this role, you must be eligible and authorised to work in the United Kingdom.

We're proud to be an Equal Opportunities Employer and don't discriminate against employees or potential employees based on protected characteristics. If you have a long-term condition or disability and require adjustments during the application or interview process, we're proud to offer access to the AXA Accessibility Concierge. For our support, please send an email to [e-mail].