Claims Risk Lead

AXA UK; Newcastle upon Tyne; Hybrid; GBP 70,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

AXA UK is seeking a Claims Risk Lead to strengthen risk management across the Claims function. Reporting to the Head of Trading and Business Risk, you will lead a team of risk professionals, embedding best practices and ensuring robust risk governance.

You'll collaborate with senior stakeholders, design risk metrics, and drive continuous improvement to align with FCA/PRA expectations. Flexible work arrangements with office and remote work are offered.

Qualifications

• Experience in operational risk management within insurance or financial services.
• Strong knowledge of claims processes, controls and related risks.
• Familiarity with FCA/PRA regulations and conduct risk expectations.

Responsibilities

• Design and implement the Claims risk management framework aligned with UK and Group standards.
• Support leadership to maintain a holistic risk and control profile across Claims.
• Provide risk expertise for claims strategy, transformation initiatives and projects.
• Develop and monitor the Claims Risk Library, including risk assessments and controls.
• Partner with claims leadership to provide expert risk advice for decision-making.
• Oversee risk reporting, MI, and assurance activities and ensure regulatory alignment.
• Collaborate with third-party oversight and Line 2 Risk to improve risk maturity.

Skills

Operational risk management

Claims processes knowledge

Regulatory awareness FCA/PRA

Stakeholder management

Analytical skills

Leadership experience

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.

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.