Digital Asset & Emerging Technology Risk Principal

SwiftCruit; Larne; On-site; GBP 77,000 - 128,000; Full time

Job summary

Northern Trust in Ireland is seeking a forward-looking risk professional to provide independent oversight of risks tied to digital assets, emerging technologies, and related cyber and technology risk exposures.

The role collaborates with business, technology, cybersecurity, compliance, and risk stakeholders to promote secure adoption of innovation within the firm’s risk appetite and regulatory obligations.

Qualifications

• 4+ years of technical experience in blockchain security, crypto custody, or digital asset risk management.
• 8+ years of experience in financial services risk, cybersecurity, or technology risk domains.
• Experience with regulatory expectations in financial services and digital assets.
• Ability to translate complex technical concepts into clear risk insights.
• Familiarity with cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, GCP) and architecture risks.
• Professional certifications (e.g., FRM, CRISC, CISSP, CISA) preferred.

Responsibilities

• Oversee risk taxonomy, policies, standards, and risk appetite metrics for digital assets and emerging technologies.
• Establish and maintain risk reporting, indicators, and governance for digital asset activities.
• Monitor industry developments, threats, and regulatory expectations impacting digital assets and DLT ecosystems.
• Assess cyber risks in blockchain ecosystems, including key management and on-chain monitoring.
• Evaluate cyber and technology control environments supporting digital asset platforms across cloud and hybrid architectures.
• Advise leadership on risk implications of new products, services, and technology adoption.

Skills

Blockchain Security

Crypto Custody

Digital Asset Risk Management

Financial Services Risk Management

Cybersecurity

Technology Risk Management

Operational Risk

Information Security

Job description

About Northern Trust

As a global leader in innovative wealth management, asset servicing, asset management and banking services, Northern Trust (Nasdaq: NTRS) is proud to guide the world’s most successful individuals, families, corporations and institutions.

Since 1889, we have aligned our efforts with our three guiding Principles That Endure: Service, Expertise, and Integrity. Together, they reflect the three cornerstones of business conduct which we strive to instill in our employees, whom we call partners, and to provide to our clients and the communities we serve worldwide.

With more than 135 years of financial experience and over 24,000 partners, we serve the world’s most sophisticated clients using leading technology and exceptional service.

Role Summary:

We are seeking a forward-thinking risk professional to provide independent oversight and challenge of risks associated with digital assets, digital financial instruments, and emerging technologies, including blockchain, distributed ledger technologies, artificial intelligence, quantum computing, and advanced cloud architectures. The ideal candidate will bring a balanced, risk-based perspective that enables innovation while ensuring risks are effectively identified, assessed, and managed.

Operating at the intersection of cybersecurity, technology risk, and financial innovation, this role evaluates evolving threats, technology developments, and regulatory expectations impacting digital asset ecosystems, with a particular focus on cyber and technology risk exposures.

The role partners with business, technology, cybersecurity, compliance, and risk stakeholders to promote the secure, resilient, and well-governed adoption of innovative technologies in alignment with the firm's risk appetite and regulatory obligations.

The successful candidate will translate complex technical concepts into actionable risk insights, provide credible challenge to strategic initiatives, support executive and committee-level decision-making, and help shape the firm's approach to managing risks associated with digital assets and emerging technologies.

Key Responsibilities:

• Support development and enhancement of risk taxonomy, policies, standards, and risk appetite metrics covering digital assets and emerging technologies.
• Establish and maintain risk reporting, risk indicators, and governance processes for digital asset activities.
• Monitor industry developments, emerging threats, and evolving regulatory expectations impacting digital assets and distributed ledger technologies.
• Assess cyber risks associated with blockchain ecosystems, including private key management, cryptographic controls, consensus mechanisms, node security, and on-chain transaction monitoring.
• Evaluate cyber and technology control environments supporting digital asset platforms across control domains including cloud-hosted and hybrid architectures supporting digital asset capabilities.
• Interpret and assess impacts of evolving regulatory requirements related to cryptocurrencies, stablecoins, digital custody, tokenization, distributed ledger technologies, and cybersecurity and operational resilience.
• Support regulatory examinations, audits, issue remediation activities, and management responses.
• Provide subject matter expertise to governance committees and senior management forums.
• Partner with technology, cybersecurity, business, compliance, legal, operational risk, and architecture teams to evaluate emerging digital asset initiatives.
• Advise leadership on risk implications of new products, services, and technology adoption.
• Translate complex technical concepts into practical risk insights and actionable recommendations.

Qualifications:

Required

• 4+ years of technical experience in one or more of:
• Blockchain Security Blockchain Technology and Security
• Crypto Custody (including MPC protocols)
• Digital Asset Risk Management
• 8+ years of experience in one or more of:
• Financial Services Risk Management
• Cybersecurity
• Technology Risk Management
• Operational Risk
• Information Security

Preferred

• Experience with regulatory expectations and compliance in financial services
• Ability to translate complex technical concepts into clear risk insights
• Familiarity with quantum risk implications (cryptography, future-proofing)
• Knowledge of cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, GCP) and architecture risks
• Professional certifications (e.g., FRM, CRISC, CISSP, CISA)

Work Authorization

Applicants must have the right to work in Ireland at the time of application and for the duration of employment.

Please note that Northern Trust is unable to provide employment permit sponsorship for this role. This includes Critical Skills Employment Permits, General Employment Permits, Intra-Company Transfer Employment Permits, Stamp 1G permissions, and other employment permits under Irish immigration frameworks.

Working with Us

As a Northern Trust partner, you will be part of a flexible and collaborative work culture, which has a strong history of financial strength and stability. Movement within the organization is encouraged, senior leaders are accessible, and you can take pride in working for a company committed to an inclusive workplace and assisting the communities we serve.

Philanthropy is deeply rooted in Northern Trust’s history and is an essential element of our culture. Employees around the world give their time and talent to work for the greater good of their communities.

Reasonable Accommodation

Northern Trust is committed to working with and providing adjustments to individuals with health conditions and disabilities. If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the employment process, please email our HR Service Center at [e-mail], or alternatively you can discuss your individual requirements with the recruiter you are working with.