First-Line Operational Risk, Controls & Resilience

Investec; Greater London; On-site; GBP 75,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Investec is seeking a First‑Line Operational Risk, Controls & Resilience professional to strengthen the risk and control environment within UK Mid-Market Corporate Bank. You will partner with senior leaders to identify, assess and manage operational risks across lending and transaction banking, embedding accountability and continuous improvement.

The role emphasizes embedding resilience, scenario testing and robust risk reporting to support decision-making and growth initiatives.

Qualifications

• Significant experience in operational risk, business controls or resilience in a UK-regulated bank or similar financial services firm.
• Strong understanding of first-line accountability and three lines of defence.

Responsibilities

• Lead the first-line operational risk, controls and resilience framework and keep it aligned with business objectives.
• Partner with business leaders to identify and manage operational risks end-to-end.
• Drive resilience and business continuity activities, including service mapping and scenario testing.
• Oversee incident management, remediation programs and reporting to senior leadership.
• Develop risk reporting and MI to support decision-making and risk appetite review.
• Embed risk and resilience considerations into change initiatives and third‑party relationships.

Skills

Operational risk

First-line risk

Regulatory awareness

Stakeholder management

Incident management

Resilience

Risk reporting

Analytical thinking

Job description

At Investec, we believe sustainable growth is built on strong risk management, operational excellence, and resilience. We are seeking a First-Line Operational Risk, Controls & Resilience professional to play a pivotal role within our UK Mid-Market Corporate Bank.

Reporting to the Chief Operating Officer, this role will partner closely with business and functional leaders to strengthen the operational risk and control environment across our corporate banking activities. You will help ensure risks are identified, managed and monitored effectively while supporting the continued growth of the business. This is an opportunity to influence how risk, resilience and control frameworks are embedded across lending, transaction banking and associated services, making a meaningful impact on both our clients and the wider organisation.

What will I be doing?

As the First-Line Operational Risk, Controls & Resilience lead, you will play a key role in shaping and strengthening the control environment across Investec's Corporate Banking business. Working closely with senior stakeholders, you will ensure operational risks are effectively identified, assessed and managed while helping to embed a culture of accountability, resilience and continuous improvement.

You will:

• Lead and evolve the first-line operational risk, controls and resilience framework, ensuring it remains practical, effective and aligned to business objectives and regulatory expectations.
• Partner with business leaders to identify and manage operational risks, providing constructive challenge, guidance and oversight across products, processes and strategic initiatives.
• Drive operational resilience and business continuity activities, including the mapping of important business services, scenario testing and the implementation of lessons learned.
• Oversee the management of operational incidents, control weaknesses and remediation programmes, ensuring issues are investigated, actions are delivered and sustainable improvements are embedded.
• Develop meaningful risk reporting and management information to support decision-making, monitor risk appetite and provide clear insight into the overall control environment.
• Embed risk and resilience considerations into business change, new products and third-party relationships while building strong partnerships across the wider business, risk and control functions.

What are we looking for?

Essential skills and experience

• Significant experience in operational risk, business controls, non-financial risk or operational resilience within a UK-regulated bank or comparable financial services organisation.
• Strong understanding of first-line accountability and the respective roles of the first, second and third lines of defence.
• Experience designing, implementing or enhancing risk and control frameworks, including risk and control assessments, control testing, risk appetite management, event management, issue management and reporting.
• Practical knowledge of UK operational resilience and business continuity requirements, including important business services, impact tolerances, service mapping and scenario testing.
• Experience supporting corporate or commercial banking products and end-to-end processes, ideally including lending and transaction banking activities.
• Demonstrated ability to influence senior stakeholders, provide constructive challenge and drive meaningful action.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to translate complex risk information into clear priorities and executive-level insight.
• Experience managing material incidents, remediation programmes, assurance reviews, regulatory engagements or audit activity.

Desirable skills and experience

• Knowledge of payments, cash management, digital banking, trade services, treasury products or lending operations.
• Experience working across technology, cyber, data, model, fraud, financial crime, conduct or third-party risk disciplines.
• Experience leading a first-line risk and control team or establishing a business-control function.
• Relevant professional qualification in risk, resilience, audit, business continuity or banking.

Why Investec?

Investec is committed to creating an inclusive environment where diverse perspectives are valued and encouraged. We believe that great people come from a variety of backgrounds and experiences, and we welcome applications from candidates who can bring different viewpoints to our business.

If you're passionate about strengthening operational resilience, enhancing risk management practices and helping a growing corporate banking business deliver sustainable outcomes for clients, we'd love to hear from you.