First Line Risk Specialist

Ultimate Banking Ltd; Market Harborough; Hybrid; GBP 42,000 - 50,000; Full time

Job summary

A customer-focused financial services provider in Market Harborough is seeking a First Line Risk Specialist to join their team. You will collaborate with various business areas to assess operational and compliance risks while overseeing effective controls. The ideal candidate has experience in first line risk management, with strong relationship skills, preferably within a mortgage lending environment. Competitive salary of up to £50k and hybrid working model included.

Benefits

27 days annual leave plus birthday day off

Pension scheme

Private healthcare

Bonus scheme

Voluntary days

Qualifications

• Wealth of experience in first line, operational risk roles.
• Strong relationship building skills essential.
• Experience in financial services, especially mortgage lending.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate with teams to assess operational and compliance risks.
• Design and monitor effective controls.
• Liaise between suppliers, clients, and internal teams.

Skills

Operational risk management

Relationship building

Compliance risk assessment

Job description

Overview

First Line Risk Specialist

Leicestershire

Up to £50k

Are you a Risk specialist, with previous experience in first line, operational risk? Our client is a customer centric mortgage and savings provider, seeking a First Line Risk Specialist to join their team.

Working in a smaller team of 3, you will be acting as the primary defence to the business, identifying, managing and mitigating risks associated with the organisations savings and mortgage operations, being proactive and integral to maintaining regulatory compliance. The First Line Risk Specialist is focused on ensuring the effectiveness of operational risk management and first line control oversight. This role emphasises operational resilience, supplier management, and the drive for continuous improvement to support business objectives while fostering a risk-aware culture.

Duties will include:

Responsibilities

• Collaborate with business teams to identify and assess operational and compliance risks.
• Support the design, implementation, and monitoring of effective controls.
• Guide teams in escalating and investigating risk incidents and compliance breaches.
• Act as the primary liaison between suppliers, clients, and internal teams.
• Facilitate risk and control self-assessments (RCSAs) and recognise enterprise-wide themes.
• Coordinate root cause analysis and remedial actions for risk incidents and compliance breaches.
• Oversee operational & supplier-related risks and incidents, managing them from initial mitigation through to completion.
• Close collaboration between the operations team, business units, suppliers, and second & third-line risk functions to ensure alignment and comprehensive oversight.

The successful individual will possess:

• A wealth of experience within a first line, operational risk role.
• Strong relationship building skills.
• Previous experience in a financial services setting, ideally within a mortgage lender.
• Prior experience of managing third party relationships would be highly desirable.

Along with offering a competitive salary, our client offers a hybrid approach to the working week, with 2 days based at their head office and the remainder working remotely. Company benefits include: 27 days annual leave (plus an additional day for your birthday and bank holidays), pension scheme, private healthcare, bonus scheme, voluntary days and more!

If this sounds like your next role, please apply today!