Head of Enterprise Risk and Assurance

LGPS Central Limited; Wolverhampton; Hybrid; GBP 80,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

A UK asset management firm is seeking a Head of Enterprise Risk and Assurance in Wolverhampton. The successful candidate will lead the development and improvement of the risk management framework, ensuring alignment with regulatory standards. The role involves overseeing risk assessments, fostering a proactive risk culture, and producing high-quality reports for the Board. Candidates must have senior risk experience within asset management and strong leadership skills. Benefits include a competitive salary and generous pension scheme.

Benefits

Competitive salary

Generous Pension Scheme

30 days' paid holiday plus bank holidays

Excellent Learning & Development Opportunities

Hybrid Working

Qualifications

• Confident in presenting to Boards and regulators.
• Able to operate at strategic level while retaining attention to detail.
• Deep understanding of the three lines of defence model.

Responsibilities

• Lead the development of LGPS Central's enterprise risk management framework.
• Produce high-quality risk reporting for the Board and stakeholders.
• Challenge the business constructively on risk-related decisions.

Skills

Senior experience in enterprise or operational risk within asset management or wider financial services

Strong understanding of FCA expectations for Core and Enhanced firms

Strong leadership capability

Strong analytical skills

High level of professional ethics, integrity and judgement

Education

Degree-qualified or equivalent experience

Senior risk management qualifications (IRM, CERA, FRM or equivalent)

Job description

Based in Wolverhampton, the Head of Enterprise Risk and Assurance will lead the development, operation and continuous improvement of LGPS Central's enterprise risk management framework, and annual assurance cycle. The postholder will be a critical senior member of the business responsible for ensuring a positive and pro‑active risk culture continues to be embedded throughout the business, and in ensuring that our enterprise risk, control and assurance processes align to that. This role is a certified role under the Senior Manager's Certification Regime and will be subject to assessments in Fitness and Propriety and any other regulatory requirements. As Head of Enterprise Risk and Assurance you will:

• Lead the continuing design, development and implementation of LGPS Central's enterprise risk management framework, ensuring it remains appropriate for an expanding FCA-regulated asset manager.
• Provide senior subject‑matter expertise and advice on risk frameworks, risk appetite, strategic risks, controls and assurance.
• Oversee the firm's risk identification, assessment and quantification processes, ensuring risks are accurately recorded and escalated.
• Set clear expectations for risk standards across the business and ensure consistency in how risks and controls are evaluated.
• Produce high‑quality risk reporting, analysis and insight for the Board, ORCA, SLT and Partner Funds, ensuring clarity and relevance.
• Oversee the assurance framework, coordinating internal audit, external control and other audits and other assurance activities to ensure alignment with the risk profile.
• Work with senior leaders to embed a strong and consistent risk culture, supporting training, awareness and capability building across the organisation.
• Maintain oversight of operational resilience, business continuity and key third‑party risk, ensuring frameworks are aligned to regulatory expectations.
• Challenge the business constructively, ensuring decisions remain within risk appetite and follow sound governance.
• Build and maintain senior relationships with auditors, regulators, advisers and other stakeholders.
• Monitor industry developments, regulatory changes and good practice to ensure the risk function remains current and forward‑looking.
• Lead, coach and develop the Enterprise Risk and Assurance teams, promoting high standards, accountability and continuous improvement.

About LGPS Central

LGPS Central (LGPSC) Ltd is the FCA regulated asset manager for eight local authority pension funds across the Midlands. LGPSC is jointly owned on an equal shares basis by those Partner Fund, and it is responsible for managing £45bn+ of their assets. It is one of eight Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) asset pools in the UK. LGPS Central's Partner Funds are:

• Cheshire Pension Fund
• Derbyshire Pension Fund
• Leicestershire Pension Fund
• Nottinghamshire Pension Fund
• Shropshire Pension Fund
• Staffordshire Pension Fund
• West Midlands Pension Fund
• Worcestershire Pension Fund

The Company is committed to responsible investment and has made responsible investment a core part of the investment process in every asset class.

Required Qualifications & Experience

• Senior experience in enterprise or operational risk within asset management or wider financial services.
• Strong understanding of FCA expectations for Core and Enhanced firms, including risk governance, operational resilience, supplier management and assurance.
• Able to communicate complex risk matters in a clear, commercially relevant and concise way for executive, Boards, NEDs and other senior stakeholders.
• Strong leadership capability, with experience setting direction, influencing at senior levels and shaping culture.
• Able to operate at strategic level while retaining strong attention to detail when reviewing risk outputs.
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to assess complex scenarios and develop pragmatic, risk-based solutions.
• Confident in presenting to Boards, regulators and senior internal audiences.
• Deep understanding of the three lines of defence model and how to apply it effectively in practice.
• Skilled in developing risk frameworks, policies, risk appetite statements and reporting suites.
• Strong relationship‑building skills across technical, operational and executive teams.
• High level of professional ethics, integrity and judgement.
• Degree‑qualified or equivalent experience.
• Senior risk management qualifications (IRM, CERA, FRM or equivalent) preferred.
• Experience in an FCA‑regulated asset management or pensions investment environment preferred.
• Has or can meet all the requirements of being an FCA approved person.

Benefits

• Competitive salary
• An enhanced and generous Pension Scheme
• 30 days' paid holiday plus bank holidays
• 2 days paid volunteering days
• An extra paid Company Day in addition to paid holidays
• Excellent Learning & Development Opportunities
• Welfare and Family friendly policies
• Enhanced pay for new parents
• Access to our Employee Assistance Programme 247 Health & Wellbeing Support
• Vitality Private Medical Insurance
• Hybrid Working
• Company Service Awards
• Cycle to Work Scheme
• Company Electric Vehicle Scheme
• Nominees of the Family Friendly Employer of the Year 2022 Personnel Today Awards 2022
• Winner of the Cultural Awareness Initiative of the Year FT Advisors Diversity in Finance Awards 2023
• Winner of Diversity and Inclusion Award LAPF In Investments Award 2023