Head of Investment Risk

Barclay Simpson; London; On-site; GBP 120,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading asset management firm in London seeks an experienced Head of Investment Risk. This pivotal role involves overseeing investment risk across public and private markets, providing insights to the executive leadership, and managing a high-performing team. The ideal candidate will have substantial experience in investment risk, strong regulatory knowledge, and excel in a collaborative environment. Competitive compensation and benefits offered.

Benefits

Competitive compensation

Supportive environment

Exposure to global investments

Qualifications

• 10+ years of investment risk experience, ideally within asset management or large institutional investors.
• Proven leadership in managing risk across traditional and alternative asset classes.
• Strong knowledge of regulatory frameworks such as AIFMD, Solvency II.

Responsibilities

• Design and lead an investment risk framework across asset classes.
• Act as a senior risk advisor to the executive committee.
• Build and lead a high-performing team of risk professionals.

Skills

Investment risk management

Leadership

Regulatory knowledge

Analytical skills

Presentation skills

Education

Degree in Finance, Economics, Mathematics or related discipline

CFA/FRM preferred

Tools

Barra

RiskMetrics

Bloomberg

Excel VBA

Python

R

SQL

Job description

Job Title: Headof Investment Risk

Location: London

Client: Confidential (Institutional Asset Manager)

Employment Type: Full-Time | Permanent

Reports to: Chief Risk Officer (CRO)

Overview

We are working exclusively on behalf of a highly reputable institutional asset manager to identify an experienced Head of Investment Risk. This is a pivotal leadership role within a well-resourced and growing investment function. The successful candidate will be responsible for overseeing the full spectrum of investment risk—spanning public and private markets—and will lead a team focused on providing proactive insight, control, and challenge to the investment process. This opportunity offers significant visibility across executive leadership and investment committees and would suit a candidate seeking meaningful influence in a purpose-driven, intellectually rigorous organisation.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership & Governance

• Design and lead a best-in-class investment risk framework across asset classes, including equities, fixed income, credit, private equity, real assets, and multi-asset portfolios.
• Act as a senior risk advisor to the CIO, CRO, and Executive Committee on matters related to market risk, liquidity, counterparty exposure, and risk-adjusted performance.
• Provide regular investment risk oversight to the Board, Investment Committees, and Risk Committees.

Risk Analysis & Oversight

• Ensure effective measurement, monitoring, and analysis of investment risk at both mandate and portfolio levels, with particular attention to private markets and alternative investments.
• Lead the production and development of tailored risk reports using tools such as Barra, MSCI RiskMetrics, and in-house models to deliver insight to portfolio managers and senior stakeholders.
• Oversee escalation protocols for risk breaches and performance anomalies, ensuring appropriate governance and challenge.

Team Management & Development

• Build, mentor, and lead a high-performing team of risk professionals focused on analytics, assurance, and reporting.
• Foster a collaborative culture across risk and investment functions; embed a healthy and commercial risk mindset across first and second lines of defence.
• Ensure strong succession planning and resourcing coverage across critical areas of the function.

Data, Models & Systems

• Oversee enhancement of the risk infrastructure including data architecture, model validation, stress testing, and scenario analysis.
• Champion the development of dynamic tools and dashboards to support automated, timely risk reporting and actionable insights.
• Support integration of new systems and methodologies, working closely with internal quant, IT, and portfolio analytics teams.

Stakeholder Engagement

• Collaborate cross-functionally with investment teams, performance and attribution specialists, compliance, and finance.
• Build trusted relationships across internal stakeholders and represent the function to key external advisors, auditors, and regulators.
• Contribute to firm-wide initiatives including policy development, balanced scorecards, and ESG risk considerations.

Candidate Profile

Required Skills & Experience

• 10+ years of investment risk experience, ideally within asset management, pension schemes, sovereign wealth funds, or large institutional investors.
• Proven leadership in managing risk across traditional and alternative asset classes, including private markets.
• Strong knowledge of regulatory frameworks (AIFMD, Solvency II, etc.) and investment governance structures.
• Proficiency with risk systems (e.g., Barra, RiskMetrics, Bloomberg) and quantitative tools (e.g., Excel VBA, Python, R, SQL).
• Strong presentation skills; ability to translate complex risk metrics into clear, actionable insights for investment and governance audiences.
• Strong academic background; degree in Finance, Economics, Mathematics, or related discipline. CFA/FRM preferred.

Desired Attributes

• Strategic thinker with strong analytical foundation and commercial acumen.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills; ability to engage and influence at all levels.
• High attention to detail, proactive and organized in managing complex workloads.
• Commitment to continuous improvement and shaping how risks support long-term value creation.

Why Apply?

• Opportunity to shape and lead a high-impact investment risk function.
• Close collaboration with executive leadership and investment decision-makers.
• Exposure to a diverse, global, and complex investment portfolio.
• Supportive and intellectually curious environment with a purpose-led culture.
• Competitive compensation and benefits tailored to seniority and experience.

To Apply

This search is conducted on a confidential basis. For more information or to express interest, please contact our recruitment team directly: Josh Lawson or Georgina Carter. All applications will be handled with utmost discretion. Please note that the budget is restrictive and non-negotiable. There is a tight timeline, and applications will close soon.