Interim Head of Operational Risk

Barclay Simpson; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 100,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

Barclay Simpson is supporting a leading investment management firm in London to appoint an interim head of operational risk for 12 months. The role covers enterprise and operational risk, including control assessment, resilience, and CASS elements.

It offers breadth, autonomy, and involvement across the wider risk framework. The ideal candidate will have substantial risk leadership experience in asset or wealth management, strong stakeholder engagement, and a pragmatic, commercial approach to

Qualifications

• Experience in asset/wealth management or financial services environment is highly desirable.
• Strong understanding of risk and control frameworks and practical improvement.
• Ability to deliver second-line oversight and challenge to senior stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Assess risk and control frameworks and identify areas for improvement.
• Deliver effective second-line oversight and assurance across functions.
• Engage with senior stakeholders across a business and balance pragmatic, commercial risk decisions.
• Operate across operational, enterprise and broader non-financial risk domains.

Skills

Operational risk

Stakeholder engagement

Second-line assurance

Enterprise risk

Job description

12-month FTC London | 3 days in the office

We are working with a leading investment management firm who are looking for an interim head of operational risk – no management repsonsibility but running the business as usual Operational Risk function of the firm. The Current Head of Operational Risk is still in seat but taking the opportunity to take a step back for 12 months to focus on more strategic oversight of the function rater than running the day to day.

Managing assets across both its wealth and institutional businesses, with a diverse client base spanning private clients,

pension schemes, charities and corporates. The firm’s distribution footprint extends into Europe and North America, its investment and operational

capabilities are predominantly based in London.

The remit will include Enterprise and Operational Risk including control assessment, operational resilience, second-line assurance CASS elements.

The attraction of the position is its breadth and autonomy. TheRisk team has historically operated as a team of generalists, so there

is scope to become involved across the wider framework rather than being restricted to a narrow risk discipline.

The background

We are looking for an experienced risk professional, likely to have demonstrable relevant experience, with a strong understanding of how effective risk and control frameworks operate.

Experience within asset management, wealth management or another relevant financial-services environment would be particularly useful.

You should be comfortable:

Assessing risk and control frameworks and identifying areas for improvement

Delivering effective second-line oversight, assurance and challenge

Working with senior stakeholders across a business

Balancing constructive challenge with a pragmatic, commercial approach

Operating across operational, enterprise and broader non-financial risk

Engaging with investment-related risks without necessarily being a specialist investment-risk practitioner

Applicants:

Will currently OR recently be a Head of Enterprise Risk or Head of Operational Risk – candidates without this background won’t be suitable.