Risk Lead

CMR Jobs Limited; Reading; On-site; GBP 90,000 - 125,000; Full time

Job summary

CMR Jobs Limited is partnering with a bold, growing financial services business to appoint a Risk Lead who will own the risk function and help drive the next stage of growth. You’ll shape policies, embed robust processes and foster a strong risk culture.

The ideal candidate has senior experience at Head of Risk or Director level, with direct experience in invoice finance or payroll, and a hands-on, commercially minded leadership style.

Qualifications

• Senior experience at Head of Risk, Head of Credit or Director level.
• Essential: Direct experience within invoice finance and/or payroll.
• Background in a growing SME, scale-up or entrepreneurial financial services business.
• Strong knowledge of credit risk, lending and portfolio management.
• Experience owning and improving processes, rather than simply following established frameworks.
• Hands-on, commercially minded leadership with strong people skills.
• Recruitment or staffing industry experience would be a real advantage.

Responsibilities

• Take ownership of the company's risk function, policies and procedures.
• Lead and develop risk processes, ensuring they support sustainable growth.
• Oversee credit, operational and portfolio risk.
• Identify potential risks and implement practical solutions.
• Work closely with senior leadership to balance commercial opportunities with risk.
• Drive improvements, introduce new ideas and develop a strong risk culture.
• Provide leadership and guidance across the wider business.

Job description

Risk Lead

Ready to take ownership and make a real impact?

We're working with an ambitious, growing financial services business looking to appoint a Risk Lead to take ownership of its risk function and support its next stage of growth.

This is a fantastic opportunity for someone who enjoys building, improving and refining processes rather than working within a rigid corporate environment. You'll have the freedom to bring new ideas, challenge existing ways of working and play a key role in shaping the business.

The role

• Take ownership of the company's risk function, policies and procedures.
• Lead and develop risk processes, ensuring they support sustainable growth.
• Oversee credit, operational and portfolio risk.
• Identify potential risks and implement practical solutions.
• Work closely with senior leadership to balance commercial opportunities with risk.
• Drive improvements, introduce new ideas and develop a strong risk culture.
• Provide leadership and guidance across the wider business.

What we're looking for

• Senior experience at Head of Risk, Head of Credit or Director level.
• Essential: Direct experience within invoice finance and/or payroll.
• A background in a growing SME, scale-up or entrepreneurial financial services business.
• Strong knowledge of credit risk, lending and portfolio management.
• Experience owning and improving processes, rather than simply following established frameworks.
• A hands-on, commercially minded approach with strong leadership skills.
• Recruitment or staffing industry experience would be a real advantage.

What's on offer?

• A senior position with genuine autonomy and influence.
• The opportunity to shape and develop the risk function.
• A growing business where your ideas and experience can make a real difference.