Risk Manager

Octopus Investments; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 120,000 - 170,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Hybrid working

Untracked holiday

Parental leave

Life insurance

Private medical insurance

Job summary

A leading investment firm in Greater London is looking for an experienced professional to shape and strengthen their risk management approach. You will lead the development and implementation of risk frameworks and tools essential for effective risk management. The role requires excellent communication skills and a solid understanding of risk principles. The company offers a competitive salary, hybrid working model, and a supportive culture emphasizing diversity and inclusion.

Qualifications

• Experience in a risk role with robust risk management frameworks.
• Ability to challenge risk principles effectively.
• Strong interpersonal skills and ability to engage with diverse teams.
• Proven track record implementing new risk ideas in teams.

Responsibilities

• Lead development of risk frameworks and tools.
• Challenge the first line to ensure proper consultation.
• Manage annual insurance renewal process.
• Attend and contribute to executive committees.
• Own aspects of risk framework and ensure coherence of components.
• Facilitate annual insurance renewal process.

Skills

Expert knowledge of risk management

Strong communication skills

Strategic thinking

Proficiency in Excel

Communication

Excel

Strategic thinking

Tools

Risk software

Job description

At Octopus, we’re entrepreneurs and we’re investors, on a mission to back the people, ideas and industries that will change the world.

We think working here is great, but we’re understandably bias. Click here to explore Life at Octopus.

Job Description

In this role, you’ll be at the heart of shaping and strengthening our risk management approach. You will lead the development and implementation of risk frameworks, policies, and tools that enable the first line to manage risk effectively, while ensuring consistency in definitions and measurement. Acting as the face of the second line risk team for key business areas, including Ventures and Octopus Capital, you’ll provide support and constructive challenge to help them manage risk in line with the framework. This is an opportunity to influence, innovate, and make a real impact by enhancing governance and resilience across the organisation.

The Team

Join the Risk and Compliance team (35+ people) – the second line of defence at Octopus. Our mission is to protect the business by embedding an open, honest risk culture aligned with our values: Be straightforward, be bold, be helpful. We work fast to identify and fix risks for the long term, supported by 50+ first‑line risk coordinators.

Responsibilities

• Lead, drive, manage and develop certain areas within the risk function for Octopus, including the ICARA reporting process.
• Challenge the first line in a friendly and supportive way to ensure that you are consulted appropriately.
• Responsible for various risk policies and respond to inbound due diligence queries relating to the risk framework.
• Attend and make key contributions to various executive level committees.
• Own certain aspects of the risk framework and ensure framework components function work together to provide useful risk insights.
• Manage and facilitate the annual insurance renewal process for Octopus.
• Take ownership of issues to resolve appropriately and with pace across the group.
• Continue to foster a culture of transparency and "no blame" on risk incidents.
• Prepare reporting for review at a board level and by other committees.

Qualifications

• An expert knowledge of approaches risk management, risk frameworks and aware of the latest developments in the industry.
• Able to challenge the first line on the application of risk principles.
• Worked in a risk role and is an experienced user and enhancer of risk management frameworks.
• Be humble, engaging and fun when interacting with everyone in the business. We all make mistakes, but how you deal with them defines you.
• A track record of bringing and implementing new ideas in teams you have worked in.
• Show strength and resilience and always look to find a way.
• Ability to think strategically and understand the commercial value of your work, as well as what is going on in the wider market / industry.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills and a competent user of Excel.

We encourage you to apply even if you don’t tick every box. What’s the worst that can happen?

Additional Information

What we offer

• A competitive salary, bonus, pension and share incentive plan
• Untracked holiday
• Hybrid working – most of our people spend 3 days a week in the office
• Anchor (our wellness hub) which includes Headspace, one to one coaching through Wellness Cloud, Digital GP & more
• Up to 6 months paid parental leave regardless of gender
• Life insurance, critical illness cover and income protection
• Private medical insurance for you and your family
• Electric vehicle leasing
• The option to work overseas up to a month per year

Our Values

At our core, we believe that how a company behaves is just as important as what it does. That’s why we chose to become an accredited B Corp (the equivalent of a Fairtrade coffee stamp but for companies) and to change our Articles of Association so that the interests all our stakeholders – employees, customers, communities, environment and shareholders – are considered in every decision we make.

We are committed to building a workplace where diversity is valued, and inclusion is a priority. By providing equal opportunities for growth and development, we embrace and celebrate all races, genders, religions, sexual orientations, ages, disabilities, and socio-economic backgrounds. We believe teams achieve their best when every member feels safe, respected and empowered to be their authentic selves.

We’re proud to be disability confident and are committed to supporting candidates with a disability, including neurodiversity and mental health conditions, throughout the recruitment process. Applicants are welcome to opt‑in to the disability confident scheme as part of our application process. If you require any adjustments to the interview process, we’ll be happy to accommodate where possible.