Risk Partner - Control Testing

Swift; Greater London; On-site; GBP 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive package

Career development

Job summary

Swift is seeking a Risk Management and Control Specialist to lead the Risk Department's challenge over first line of defence control testing and to provide independent opinions on testing reliability. You will share best practices and advise control owners and testers within the Enterprise Risk Management Framework, challenging documented controls to ensure alignment with the Swift Standards.

You will champion the new GRC Tool, monitor RCSA progress, and support executive reporting.

Qualifications

• 8+ years of experience as an internal auditor, tech risk or compliance specialist (or equivalent).
• Understanding of risk management principles and experience of implementation.
• Critical thinking skills; ability to challenge and deliver feedback.
• Relationship management skills; ability to present difficult messages well.
• Ability to see the bigger picture and support Swift overall.
• Confidence to speak up.

Responsibilities

• Reports to Head of Risk Performance and champions the delivery of the new GRC Tool.
• Ensures Control Testing Frameworks align with ERM principles and other frameworks.
• Challsnge control owners and testers to ensure appropriate risk mitigation.
• Supports RCSA activity and provides guidance on controls documentation and test steps.
• Oversees first line control testing progress and escalates at risk of deadlines.
• Monitors RCSA progress and presents updates to Executives and Board.

Skills

Risk management

Critical thinking

Relationship management

Communication

Challenge and feedback

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Degree-level education

CIA / CISA / IRM / IRAM

Job description

ABOUT US

We’re the world’s leading provider of secure financial messaging services, headquartered in Belgium. We are the way the world moves value – across borders, through cities and overseas. No other organisation can address the scale, precision, pace and trust that this demands, and we’re proud to support the global economy. We’re unique too. We were established to find a better way for the global financial community to move value – a reliable, safe and secure approach that the community can trust, completely. We’re always striving to be better and are constantly evolving in an ever‑changing landscape, without undermining that trust. Five decades on, our vibrant community reflects the complexity and diversity of the financial ecosystem. We innovate diligently, test exhaustively, then implement fast. In a connected and exciting era, our mission has never been more relevant. Swift now has a presence in 200+ countries and legal territories to serve a community of more than 12,000 banks and financial institutions.

POSITION SUMMARY

As a Risk Management and Control Specialist, you will lead the Risk Department's challenge over first line of defence control testing to give an independent opinion on the reliability of testing. You will share good practice so other areas can learn, and where you identify improvement opportunities you will advise first line control owners and testers, within the parameters of the Enterprise Risk Management Framework. You will challenge controls that first line document as part of their risk management activity to ensure alignment to the Swift Standards.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• The Risk and Control Partner reports to the Head of Risk Performance
• Champion the delivery and use of the new GRC Tool
• Ensure that Control Testing Frameworks aligns to the ERM principles and other control frameworks in place (e.g. ISAE‑baseline, Agile Control Framework)
• Apply expertise to challenge control owners and testers, to ensure the risk is appropriately mitigated and the mixture of controls is suitable (per risk(s))
• Support Risk Department colleagues during RCSA activity and provide expert input and guidance on i) which controls are needed, ii) how to document controls in line with the framework and iii) how to write test steps to robustly test controls
• Sample and then challenge control testing that the first line has completed, to provide a second line opinion on how robust the testing is (in line with the CT framework). Identify areas that require further support, training or otherwise and make arrangements to provide this
• Identify opportunities to automate controls and/ or their testing
• Oversee first line control testing progress, including escalation of control tests at risk of missing deadlines
• Monitor and report RCSA progress against plan on a weekly basis, and escalations when at risk of missing deadlines
• Support the preparation of regular reporting to Executives and Board. Collate information from various sources and analyse to gain insights
• Input and support the medium‑to‑long term view on continuous improvement of RCSAs and first line control testing
• Prepare and present ad‑hoc training/ awareness (RCSA and/ or controls testing) requested by first line as well as regular updates (usually held as 'all company' Teams calls)
• Develop specific skills and understanding related to own area of expertise. Bring new external ideas to improve processes
• Drive simplification and a harmonised approach in documenting and testing controls

QUALIFICATIONS

• 8+ years of experience as an internal auditor, tech risk or compliance specialist (or equivalent)
• Understanding of risk management principles and experience of implementation
• Critical thinking skills; ability to challenge and deliver feedback
• Relationship management skills; ability to present difficult messages well
• Ability to see the bigger picture and support Swift overall
• Confidence to speak up

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Degree‑level education
• Relevant professional qualification (CIA, CIIA, IRM, CISA, etc)

WHAT WE OFFER

• We put you in control of your career
• We give you a competitive package
• We help you perform at your best
• We help you make a difference
• We give you the freedom to be yourself

If you require a reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, please contact us to request accommodation.

Don’t meet every single requirement? At Swift, we are dedicated to building a workplace where people can bring their full selves and ideas to the team, so if you are excited about this role, we encourage you to apply even if you do not meet every single qualification.