Asia Operational Risk Lead

Leadingnation; Hong Kong; On-site; HKD 1,200,000 - 2,000,000; Full time

Job summary

Pictet Group in Hong Kong seeks a senior risk leader to head the second-line operational risk oversight for Hong Kong and Singapore. You will set regional priorities, challenge senior stakeholders and provide clear risk insight while remaining hands-on in reviews, monitoring and testing.

You will lead the HK risk team, report to the Head of Asia Risk, and engage regulators and governance bodies. The role demands a strong background in private banking, 12+ years in financial services, and

Qualifications

• At least 12 years in financial services with exposure to operational or enterprise risk, internal control, regulatory risk, investment risk or audit.
• Strong knowledge of private banking or wealth management, Asia regulation and HKMA expectations.
• Proven ability to lead a small team while remaining hands-on in risk assessment and monitoring.
• Ability to engage regulators and governance bodies with credible, independent judgement.

Responsibilities

• Lead Asia operational risk and internal control framework across HK and SG, aligned with Group standards and local regulations.
• Set annual regional priorities, allocate deliverables, coach the team and ensure high-quality execution.
• Provide independent challenge over risk assessments, events, remediation, KRIs and control weaknesses.
• Maintain risk profiles, risk maps, appetite statements and entity-level risk assessment for HK.
• Manage reporting on exposures, incidents, testing, remediation progress and emerging themes.
• Direct or conduct control testing, thematic reviews and root-cause analyses.
• Oversee policies and standards alignment with Group requirements and local operating model.
• Deliver practical operational risk training to front-office and other stakeholders.
• Escalate significant investment or product-related operational risk issues to governance bodies.

Skills

leadership

risk assessment

stakeholder management

regulatory knowledge

Education

Finance, Risk Management, Economics, Business, Accounting

FRM beneficial

Job description

• Set regional priorities
• Strong knowledge of private banking
• Lead the Hong Kong operational risk team

Your team

The Pictet Group is one of the world’s leading independent wealth and asset managers. Founded in 1805 and headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland, the Group is represented in 30 offices in financial centres worldwide, currently employing over 5000 people. Pictet has been present in Hong Kong for 40 years where it employs around 200 people.

Your role

Lead independent second-line operational risk oversight across Hong Kong and Singapore. Set regional priorities, challenge senior stakeholders and provide clear risk insight, while remaining hands‑on in reviews, monitoring, testing and key local deliverables. Lead the Hong Kong operational risk team and represent Risk with regulators, governance bodies and Group counterparts.

Reports to the Head of Asia Risk, locally to the Hong Kong Branch CEO, and with a functional line to the Group Head of Operational Risk. Leads a small Hong Kong-based team and serves as the HKMA‑appointed Section 72B Risk Manager for Hong Kong.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead, maintain and enhance the Asia operational risk and internal control framework, aligned with Group standards and local regulatory expectations.
• Set annual priorities, allocate team deliverables, coach team members and ensure timely, high-quality execution across Hong Kong and Singapore.
• Provide independent challenge over RCSA, risk events, issues, remediation plans, key risk indicators, audit observations and control weaknesses.
• Maintain forward‑looking risk profiles, risk maps, risk appetite statements and the Hong Kong entity‑level risk assessment.
• Monitor and elevate material and emerging operational risks, trends and control weaknesses to senior management and relevant governance forums.
• Personally conduct or direct control testing, thematic reviews, incident and root‑cause analysis, follow‑up reviews and special investigations.
• Maintain local operational risk policies, procedures and standards, ensuring continued alignment with Group requirements and the branch operating model.
• Design and deliver practical operational risk training and awareness to front‑office and other first‑line stakeholders.
• Prepare concise executive and regulatory reporting on exposures, incidents, testing outcomes, remediation progress and emerging themes.
• Lead second‑line operational risk oversight of investment and financial product activities across Hong Kong and Singapore, including controls over the investment platform.
• Challenge new products, initiatives and material changes, and act as the escalation point for significant investment or product‑related operational risk issues.

Your profile

• Degree in Finance, Risk Management, Economics, Business, Accounting or a related field; postgraduate qualification or FRM is advantageous.
• At least 12 years’ financial‑services experience, with substantial senior‑level exposure to operational or enterprise risk, internal control, regulatory risk, investment risk or audit.
• Strong knowledge of private banking or wealth management, Asia regulation and HKMA supervisory expectations.
• Proven ability to lead a small professional team while remaining hands‑on in risk assessment, incident review, monitoring and control testing.
• Credible and independent judgement, with the confidence to challenge senior stakeholders and engage regulators and governing bodies.
• Ability to assess investment and product activities from an operational risk and control perspective.
• Ability to fulfil the responsibilities of the HKMA‑appointed Section 72B Risk Manager, including senior regulatory engagement and escalation.
• Excellent analytical, written and verbal communication skills, including executive, committee and regulatory materials.
• Practical, collaborative, discreet and resilient leadership style, with strong ownership and delivery discipline.

Diversity & Inclusion

Pictet is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to creating a diverse environment. We respect all individuals and seek their inclusion in the workplace.