Chief Risk Officer

Location:
Manchester

Salary:
Competitive

Closing Date: Monday 24 August 2020

Purpose Of The Role

To support the executive and Board in providing leadership to the Atlanta 'Segment' of the Ardonagh Group, specifically with respect to its Risk and Compliance function, in order to achieve the Atlanta Segment's objectives, including:

• Be the principal Executive manager for risk and compliance within the Atlanta Segment of the Ardonagh Group.
• Contribute to the strategy and business planning of the Atlanta Segment, notably from a risk and compliance perspective.
• To provide expert leadership through planned integrations for the Atlanta Segment, including integration plans for businesses which have had intense regulatory scrutiny.
• To develop and imbed a strategic approach to risk and compliance and a target operating model for the Atlanta function.
• To provide expert advice on corporate governance, as to the enable the enhancement of the corporate governance framework including establishing appropriate management and governance forum across the segment as it develops, inclusive of planned acquisitions.
• To champion on-going implementation, operation, adherence and promotion of relevant Group Policies and Business Standards, evidenced by Atlanta policies, controls and procedures.
• To facilitate appropriate risk reporting through the governance structure of Atlanta, including working with the Group Risk Director and team to enable an appropriate degree of consistency in Group risk reporting.
• To ensure that the Function is appropriately resourced and directed such that it is effective in delivering appropriate advice, guidance and challenge to the business on risk and compliance matters.
• To be a trusted advisor/critical friend to the business to help achieve good customer outcomes and positive regulatory relations.
• To maintain an independent mindset and effectively challenge:
• the segment executive where necessary to achieve a robust second line of defence
• to challenge any potential undue influence from Group management or functions, inclusive of risk and compliance, i.e. if this may hypothetically conflict with the segment's risk and compliance obligations
• As an integral role within the overall Group second line of defence, work with group assurance functions such as Compliance Monitoring Internal Audit to achieve an appropriate level of assurance for the segment for the purposes of segment and Group management.
• To provide open and honest regulatory liaison, building a strong working relationship with regulatory bodies, notably the FCA.
• To advocate risk and compliance, champion a positive risk culture and help provide an appropriate 'tone from the top' on risk and compliance matters.
• 
  

Job Description

• Work as a collaborative member of the Atlanta Executive, contributing appropriately to the Segment's overall management and governance.
• Work as a collaborative member of the Ardonagh Group's risk and compliance function, enabling consistent management and reporting or regulatory compliance and risk management
• To lead the integration of significant planned business acquisitions from a risk and compliance perspective, including management of incoming risk and compliance functions and significant regulatory liaison
• To develop a target operating model for the Atlanta Risk and Compliance function, noting appropriate integration of planned acquisitions, make the business case for this model, agree the budget for this model with Segment management and agree the approach with the Segment Board and Group Compliance Director.
• To provide expert advice on corporate governance, as to the enable the enhancement of the corporate governance framework including establishing appropriate management and governance forum across the segment as it develops, inclusive of planned acquisitions.
• Support the segment executive management and the Group Compliance Director and Chief Risk Officer in providing leadership to the risk and compliance function within the Atlanta Segment and, directly, people management of individuals in the Atlanta Risk and Compliance function in order to deliver the function's key objectives.
• Work with the business, and leading the Atlanta Risk and Compliance function, to ensure that the Risk and Compliance Framework including the risk management system and the Group Policies and Business Standards are implemented, operated and embedded in the business and adhered to on an on-going basis, including:
• Working with the business to ensure risks and controls are identified, assessed, validated and documented within the Group's risk system;
• Provide advice, guidance and challenge to the business in their population and assessment of risks and controls within the risk system;
• To assist in the assessment of performance against policies and business standards identifying appropriate controls and mitigating actions as appropriate;
• Ensure there is appropriate reporting such that changes in our risk profile and/or deficiencies in our control environment are understood, actions identified and there is appropriate escalation when risks move outside of appetite, including escalation to Group management if appropriate.
• Ensure that the segment has a robust approach to regulatory change, including:
• Provide support to understand and adopt regulatory change requirements
• Design and deliver action plans and support to help business areas achieve expected standards of regulatory compliance as appropriate.
• Contribute expertise and leadership to Group regulatory change projects.
• Provide advice, guidance and challenge to support the business in the application of risk and regulatory requirements;
• Provide assurance that regulatory change has been adequately implemented
• Ensure that the Segment maintains positive regulatory relations and that we appropriately respond and take action in relation to regulatory requests, thematic review or firm 'deep-dive' reviews.
• Ensure that we have appropriate second line oversight of business practices/processes that are intended to ensure our operations are compliant at all levels.
• Drive the shape, production and analysis of risk and conduct MI, ensuring that appropriate dialogue occurs in the business with mitigating actions as appropriate.
• Accountability for the production by the business of Board and committee packs and/or discussion papers from the Atlanta Risk and Compliance function, for Segment or Group forums as required.
• Support and challenge due diligence and integration of M&A targets and major transactions.
• 
  

Key Role Attributes

• A level of gravitas that enables collaborative work and challenge where necessary of senior leaders in the business.
• Strong influencing skills and ability to sell the benefits of risk and regulatory risk management practices to ensure that appropriate but commercially aware action is taken in the business.
• Able to build and manage relationships with internal and external stakeholders to achieve long term success.
• Good team player, gaining the benefits of work as a team to achieve a stronger result.
• Proven track record of building open and successful relationships with regulatory bodies.
• A level of business acumen that enables a commercially sensitive approach, whilst managing business and regulatory risks.
• Strong oral and written communication skills as required to senior internal and external stakeholders.
• Strong analytical ability, providing challenge to data received to ensure that reports produced are robust.
• Ability to work on own initiative, solving problems where necessary, but ensuring consistency of approach with team colleagues.
• 
  

Essential Criteria - must be clearly demonstrated on CV

• Current and actively maintained knowledge of the current regulatory environment applying to UK insurance intermediaries, including good knowledge of the FCA handbook and how the relevant regulator(s) operate. Able to apply this in a practical way to business processes, procedures and controls.
• Strong enterprise risk management knowledge and experience of its implementation within insurance the insurance industry, particularly within personal lines general insurance and/or insurance broking businesses.
• Extensive experience in a Risk and Compliance field, preferably in an insurance broking environment. Experience of significant FCA liaison, managing integration projects, particularly in the areas of risk, compliance, control and governance frameworks.
• Compliance or Risk Management Qualification or Chartered Insurer preferred.
• 
  

Please apply online

The Ardonagh Group is the UK's largest independent insurance broker with global reach. We are a network of over 100 office locations and a workforce of almost 7,000 people. Created in June 2017, the Group brings together Autonet, Chase Templeton, Direct Group, Price Forbes and Towergate, with the additional acquisitions of Healthy Pets in August 2017 and Carole Nash in December 2017.

Our understanding of the communities we serve, together with our scale and breadth, allows us to work with our insurer partners to deliver solutions that meet our customer needs. Visit www.ardonagh.com for more information.