General Manager, Operational Risk & Compliance

Challenger Limited is an ASX-listed investment management firm managing $127 billion in assets (as at 30 June 2024). Life with us is fast moving and always exciting. Together we’re driving to deliver our vision to provide our customers with financial security for a better retirement.

We achieve this goal by providing a work environment where people from diverse backgrounds, with a range of skills and experiences can contribute and succeed.

Join us as General Manager, Operational Risk & Compliance, based in Sydney CBD

• Are you a strategic risk leader looking to make a lasting impact in a dynamic financial services organisation?
• We are seeking an exceptional General Manager, Operational Risk and Compliance (GM R&C) who will lead a high-performing team, fostering a cohesive and engaged culture while strengthening the function’s reputation as a strategic partner across the business.
• If you thrive on shaping risk strategies, delivering innovative frameworks, and working in a collaborative environment where your voice is heard, this could be your next exciting challenge.

Why Join Challenger?

Challenger is at the forefront of providing financial security for a better retirement, with $127 billion in assets under management as of June 2024. As the largest provider of annuities in Australia, our business is unique, innovative, and award-winning. We’re big enough to tackle complex, impactful projects but small enough for you to truly understand and influence the whole business.

This is more than a job; it’s a chance to join a high-performing, inclusive, and forward-thinking organisation where you can bring your authentic self, collaborate with exceptional colleagues, and drive meaningful change. 

This is a great role for a forward-thinking leader who can build on our strong foundation while identifying opportunities to enhance our approach to risk management.

About the role

As our General Manager, Operational Risk & Compliance you will be responsible for supporting the Chief Risk Officer, the Challenger leadership team, and the Chair of the Group Risk Committee to oversee and report on operational risk, compliance, risk culture and conduct outcomes. 

You’ll work directly with senior leaders, the Board, and represent the function on key committees, shaping decisions that set Challenger up for success over the next 10-15 years.  With oversight across Australia, the UK, and other regions, you’ll gain unparalleled experience in a diverse regulatory environment.

Some of your other core responsibilities include (but aren’t limited to)

• Setting and executing Challenger’s operational risk strategy.

• Act as a trusted adviser and provide appropriate challenger to executives and senior stakeholders, offering evidence-based recommendations that balance risk management with organisational goals.

• Represent Risk at Executive and Board Risk Committees, ensuring clear and compelling communication that builds confidence and trust with senior stakeholders.

• Provide oversight and guidance on the organisation’s governance, risk, and compliance frameworks.

• Driving risk transformation initiatives by leading the implementation of key projects (recent examples include GRC technology solution implementation and our CPS230 uplift.)

• Represent the risk function on major strategic transactions and initiatives, including regulatory change projects, and contribute to Challenger’s future operating model.

• Developing and executing communication and training strategies supporting Challenger’s risk culture and GRC capability

• Collaborating extensively across the business as a key contributor in shaping a risk-aware and customer-focused culture.

• Risk framework and policy development.

• Production and presentation of Board, Committee, and executive reports

• Staying connected professionally and providing insights on evolving risk, governance, and compliance practices.

Your Team

This role reports to the Chief Risk Officer and you’ll lead a team of four direct reports with 12 indirect reports.  Challenger operates in a highly regulated environment, across multiple jurisdictions making it essential to manage strategic and operational risks and meet its regulatory compliance obligations. 

The focus of the Risk and Compliance team is to develop frameworks and work with relevant stakeholders, executives, and managers as a trusted adviser on delivery, implementation and continual improvement of process and controls. The broader Risk team supports the Board, Group Risk Committee and Executive Risk Management Committee in fostering a risk and compliance focused culture across the organisation to ensure that Challenger maintains a competitive position in a complex and ever-changing environment.  

The Skills and Experience you will need

We’re looking for someone who brings a wealth of operational risk experience combined with strong people leadership and senior stakeholder management skills.  You’ll bring fresh thinking to operational risk—balancing risk and compliance with commerciality and challenging existing ways of working to drive stronger outcomes.

You will have 10+ years’ experience in senior operational risk management and compliance roles, from within an APRA-regulated environment such as wealth management, funds management, or life insurance.

As well as

• Strategic Thinker: Ability to develop and implement frameworks, policies, and strategies that drive measurable results.

• Exceptional Communicator: Comfortable presenting to boards, engaging with regulators, and influencing senior stakeholders with evidence-based recommendations. You’ll need the confidence to push boundaries and you know how to navigate complex environments, manage strong personalities, and communicate with impact, ensuring risk is both understood and actioned at the highest levels.

• Transformational Leadership: Experienced in leading regulatory change projects and embedding and empowering a strong risk culture across teams.

• Resilience and Independent Thinking: You bring a sharp, independent mindset, capable of balancing risk and opportunity. You’re comfortable making tough calls, reading between the lines, and challenging where necessary to ensure the best outcomes.

Additional Information 

 
Working at Challenger means being part of a diverse, connected team that has fun and loves what they do. We’re small enough, but big enough to accelerate bold ideas, realising what’s possible for our customers and partners.   

 
At Challenger, we provide access to a range of exclusive employee benefits that will support you both personally and professionally and a hybrid work environment including.   
 

• Discretionary bonus scheme.  

• Flexible working, including hybrid work with time in the office and time at home allows individuals to make the most of their work and personal lives.

• Eighteen weeks paid leave for all new parents.  

• Extra superannuation contributions.   

• Employee share plan.    

• Challenger Day – one extra day off every year in recognition of the effort our people make.   

• Fantastic offices in a central CBD location a stone’s throw from Martin Place metro and Wynyard.

• Additional support leave (fertility treatment leave, gender affirmation leave).   

Visit our benefits page for more information https://www.challenger.com.au/about-us/careers/our-benefits   

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We value inclusion and diversity of thought, promote flexible working practices so our people can integrate their work and personal lives, and are proud to be a Workplace Gender Equality Agency (WGEA) Employer of Choice for Gender Equality.

We believe in bringing your authentic self and a belonging in our culture. We are prideful in participating in the Australian Workplace Equality Index (AWEI) as a national benchmark on LGBTQ+ workplace inclusion and best practice in Australia. We offer the opportunity for a broad career experience and value people who are inquisitive and rigorous and are driven to make a difference.

Job type:

Permanent

Posting Close Date :

01/03/2025