Head of Operational Risk and Assurance (Europe)

Location: Dublin

Contract Type: Permanent

Working Pattern: Hybrid (3 Days on site)

Role Description

The Head of Operations Risk and Assurance (ORA) Europe leads all Assurance, Operational Resilience and Operations Risk for FNZ Operations across Europe. He/she is responsible to implement and maintain the risk management framework (RMF) from a first line of defence (1LOD) perspective as well as managing different dimensions of assurance and resilience required to run a large operational department. This role provides leadership and direction to the first line risk team responsible for assurance over the operations risk and control environment. This includes enabling risk management best practices and embedding this into operations across Europe.

The Head of ORA provides a vital communication link between the operational risk and assurance experts in Europe and FNZ senior management (both functional and local), as second- and third-line functions of FNZ, external auditors, and periodically our clients.

The role holder is accountable for the following:

• Maintaining the risk management framework for FNZ Europe in close collaboration with second line of defence (2LOD) functions of FNZ. This includes the completion of Risk Control Self-Assessments (RCSA) as well as risk event and incident management and reporting for operations. The role holder ensures the documentation and regular review and testing to demonstrate compliance with the RMF in collaboration with Risk and Compliance.

• Ensuring Operational compliance with relevant FNZ policies and regulatory requirements in the countries FNZ Europe maintains active operations.

• The role holder is responsible for the maintenance, regular testing and review of all required assurance and operational resilience measures to run a large operations department across Europe in line with regulatory requirements. This includes but is not limited to:

  • Business Impact Analysis (BIA) and Business continuity processes (BCP) for the European business

  • Operational resilience monitoring, testing and reporting

  • Development and maintenance of an Assurance Framework for Europe

• Ensuring the implementation and maintenance of a sound Business Process Management (BPM) framework in alignment with FNZ group

• Supporting both the operations risk and the assurance tasks for FNZ Europe and, in alignment with 2LOD and IT, takes care of the implementation and regular review of relevant tools and applications in pursuit of high degrees of automation for the required tasks.

• Owning the relationship with internal and external audit for FNZ Europe operations and acts as main coordination point for upcoming audits. He/she specifically coordinates the ISAE 3402 audits across FNZ Europe.

• Supporting the Service Delivery Management (SDM) team with providing consistent, standardised and automated MI and KPI reporting to European clients of FNZ.

• Stakeholder Management and Communications: The role holder is responsible for providing regular operations risk and assurance updates and MI to the European operations Leadership Team. He/she works closely with 2LOD functions to create risk reporting demonstrating compliance with FNZ group policies and regulatory requirements.

• To deliver the above tasks the role holder builds, manages and leads a team of operational risk managers and assurance experts across FNZ’s European operations. He/she works closely with European country and business leaders and the EU DAC COO to hire and develop strong talent in these areas.

• The role holder is a member of the European operations Leadership Team (EOLT) and supports the European COO in defining and implementing the operations strategy for Europe.

• Organises and runs the operations Risk Management Committee of FNZ Europe.

• Establishing, implementing and maintaining the Outsourcing Framework for FNZ Europe in conjunction with Group Procurement and 2LOD functions.

Role Description:

Responsibilities will include, but are not limited to:

Processes

• Establishing and delivering an Operations Risk and Assurance programme which satisfies regulatory requirements in a consistent, efficient and effective manner across Europe.

• Managing the Operations Risk and Assurance Agenda across Europe providing timely, comparable and consistent reporting / evidence to the EU COO or governance forums as appropriate.

• Managing the auditing agenda across Europe through engagement with internal and external audit partners or clients to establish a coordinated, efficient delivery programme which minimises the impact on the Operational Units while delivering the desired outcomes for the audit partners.

• Establishing and rollout of a training programme across Europe which increases awareness of and engagement with the Operations Risk and Assurance programme across Europe.

• Engaging with the Business Readiness team to ensure that all on-boarding activity is delivered in a manner that is aligned with and cognisant of the Operations Risk and Assurance programme across Europe.

• Designing, developing and maintaining an Assurance Framework across Europe from which we can drive synergies, efficiencies and standardisation across Europe in our Assurance programme.

• Implementing, maintaining and testing all required assurance and operational resilience measures to run a large operations department across Europe in line with regulatory requirements ensuring consistency in approach and reporting thereof.

• Establishing, implementing and maintaining the Outsourcing Framework for FNZ Europe. This includes the establishment and implementation of an agreed Outsourcing Policy, the categorisation and criticality assessment for all outsourcing arrangement across FNZ Europe ensuring that appropriate governance and oversight is established in respect of all material outsourcing arrangements.

Governance

• Lead the Operations Risk Management Committee of FNZ Europe.

• Design and provide relevant and timely risk and assurance reporting to Clients, Boards and Committees as required.

• Participate and/or chair governance meetings to ensure that FNZ is driving the right behaviours, as outlined by regulatory and internal requirements, to mitigate risk to the business.

• Design and implement risk and assurance boards and functions across Europe with a focus of having efficient decision making and clear responsibilities.

• As a member of European operations Leadership Team closely interact with the other senior leaders in across European operations and ensure they provide relevant input and where required resources to the Operations Risk and Assurance programme and its implementation.

Competence Required

• Experience at working with and reporting to Board and Executive stakeholders.

• Experience in a managerial role and proven leadership capabilities.

• Proven experience in an assurance or regulatory role within the Funds/Wealth Management, Platform or Life and Pension industries.

• Detailed understanding of regulatory requirements in operational risk and operational resilience areas.

• Proven track record in implementing risk, Operational Resilience and BCM frameworks.

• Self-driven, entrepreneurial thinker and strong execution skills.

• Strong communicator.

• Strong understanding of risk/compliance policies and processes for a financial services business.

• In depth knowledge of different types of operational risks, systems and processes.

• Proficient in English, additional European languages are an asset.

We are seeking an exceptional leader to take on this critical role within FNZ's European operations. If you possess the skills, experience, and vision outlined above and are ready to make a meaningful impact, we encourage you to apply.

The application deadline is 28/02/2025, and early submissions are encouraged. We look forward to reviewing your application and exploring how you can contribute to the success of FNZ's operations in Europe.

About FNZ

FNZ is committed to opening up wealth so that everyone, everywhere can invest in their future on their terms. We know the foundation to do that already exists in the wealth management industry, but complexity holds firms back. 

We created wealth’s growth platform to help. We provide a global, end-to-end wealth management platform that integrates modern technology with business and investment operations. All in a regulated financial institution. 

We partner with over 650 financial institutions and 12,000 wealth managers, with US$1.5 trillion in assets under administration (AUA).

Together with our customers, we help over 20 million people from all wealth segments to invest in their future.