1. ROLE SUMMARY AND DEPARTMENT OVERVIEW:

The Risk department is responsible for providing second line oversight and advice across Peel Hunt LLP. This includes all client facing and functional departments, as well as all major change initiatives within the firm and wider Peel Hunt Group and extends to all risk types faced by the firm. In doing so, Risk provides essential advice and assurance to help ensure activities are managed in a way which is risk aware and deliver on the needs of our clients and strategic objectives.

The Risk Manager role is part of the Risk team, which is focussed on the maintenance and development of the risk framework, its associated processes and oversight of material risks faced by the firm. The role involves wide exposure to all areas of the firm, working with first line teams, subject matter experts and management on a daily basis.

2. RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Day to day operation of second line risk processes and enforcement of policies to identify, assess, manage, monitor and report on risks across the firm, including:
  o market, credit, liquidity and capital
  o operational risks, including operational resilience
  o cyber and information security risks
  o environmental, social and governance risks
  o reputational risks
  o strategic risks
  o people risks
  o harms to clients, consumers and markets
• Provide oversight, challenge and advice to first line business units on the management of risk within their respective business areas, to promote effective systems and controls, including: reporting of loss events, risk and control self-assessment (RCSA), key risk indicators, control testing and action tracking.
• Escalate risk issues, including breaches of risk appetite and risk tolerance to the CRO as required.
• Ensure the risk framework is effective, proportionate and aligns with internal and external expectations, across all risk types, and that supporting process remain fit for purpose
• Proactively undertake regular risks assessments and ad-hoc assessments of specific non-financials risks (e.g. fraud), providing recommendations for improved management of risks and ensuring alignment with regulatory expectations
• Prepare regular reports and presentations for management, executive and Board level committees on risk profile and material risk issues (including attending those committees as required).
• Identify and implement ways to mature the management of risk within the firm.
• Monitor the external environment, including notable risk events, to identify emerging risks, trends and areas for improvement in the firm’s controls.
• Oversee the maintenance and development of departmental procedures and risk technology, including internally developed and third-party applications.
• Provide guidance and mentoring in the development of other members of the risk team.
• Provide critical review, advise on firm-wide risk management policies, including provision of training as required. In particular, maintain control over market, credit, fraud policies.
• Lead on the production of the ICARA, in particular, severe loss event scenario identification, assessment, and management, and engagement with relevant business experts.
• Support the maintenance and development of the firm’s business resilience activities, working with departmental leads and subject matter experts.
• Respond to first line queries on the application of risk management policies to their business units, particularly those from department heads and senior management.
• Work constructively with the Compliance team to ensure regulatory risk (including financial crime and conduct risks) are effectively managed.
• Foster strong relationships with key stakeholders across the firm, while maintaining the independence of the second line.
• Promote and contribute to the maintenance and development of a positive risk culture across the firm.
• Maintaining, at all times, the highest standard of professional conduct, and seek to uphold the Peel Hunt Values & Ethics.

Key Capabilities and Knowledge: 

• Sound understanding of the key risks to which an investment firm is exposed and proportionate measures to manage those risks.
• Sound understanding of the role of the second line within a three lines model, and how this supports and enables the delivery of business objectives.
• Strong awareness of the UK regulatory regime and key regulatory initiatives as they extend to non-financial risks and risk management processes (e.g. Operational Resilience, IFPR, Consumer Duty)

Experience:

• Experience in the design, operation and development of an enterprise wide risk management framework, preferably within a financial services firm
• Experience in quantifying non-financial risks, to enable informed decisions on risk management to be undertaken
• Experience of working with stakeholders of different types across an organisation, particularly those at department head and senior management level
• Experience in co-ordinating or leading change initiatives, working with varied stakeholder groups

Skills, Capabilities and Attributes:

• Ability to apply a logical approach to the quantification and assessment of risks and advise on pragmatic ways in which to manage risks
• Ability to communicate complex subject matters effectively (verbally and in writing) to a diverse audience
• Ability to question, actively listen, identify key points and reach an objective conclusion
• Ability to independently prioritise work, while providing transparency to the CRO and management as required
• Ability to analyse datasets using appropriate tools (e.g. Excel, SQL, python)
• Ability to use general Microsoft Office tools (Word, Excel, Powerpoint, PowerBI, Co-pilot)
• A strong desire to develop, learn, and proactively drive improvement in processes and outcomes within the risk team and wider firm
• Strong academic background, with a business, economic or financial degree beneficial

Role Competencies: 

• Communication
• Problem Solving
• Analytical
• Assessing & Interpreting Risk
• Leadership
• Persuasion & Negotiation
• Building & Maintaining Relationships