Head of 1st Line Risk

Founded in 1861, Royal London is the largest mutual life, pensions and investment company in the UK with Group funds under management of GBP78.4 billion. Group businesses serve around 5.3 million customers and employ 2,823 people (figures quoted are as at 30 September 2014). We offer a range of pensions, protection and investment products, which are distributed principally through intermediaries.

Our vision is to become the UK's leading customer-owned financial services organisation. The specialist businesses that make up the Royal London Group are clearly positioned within their markets and our goal is to provide innovative solutions that match the needs of our customers.

The purpose of this role is to design, build and embed a robust control environment across Group Customer Service (GCS) that sets the standard for Risk Management across RLG. You will ensure that GCS defines and operates within risk appetite of the group, proactively establishing and continually improving local level policies and procedures.

Key Responsibilities:

* Establish and embed a GCS control environment that will satisfy the requirements of a Solvency II use test.
* Assist senior leaders and the wider leadership team to fully understand their risk management responsibilities and provide them with tools to effectively and efficiently discharge these obligations.
* Build and maintain relationships with internal risk divisions and represent first line of defence during major development.
* Establish and lead the GCS first line risk teams to deliver risk management activities across first line of defence.
* The role is a senior leadership role with broad responsibility for building capability and developing others in risk management capabilities.
* Ensure conduct risks are well understood and monitoring and controls are established and maintained to drive industry-leading customer outcomes.

Key Skills & Experience required:

* Track record of successful strategic deployment of Risk Management Frameworks that satisfy Solvency II use test requirements.
* Broad knowledge of all Risk Management Framework risk types.
* Sound knowledge of the Solvency II directive with a detailed understanding of the ORSA and supporting processes.
* Detailed knowledge of conduct risk design and implementation.
* Experience in the Financial Services industry.
* Strong stakeholder management capabilities for internal and external relationships.
* Excellent communication skills both written and verbal.
* Well-developed performance and talent management capabilities.