What is the opportunity

This is an exciting opportunity for a strategic thinking business and change leader to take ownership and engage teams in transformation that deliver commercially pragmatic results. The successful candidate will possess strong technical skills and knowledge and build key relationships with the Chief Executive Officer, UK Executive Team, Group Executive Team, UK Board, Non-Executive Directors, UK Senior Leadership Team, Chief Risk Officer and Control Owners/Teams!

This position can be located in Belfast/Bristol/London.

In this role you will:

The successful applicant will take ownership of the risk and control framework across the key risk types for Retail UK, driving embedding across the firm, which includes (but is not limited to):

• design, manage and execute the Retail UK control frameworks to meet the reporting expectations of senior management and regulators. Ensure robust responsiveness to the rapidly evolving market, operational and conduct risk environment;
• accountable for cross-functional supervision of risks within 1LOD and reporting;
• lead the simplification and delineation of responsibilities, and optimise the risk & controls operating model to reduce duplication, streamline control design and monitoring and simplify reporting models;
• support the CEO and ExCo to pro-actively manage and maintain a 'risk-aware' culture, driving the controls' agenda across the organisation; and
• create unified MI and systems that encourage and drive best practice.
• Take ownership and partners closely with teams to ensure that risk & control responsibilities and accountabilities are embedded across the Bank, provide training and leading by example.
• Provide expertise, as a centre of excellence, on design adequacy and operating effectiveness of controls.
• Ensure that emerging risks are identified, appropriately communicated with key stakeholders and mitigating strategies are agreed.
• Support robust risk assessment as a key part of business decision making.
• Demonstrate consideration for the Banks reputation and safeguarding customers by driving compliance with regulation and considering customer outcomes.
• Apply sound ethical judgement for escalating, managing and reporting on controls issues with transparency and create accountability at all levels. Aggregation of reporting and insights for the Executive and Board governance (e.g., Executive Risk Committee/Board Risk Committee)
• Build trusted relationships with second line of defence (2LoD) and Internal Audit, being a strong advocate for the business yet balanced in terms of setting high standards and expectations.
• Act as a key resource for business and action owners to advise and support on the effective design and implementation of key control remediation. Ensure the identification of issue root cause, partnering with control and process owners to recommend holistic corrective actions and improvements.

What will make you stand out?

Proven senior leadership experience with strong influencing and negotiating skills, with the presence, intellect and knowledge to establish rapport and credibility at all levels.

Accustomed to operating in complex matrix organisations, which have gone through significant periods of business transformation.

Very sound judgement and business instinct, strategic thinking, customer focus, highly developed organisational skills and personal and professional integrity.

Excellent communication skills - with the ability to clearly articulate ideas, concepts and complex information.

Strong evidence of strategic planning, decision making and strategic execution to deliver the objectives of the UK.

Demonstrated ability to manage multiple demanding initiatives concurrently, balancing multiple priorities and execute against tight deadlines.

Actively participate and contribute as a senior leader, acting with integrity and authentically, concerned with the Retail UK/Groups reputation. An exemplar of the Banks values.

Essential Qualifications

There are no minimum educational requirements for this role.

More about the team

The UK is a key market for Bank of Ireland, where we aim to be a leading UK multi-niche Bank.

We approach things differently, providing simple, flexible, accessible financial services propositions to UK customers, both directly and through partnerships with trusted, respected UK brands and intermediaries.

The Head of Risk & Controls provides leadership for the first line of defence (1LOD) risk and control, setting the strategic direction, ensuring the embedding of the 1LoD risk and control framework and driving a robust and consistent assessment of the risks that Retail UK is exposed to and the effectiveness of the controls on which it relies.

Why work with us

The Bank of Ireland company culture prioritises work-life balance with an opportunity for flexible working, along with 26 days annual leave and excellent pension contributions. Family can mean different things to different people; we offer 6 months paid maternity leave, an innovative fertility and surrogacy policy and working parent supports.