Head of 1st Line Risk

Cardiff

About the Role

Admiral Insurance is seeking a strategic and commercially aware Head of 1st Line Risk to lead and embed a strong risk and compliance culture across our Motor Insurance business. Reporting to the Customer & Conduct Director, the role sits at the heart of our Motor division and will be a critical partner to the Motor Executive team, working closely with our Claims, Product, and Pricing areas.

You\’ll be responsible for ensuring that decision-making across the business is aligned with regulatory expectations, customer-centric values, and sound risk management — without losing sight of the commercial realities that underpin a successful motor insurance business like Admiral.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Risk & Regulatory Leadership

• Identify, assess, and prioritise risks across the motor division, including conduct, regulatory, and strategic risks.
• Create regulatory and risk strategy for the motor division that aligns with EUIs strategic goals.
• You will also be responsible for ensuring the Motor Director is given adequate support in meeting their individual regulatory responsibilities.
• Act as the primary 1st line regulatory and risk lead for the Motor business, ensuring alignment with Admiral Group\’s risk framework.
• Provide clear, pragmatic, and timely regulatory advice to support business decisions and change initiatives.
• Having oversight of risk events within the Motor area and ensuring effective remediation and RCA.
• Work closely with the Risk Heads in Claims, Product & Pricing to ensure a collaborative approach to compliance and risk management.
• Effective engagement with Line 2 and the wider Risk community within Admiral will be a key part of the role.

Regulatory Engagement & Governance

• Stay updated on industry regulations and best practices to ensure the organisation remains compliant.
• Interpret FCA rules and other relevant regulatory requirements, ensuring these are translated into practical guidance and action across Claims, Product, and Pricing teams.
• Own and enhance governance processes that support effective risk and compliance oversight.
• Ensure that our governance structure acts as an accelerator for good decision making.

Risk Management

• Collaborate with the Head of 1st Line Risk and Control to maintain and enhance our risk management processes.
• Work closely with the operational areas to manage first-line operational and conduct risks across the Motor division.
• Proactively monitor emerging risks and regulatory developments, providing actionable insight to senior stakeholders.
• Conduct risk assessments and develop action plans to address identified risks.
• Ensure consistency in risk management practices across the organisation.

Customer-Centric Culture

• Champion good outcomes for customers in all decision-making, ensuring compliance and commerciality work hand in hand.
• Collaborate with teams to ensure our products, pricing strategies, and claims processes deliver fair value and good outcomes at all times.

Leadership & Influence

• As part of the Motor Leadership Team, there is a need for an effective communicator who is happy to support and challenges the team in equal measure.
• Influence and guide senior stakeholders to build a robust compliance and risk culture that supports both agility and accountability.

About You

Experience & Skills

• Extensive experience in a senior compliance, risk, or regulatory advisory role within general insurance (motor insurance experience preferred).
• Strong working knowledge of the UK regulatory environment, particularly FCA rules and conduct frameworks.
• Commercially astute with the ability to balance customer, regulatory, and business needs.
• Proven track record in engaging and influencing senior leadership teams.
• Experience working across product, pricing, or claims is highly desirable.

Personal Attributes

• Strategic thinker with strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Confident communicator with the ability to simplify complex regulatory concepts.
• Collaborative, pragmatic, and resilient — able to thrive in a dynamic, fast-paced environment.

Please note – we may close this vacancy early if we receive lots of applications or business priorities change.

Admiral: Where You Can

We take pride in being a diverse and inclusive business. It\’s a place where you can Be You, and show up as you are. We\’re committed to fostering a people-first culture where everyone is accepted, supported, and empowered to be brilliant. You can, Grow And Progress at a pace and direction that suits you, Make A Difference for our customers and each other, and Share in Our Future with all colleagues eligible for up to £3,600 of free shares each year after one year of service.

Everyone receives 33 days holiday (including bank holidays) when they join us, increasing the longer you stay with us, up to a maximum of 38 days (including bank holidays). You also have the option to buy or sell up to an additional five days of annual leave.

We\’re proud of our people-first culture. In fact, we\’ve been recognised as a Great Place to Work for Women, a Great Place to Work for Wellbeing, and an overall Great Place to Work for over 25 years We\’re fully committed to making sure your progression is not slowed or halted by barriers related to race, gender, age, sexuality or any of the protected characteristics.

Our fantastic benefits make sure our colleagues have a great work-life balance; You can view some of our other key benefits here.

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