Head of Enterprise Risk Management in Manchester

As AJ Bell continues to grow and evolve, we are strengthening our Risk function and are looking for an experienced Head of Enterprise Risk Management to lead the Groups risk management capability during an exciting period of development and transformation. The Head of Enterprise Risk Management will own the design, enhancement, and delivery of our risk management framework ensuring it remains forward-looking, proportionate, and fully aligned to our strategic ambitions and regulatory obligations. This is a high-impact role at the heart of the organisation that balances strategic insight with practical implementation. You will provide independent challenge and support to the business, helping leaders make well informed, risk aware decisions while strengthening our overall risk culture. You will also act as business owner for our Governance, Risk and Compliance system, driving better data, smarter processes, and clearer risk accountability across the organisation. You will work closely with the Board, Executive Committee, and Risk and Compliance Committee, providing high quality risk insight that supports strong governance and good customer outcomes.

What you will do:

• Enterprise Risk Management and strategy
  • Lead the evolution of the Groups risk management framework, ensuring it meets FCA expectations and grows with the business.
  • Develop and maintain the risk taxonomy, risk policies, and supporting standards to ensure consistency across the Group.
  • Continuously align risk management to strategy, regulatory change, and good-practice developments.
• Risk appetite and decision support
  • Lead periodic reviews of the risk appetite framework to ensure it remains relevant, measurable, and practical.
  • Embed risk appetite metrics into strategic planning and decision making across the organisation.
  • Provide independent second line challenge on strategic initiatives, change programmes, and new product proposals.
  • Support leaders in understanding and managing risks effectively, helping to build a strong risk-aware culture.
• GRC system leadership
  • Act as business owner for the GRC system, ensuring it is used effectively across all business areas.
  • Drive automation, improved data quality, and more efficient risk management practices.
  • Provide guidance and training to first line risk owners to maximise the systems value.
• Enterprise risk oversight
  • Lead second line oversight of key risk categories including strategic, operational, technology, and conduct risks.
  • Coordinate identification and assessment of emerging risks, including regulatory and market developments.
  • Ensure timely escalation of risk issues and trends to senior management and governance committees.
  • Oversee quarterly and annual risk reporting to the Board and senior committees.
  • Contribute to the Group ICARA process, including scenario analysis and material harm workshops.
  • Implement and oversee risk and control self assessments across the organisation.
• Stakeholder engagement
  • Build strong, collaborative relationships across the business while maintaining independent challenge.
  • Promote risk awareness through training and leadership engagement.
  • Work closely with Compliance and Internal Audit to support effective combined assurance.

About you:

We are looking for an experienced ERM leader who brings credibility, pragmatism, and strong stakeholder skills. You will ideally have:

• Significant experience in enterprise risk management within FCA regulated financial services.
• Proven experience embedding risk frameworks and risk appetite disciplines into day to day business activity.
• Experience owning or implementing a GRC system.
• Confidence engaging with Executives and the Board.
• Strong analytical and strategic thinking skills.
• Experience leading and developing a high performing risk team.

You will also be:

• Pragmatic and commercially aware in your approach to risk.
• Able to explain complex risk concepts in clear, business friendly language.
• Collaborative, supportive, and constructive in your challenge.
• Forward looking, with a keen eye on emerging risks and regulatory change.
• Passionate about continuous improvement in risk processes and systems.

About us:

AJ Bell is one of the fastest-growing investment platform businesses in the UK offering an award-winning range of solutions that caters for everyone, from professional financial advisers to DIY investors with little to no experience. We have over 644,000 customers using our award-winning platform propositions to manage assets totalling more than £103.3 billion. Our customers trust us with their investments, and by continuously striving to make investing easier, we aim to help even more people take control of their financial futures. Having listed on the Main Market of the London Stock Exchange in December 2018, AJ Bell is now a FTSE 250 company. Headquartered in Manchester with offices in central London and Bristol, we now have over 1,500 employees and have been named one of the UK's 'Best 100 Companies to Work For' for six consecutive years and in 2024 and 2025 named a Great Place to Work.

At AJ Bell you can expect a friendly working environment with a strong sense of teamwork, we have a great sense of pride in what we do, and this is reflected in our guiding principles.

Our perks and benefits:

• Competitive salary and discretionary bonus scheme
• Starting holiday entitlement of 28 days, increasing up to 31 days with length of service plus a holiday buy and sell scheme
• A choice of pension schemes with matched contributions up to 8% (9% after 2 years)
• Death in service scheme
• Buy As You Earn (BAYE) Scheme
• Annual Free Shares Award Scheme
• PMI
• Health Cash Plan
• Free gym membership
• Employee Assistance Programme
• Enhanced maternity, paternity, and shared parental leave
• Paid time off for volunteer work
• Charitable giving opportunities through salary sacrifice
• Calendar of social events, including monthly payday drinks, annual Christmas party, summer party and much more
• Professional qualification support
• And much, much more!

Hybrid working:

At AJ Bell, our people are the heart of our culture. We believe in building strong connections by working together. That's why we offer a hybrid working model, where you'll spend a minimum of 50% of your working time per month in the office. For new team members, an initial period will be full-time in the office to help you immerse yourself in our business and build valuable relationships with your colleagues.

AJ Bell is committed to providing an environment of mutual respect where equal employment opportunities are available to all applicants and all employees are empowered to bring their whole self to work. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, pregnancy, religion, physical and mental disability, marital status and any other characteristics protected by the Equality Act 2010. All decisions to hire are based on qualifications, merit and business need.

If you like the sound of the above, or just want to know more about the company and the role, we'd love to speak to you.