Head of Risk

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Job Description

AustralianSuper, the largest pension fund in Australia and listed as a top 20 largest pension fund globally, is recruiting our Head of Group Risk, International based in our London office. The Head of Group Risk, International is responsible for management and oversight of all International Offices Group Risk functions (including compliance) and will play a key role in implementing global business plans for the Fund.

We are seeking an experienced and accomplished SMF approved Head of Risk from a similar regulated entity to play a key role in effectively managing the Fund’s international Group Risk functions and requirements which cover London, New York and Beijing. This is a critical role within the Fund and, as such, this role has a seat at many of our most senior committees within our International Offices and globally.

The Fund:

AustralianSuper, Australia’s largest superannuation and a profit-for-member fund, we help members achieve their best financial position in retirement.

The Role:

The purpose of the role is to lead relevant Group Risk activities, and the Group Risk International team. This role reports to our Deputy Chief Investment Officer based in London and Chief Risk Officer (CRO) based in Melbourne, and has responsibility for leading the second-line risk and compliance functions for all of the Fund’s international locations.

Role Responsibilities

Group Risk

• Acting as both delegate for decision making for all CRO matters outside of Australia, and as the SME for International Offices (IOs) Group Risk matters.
• Working with the Group Risk leadership team to deliver Group Risk functions globally to support the strategy of the Fund in our IOs.
• Work directly with the CRO and Group Risk Leadership Team to ensure consistent and common risk and compliance policies, standards and approaches are applied offshore.
• Engage with key internal and external stakeholders to establish and embed the Group Risk agenda for the IOs, with a particular focus on alignment with Fund objectives.
• Being accountable for the identification, assessment, management and reporting of current and emergent risks and obligations in alignment with the Fund’s ‘Members First’ culture and in the context of our fast growth and a continually evolving business.

Strategic Leadership

• As a member of the Group Risk Leadership Team, lead the strategic thinking regarding the Fund’s international Group Risk functions and, as a member of the International Offices Leadership Team, contributing to the development and implementation of our strategy.
• Lead the activities regarding establishing and maintaining constructive relationships with key regulatory authorities and government/industry bodies.
• Work with colleagues in Australia to share knowledge with the wider business and contribute through functional expertise and experience as part of cross-Fund initiatives.
• Keep abreast of strategic or major projects/initiatives occurring throughout the business to leverage opportunities for collaboration and knowledge sharing as well as leveraging industry relationships and participate in industry forums as applicable to keep abreast of best practice in the IO jurisdictions.

People and Fund Leadership

• Motivate and inspire the team and suppliers by demonstrating commitment to the Fund’s values, decision pillars and leadership principles.
• Ensure our Members First culture is consistently and firmly embedded across the team.
• Contribute both functional expertise and broader leadership and business management ideas, skills, and experience as part of cross-Fund initiatives.

International Business Planning and Execution

• Participate actively in the design of the Group Risk business plan and the IO business plan to ensure alignment with global growth plans, and lead the building of the Group Risk capability in London and New York whilst ensuring high operating efficiency.
• Hold the requisite delegations to ensure the efficient and effective growth and management of the Group Risk team and functions offshore.
• Work directly with the CRO to plan and build the international Group Risk capability and be the reporting manager (directly or indirectly) for all offshore Group Risk colleagues.

Strategic Planning and Business Performance

• Ensure the team has adequate resources and culture to meet the near term and strategic goals and operational plans of AustralianSuper – right people, right place, right skills, at the right time through the ownership of the team’s annual budget and business plan.
• Understand the requirements of the Fund and its Members and other stakeholders (e.g. Board, Board Sub-committees, regulators), including the Fund’s strategic and departmental objectives and agreed service levels.
• Drive evidence-based decision making – including appropriate and simple metrics that provide solid data for informed decision making, such as business strategy alignment, cost/benefit, and cost/quality/risk.

What we’re looking for in prospective candidates

• Significant experience in relevant risk management and regulatory compliance in financial services, preferably from a funds management or trading compliance background with a regulated investment firm.
• High level of familiarity and experience with UK and US regulatory regimes and the associated conduct rules, and significant experience dealing with relevant international regulators.
• Commercially astute and critical thinker with strong analytical and problem-solving skills who has the ability to see how parts interact with the whole (i.e., big picture thinking, systems thinking skills).
• A leader who is resilient, engaging, and passionate about motivating employees to drive exceptional business and individual performance who also has traits of innovation, creative thinking and curious with a strong growth mindset.
• Collaborative, articulate and persuasive leader who can serve as an effective member of the senior leadership teams serving on the leadership teams of Group Risk and the IOs.
• Executive-level written and verbal communication skills. Proven ability to articulate a vision and relevant stories to create buy-in and communicate strategy and concepts to a broad range of technical and non-technical staff and external stakeholders.

Life at AustralianSuper

At AustralianSuper, we truly care about our colleagues. We know work and life are intertwined. That’s why we support the diverse needs of everyone and have policies that enable us all to thrive and be truly flexible. We ensure diversity is celebrated for the opportunity it provides us all to learn and grow, and ultimately to deliver better outcomes for members.

Our London, Beijing and New York offices are made up of ~220 talented colleagues and are expected to grow three-fold over the next ~ 5 years meaning when you join you become a key part of building our culture. As we collaborate with colleagues across multiple time zones, flexibility in work hours are both a requirement and opportunity for this role.

We are committed to supporting our diverse workforce in a way that is inclusive and embraces diversity in all its forms. If you require any reasonable adjustments to the recruitment process or the role, please let our recruitment team know.

What’s next: Apply now, if you share our values of Energy, Integrity, Generosity of Spirit, and Excellent Outcomes and would like the opportunity to work in a challenging, growing and rapidly evolving team to deliver outstanding results.

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