At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead the development of a top-tier risk and governance framework in a dynamic trading environment.
- Company: Fast-growing digital asset trading firm with a global reach.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, annual bonus, equity participation, and senior leadership visibility.
- Why this job: Shape the future of risk management in the exciting world of digital assets.
- Qualifications: 10-15 years in risk management, strong leadership, and technical expertise required.
- Other info: Direct Board interaction and full authority over risk decisions.
The predicted salary is between 72000 - 108000 Β£ per year.
Harrington Starr are excited to be working with a fast-growing, multi-entity digital asset trading firm seeking an experienced Head of Risk to lead the build-out of an institutional-grade risk and governance framework. The firm provides liquidity across spot, derivatives, and stablecoin FX markets, serving global counterparties across centralized, decentralized, and on-chain environments.
Role Overview
The Head of Risk will design, implement, and oversee a comprehensive risk and control architecture across market, credit, counterparty, liquidity, and operational risk. This is both a strategic leadership role and a hands-on build function, ensuring robust controls across trading operations, collateral management, and governance.
Key Responsibilities
- Build and implement firm-wide collateral policies and monitoring tools.
- Establish real-time leverage monitoring with automated alert thresholds.
- Work with technology teams to automate collateral movement and surveillance.
- Design robust counterparty risk frameworks and trading documentation.
- Enhance risk mitigation models, including DMA-based approaches.
- Define rules around collateral posting, settlement timelines, and liquidation rights.
- Build exposure dashboards across venues, assets, and counterparties.
- Integrate stress testing, liquidation proximity, and funding/basis analytics.
- Drive risk assessments for new products, venues, and settlement models.
- Serve as an independent Risk Officer and Chair of the Risk Committee.
- Report directly to the Board on all risk matters.
- Ensure controls meet global regulatory expectations.
- Oversee daily risk reporting, reconciliations, and investor updates.
- Implement quantitative risk models (VaR, Monte Carlo, liquidity metrics).
- Strengthen booking, settlement, and PnL reconciliation processes.
- Implement 24-hour reconciliation SLAs across trading venues and internal systems.
- Oversee valuation, funding attribution, and treasury coordination.
- Develop and maintain a structured liquidation and escalation framework.
- Conduct scenario analysis and stress testing for major market events.
- Oversee periodic external reviews of risk controls.
- Modernize trading and operational documentation.
- Define clear default, liquidation, and conversion rules.
- Lead policy updates across risk, operations, and settlement processes.
Qualifications
- 10β15 years of experience in risk management or trading operations, ideally in FX, derivatives, and digital assets.
- Proven experience building enterprise-level risk frameworks from scratch.
- Strong technical understanding of market risk models, liquidity analysis, and collateral optimization.
- Knowledge of on-chain settlement, custody models, and digital asset trading platforms.
- Familiarity with institutional tools (e.g., Fireblocks, Haruko, Tres, Talos) is advantageous.
- Professional qualifications such as FRM or CFA are a plus.
- Experience interacting with regulators, auditors, and Board-level stakeholders.
- Strong leadership, communication, and cross-functional collaboration skills.
Compensation & Structure
- Competitive base salary and annual bonus.
- Equity participation subject to board approval.
- Senior leadership role with direct Board-level visibility.
- Full authority over risk decisions as Chair of the Risk Committee.
Seniority level Mid-Senior level
Employment type Full-time
Job function Finance
Chief Risk Officer in London employer: Harrington Starr
Contact Detail:
Harrington Starr Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice π€«
We think this is how you could land Chief Risk Officer in London
β¨Network Like a Pro
Get out there and connect with people in the industry! Attend events, webinars, or even local meetups. The more you engage with others, the better your chances of hearing about opportunities that might not be advertised.
β¨Show Off Your Skills
When you get the chance to chat with potential employers, donβt hold back! Share specific examples of how you've tackled risk management challenges in the past. This will help them see you as the perfect fit for their team.
β¨Leverage Social Media
Use platforms like LinkedIn to showcase your expertise. Post articles, share insights on risk management, and engage with content relevant to the digital asset space. This can help you stand out and attract the right attention.
β¨Apply Directly Through Us
Donβt forget to check out our website for job openings! Applying directly through us not only shows your interest but also gives you a better chance of being noticed by our hiring team.
We think you need these skills to ace Chief Risk Officer in London
Some tips for your application π«‘
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV is tailored to the Chief Risk Officer role. Highlight your experience in risk management, especially in FX, derivatives, and digital assets. We want to see how your skills align with our needs!
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Your cover letter should tell us why you're the perfect fit for this role. Share specific examples of how you've built risk frameworks or managed operational controls. We love a good story that showcases your expertise!
Showcase Your Technical Skills: Donβt forget to mention your technical understanding of market risk models and liquidity analysis. If youβve worked with institutional tools like Fireblocks or Talos, let us know! Weβre keen on candidates who can hit the ground running.
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply through our website for a smoother application process. It helps us keep track of your application and ensures you donβt miss any important updates from us!
How to prepare for a job interview at Harrington Starr
β¨Know Your Risk Frameworks
Make sure youβre well-versed in various risk frameworks, especially those relevant to digital assets and trading operations. Be prepared to discuss how you've built or implemented these frameworks in the past, as this will show your hands-on experience and strategic thinking.
β¨Showcase Your Technical Skills
Brush up on your knowledge of market risk models, liquidity analysis, and collateral optimisation. If you have experience with institutional tools like Fireblocks or Talos, be ready to share specific examples of how youβve used them to enhance risk management.
β¨Prepare for Governance Discussions
Since this role involves reporting directly to the Board, think about how you would communicate complex risk matters clearly and effectively. Prepare examples of how you've previously interacted with senior stakeholders and regulators, highlighting your leadership and communication skills.
β¨Demonstrate Your Problem-Solving Skills
Be ready to discuss scenarios where you've had to conduct stress testing or scenario analysis for major market events. This will not only showcase your analytical abilities but also your proactive approach to risk management and operational controls.