Risk & Compliance Lead (Hybrid) in Blackburn

Hybrid Working with 2 days in Preston, Lancashire

£55,000 - £65,000 per annum, plus benefits | 37 hours a week | Annual bonus scheme eligible

The opportunity:

Reporting to the Head of Risk & Governance, you will shape and lead LPPA's approach to risk and regulatory compliance. You will own and develop our risk and compliance frameworks, ensuring regulatory obligations are understood, embedded and evidenced. As a trusted adviser, you will provide expert advice and constructive challenge to senior leaders; oversee strategic and operational risk, breaches, business continuity and regulatory change; and deliver clear insight to the Executive Leadership Team, committees and Board. You will also lead and develop the Risk & Compliance team, strengthening accountability, informed decision-making and continuous improvement.

You will join a collaborative, member-focused organisation where your expertise will influence decisions and strengthen outcomes for clients, employers and members.

A bit about us:

Local Pensions Partnership Administration (LPPA) is a multi-award-winning UK pension administration company, supporting over 1,500 employers and more than 738,000 members of Local Government, Police and Firefighter pension schemes.

What we can offer you:

• £55,000 - £65,000 salary.
• Annual bonus scheme eligibility.
• 25 days' holiday, bank holidays, two concessionary days and a birthday day, with the option to buy or sell leave.
• Local Government Pension Scheme with generous employer contributions.
• Health or dental plan.
• Enhanced Employee Assistance Programme.
• Employee referral scheme.
• Reward and discount scheme.
• Wellbeing webinars and social events.
• Free office fruit and snacks.
• Free parking in Preston city centre.

What you'll be doing:

• Own and continuously develop LPPA's enterprise risk, regulatory compliance and complaints frameworks, ensuring they remain effective, proportionate and aligned with regulatory expectations and organisational priorities.
• Maintain authoritative oversight of regulatory requirements affecting pensions administration, assessing their impact and ensuring appropriate governance, controls and evidence are in place.
• Act as a trusted adviser to senior leaders, providing expert, proportionate advice and constructive challenge on significant risk, compliance and regulatory matters.
• Own LPPA's Compliance Manual and relevant regulatory policies, securing approval through the appropriate governance routes and driving effective adoption across the business.
• Direct LPPA's risk management framework and oversee strategic and operational risk registers, risk tolerances, quarterly reviews, actions and escalation of material matters.
• Lead horizon-scanning activity, translating emerging regulatory and industry developments into clear organisational implications and priorities.
• Own and evolve LPPA's approach to breaches and incidents, ensuring effective investigation, assessment, escalation, reporting and organisational learning.
• Oversee internal and external audit activity and ensure relevant work supports ISO, PASA and future accreditation processes.
• Own the development, maintenance and testing of the LPPA Business Continuity Plan, providing assurance that resilience arrangements remain practical and effective.
• Deliver clear, insightful risk and compliance reporting to the Executive Leadership Team, committees and Board, highlighting key exposures, trends, control effectiveness and required decisions.
• Lead, motivate and develop the Risk & Compliance team, setting clear direction, managing performance and building capability.
• Build strong relationships across LPPA and champion a culture of risk awareness, regulatory accountability and continuous improvement.

What we need from you:

• Significant experience in a senior risk, compliance or regulatory role within a regulated environment.
• Strong knowledge of regulatory requirements relevant to pensions administration, with the ability to interpret change and translate it into practical organisational action.
• A successful track record of developing and maintaining risk management and compliance frameworks, policies, registers, controls and reporting.
• Experience of managing material incidents or breaches, including investigation, assessment, escalation, reporting and lessons learned.
• Experience of producing high-quality, decision-useful reporting for executive leadership, committees or Boards.
• Strong experience of business continuity planning, maintenance, exercising and assurance.
• Credible people leadership experience, with the ability to set direction, manage performance, coach others and build team capability.
• Excellent analytical, judgement, communication and stakeholder-management skills, with the confidence to influence and challenge at senior level.
• High standards of integrity and discretion when handling sensitive, confidential or potentially material matters.

Nice to have:

• Experience of Local Government Pension Scheme administration or the wider pensions sector.
• Knowledge of The Pensions Regulator's requirements and the General Code of Practice.
• Experience within financial services, the public sector or a similarly regulated environment.
• Experience of regulatory engagement, audits, assurance reviews or accreditation activity.

Qualifications and professional development:

• A relevant professional qualification in risk, compliance, governance, audit or business continuity would be desirable.
• Continued professional development in pensions regulation, risk or compliance would be welcomed.