Head of Risk Operating Office

Head of Risk Operating Office

Telford Full-Time 84000 - 120000 £ / year (est.) Home office (partial)
Go Premium
Phoenix Group Holdings

At a Glance

  • Tasks: Lead risk strategy and transformation, ensuring effective reporting and operational efficiency.
  • Company: Join the UK's largest long-term savings and retirement business with a commitment to sustainability.
  • Benefits: Enjoy flexible working, up to £120,000 salary, 38 days leave, private medical cover, and more.
  • Why this job: Make a significant impact on risk governance while collaborating with top-tier professionals.
  • Qualifications: Proven leadership in risk management, finance, and strategic transformation, ideally in financial services.
  • Other info: Open to diverse backgrounds; adjustments available for the recruitment process.

The predicted salary is between 84000 - 120000 £ per year.

Social network you want to login/join with: Location: This role could be based in either our London, Birmingham, Telford or Edinburgh offices with time spent working in the office and at home. Flexible working :All of our roles are open to part-time, job-share and other types of flexibility. We will discuss what is important to you and balancing this with business requirements during the recruitment process. Closing Date: 12.6.25 Salary and benefits : Up to £120,000 plus indicative bonus potential of 30-60%, private medical cover, 38 days annual leave, excellent pension, 12x salary life assurance, career breaks, income protection, 3x volunteering days and much more. What are we looking for? The role As Head of Operating Office – Risk Strategy & Transformation, you will be the right hand to the Risk Strategy & Transformation Director, accountable for turning vision into action, insight into decision, and ambition into sustainable progress. Key Responsibilities Own and evolve the Group’s SMCR ‘reasonable steps’ framework, ensuring a robust structure around the CRO’s personal regulatory accountabilities. Set the standards for executive and Board-level risk reporting, interrogating and shaping content that reflects true insight, not just information. Lead the coordination and delivery of enterprise-wide MI and KRI dashboards, partnering with Finance and functional leads to embed high-quality data and analysis across the business. Drive development and adoption of a modern, digitised Risk Operating Model, aligned to our wider enterprise transformation — ensuring relevance, agility, and capability at every level. Facilitate deep-dive performance and capability reviews with the Risk Leadership Team to assess delivery against operating plan commitments, including cost efficiency and transformation objectives. Act as the risk function’s strategic finance lead, owning forecasting, cost allocation and expense performance – partnering closely with Finance and the commercial business. Champion the use of technology and AI to improve operational efficiency, challenge outdated ways of working, and surface risk insight with less manual effort and greater impact. Break silos and drive alignment — ensuring consistent standards, connected workflows, and shared accountability across risk teams and their stakeholders. You are an experienced leader with a proven ability to operate at the top table. You combine operational grip with strategic foresight and can confidently take ownership of cross-cutting challenges with senior stakeholders. You bring credibility in complex, regulated environments — ideally within financial services — and understand the expectations on senior managers under SMCR. You’re skilled in translating complex data and risk insight into strategic narrative, ready for Executive and Board-level consumption. You’re experienced in leading change — from digitising risk and control processes to modernising functional operating models. You know how to interrogate assumptions, challenge constructively, and drive meaningful progress on both financial performance and functional effectiveness. You’re comfortable at the intersection of risk, finance, operations and transformation — a natural connector, problem-solver and facilitator. Why This Role? This is your chance to leave a lasting mark on one of the UK’s most influential Risk Functions — helping us move faster, think sharper, and operate smarter. You’ll work alongside a supportive and ambitious CRO, a high-calibre Risk Leadership Team, and senior partners across Finance, Strategy and Transformation. Together, we’ll raise the bar for what excellent risk governance looks like. Who are we? We want to be the best place that any of our 6,600 colleagues have ever worked. We’re the UK’s largest long-term savings and retirement business. We offer a range of products across our market-leading brands, Standard Life, SunLife, Phoenix Life and ReAssure. Around 1 in 5 people in the UK has a pension with us. We’re a FTSE 100 organisation that is tackling key issues such as transitioning our portfolio to net zero by 2050, and we’re not done yet. We want to hire the whole version of you. We are committed to ensuring that everyone feels accepted and welcome applicants from all backgrounds. If your experience looks different from what we’ve advertised and you believe that you can bring value to the role, we’d love to hear from you. If you require any adjustments to the recruitment process, please let us know so we can help you to be at your best. Please note that we reserve the right to remove adverts earlier than the advertised closing date. We encourage you to apply at the earliest opportunity. #J-18808-Ljbffr

Head of Risk Operating Office employer: Phoenix Group Holdings

Join a leading FTSE 100 organisation that prioritises employee well-being and professional growth, offering flexible working arrangements across our London, Birmingham, Telford, or Edinburgh offices. With an impressive benefits package including up to £120,000 salary, generous annual leave, private medical cover, and opportunities for career breaks and volunteering, we foster a supportive culture where your contributions are valued and your career can flourish. Be part of a dynamic team dedicated to transforming risk governance while making a meaningful impact on the future of financial services.
Phoenix Group Holdings

Contact Detail:

Phoenix Group Holdings Recruiting Team

StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫

We think this is how you could land Head of Risk Operating Office

✨Tip Number 1

Familiarise yourself with the SMCR framework and its implications for senior managers. Understanding this will not only help you in interviews but also demonstrate your commitment to regulatory compliance, which is crucial for this role.

✨Tip Number 2

Network with professionals in the risk management field, especially those who have experience in financial services. Engaging with industry peers can provide insights into current trends and challenges, making you a more informed candidate.

✨Tip Number 3

Showcase your experience in leading change initiatives, particularly in digitising processes. Prepare examples of how you've successfully implemented technology solutions that improved operational efficiency, as this aligns with the expectations of the role.

✨Tip Number 4

Be ready to discuss your approach to fostering collaboration across teams. This role requires breaking down silos, so think of specific instances where you've successfully aligned different departments towards a common goal.

We think you need these skills to ace Head of Risk Operating Office

Strategic Leadership
Risk Management
Financial Acumen
Data Analysis
Regulatory Compliance (SMCR)
Change Management
Operational Efficiency
Stakeholder Engagement
Performance Measurement
Technology Integration
Communication Skills
Problem-Solving Skills
Project Management
Agile Methodologies
Collaboration and Teamwork

Some tips for your application 🫡

Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV highlights relevant experience in risk management, strategic leadership, and financial services. Use keywords from the job description to demonstrate that you meet the specific requirements of the Head of Risk Operating Office role.

Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: In your cover letter, express your passion for the role and the company. Discuss how your background aligns with the responsibilities outlined in the job description, particularly your experience in leading change and driving operational efficiency.

Showcase Your Leadership Skills: Provide examples of your leadership experience, especially in complex, regulated environments. Highlight instances where you've successfully navigated challenges and driven meaningful progress, as these are key attributes for this position.

Proofread and Edit: Before submitting your application, thoroughly proofread your documents for any spelling or grammatical errors. A polished application reflects your attention to detail and professionalism, which are crucial for a senior role like this.

How to prepare for a job interview at Phoenix Group Holdings

✨Understand the Role Thoroughly

Before the interview, make sure you have a deep understanding of the Head of Risk Operating Office role. Familiarise yourself with the key responsibilities and how they align with the company's goals. This will help you articulate how your experience fits the position.

✨Prepare for Strategic Discussions

Given the seniority of the role, be ready to discuss strategic insights and operational challenges. Think about examples from your past experiences where you've successfully navigated complex situations or led significant changes in risk management.

✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills

As this role requires strong leadership capabilities, prepare to share specific instances where you've led teams or projects. Highlight your ability to connect with stakeholders and drive alignment across different functions.

✨Emphasise Your Adaptability

The company values flexibility and innovation, so be prepared to discuss how you've adapted to change in previous roles. Share examples of how you've embraced technology and modernised processes to improve efficiency and effectiveness.

Head of Risk Operating Office
Phoenix Group Holdings
Location: Telford
Go Premium

Land your dream job quicker with Premium

You’re marked as a top applicant with our partner companies
Individual CV and cover letter feedback including tailoring to specific job roles
Be among the first applications for new jobs with our AI application
1:1 support and career advice from our career coaches
Go Premium

Money-back if you don't land a job in 6-months

>