Vice President - IT Security Independent Risk Specialist

My client, an international financial services firm based in London, is seeking an Information Security Risk and Review Specialist (VP level). This role requires in-office presence two days per week.

The Cyber and Information Risk Independent Risk Review Specialist is responsible for independent reviews of the efficacy of my client's Information Security and Data Management programs, including review and challenge of large-scale risk remediation efforts. The successful candidate will provide review and credible challenge of the effectiveness of information security and data management processes and controls in mitigating key risks to the firm. This position is highly engaged with the firm-wide Information Security and Data Management teams who provide security and data management solutions as well as corporate departments that own information security and data management risks.

Essential Function / major duties and responsibilities of the job:

• Execute horizontal reviews of top information security risks, identifying gaps in control coverage and recommending control improvements to address identified gaps.
• Complete thematic reviews of information security and data management operational risk events and associated proposed actions to propose control enhancements that reduce risk of recurrence.
• Work with the Information Security and Data Management teams to review control capabilities against industry standards and lead efforts to strengthen the control environment in line with the evolving threat landscape.
• Review and challenge actions to address gaps, monitor progress of actions, and validate sufficiency of closure evidence.
• Prepare status reports as needed and present to Technology Leadership, Audit, and regulatory bodies as required.
• Review and challenge the sufficiency of planned actions to address identified problems, provide stated benefits, and meet regulatory expectations.
• Governance – Actively present to various committees and forums to keep management educated on status of independent reviews, challenges to risk remediation efforts, and progress on control improvements.
• Relationship Management – Be a respected point of contact to stakeholders across the business and technology functions in providing credible operational risk coverage for information security and data management risk.
• Policy & Procedures – Review and challenge relevant policies, standards, and procedures related to information security and data management processes.

Leadership:

• Mentorship – Provide guidance and support to junior members of the team.
• Ability to influence and gain credibility with the business.

What we're Looking for:

• 5+ years of experience specifically related to information security and data management risk governance, operations, and risk management functions.
• Broad-based technology experience at substantial scale and complexity in a global, highly regulated, high-volume transaction environment.
• Experience must include time operating within transaction services environments characterized by the need for continuous availability and the highest levels of security.
• Experience working in a complex matrixed organization, ideally in a global firm with a dynamic and rapidly changing environment.
• Experience operating within a highly regulated environment, with a preference for experience at the international and federal levels.
• Deep knowledge of information security and data management risk and control frameworks and a strong understanding of related policies, procedures, guidelines, and structure.
• Functional expertise, with operational knowledge of and exposure to various current and emerging information security and data management areas such as: B.S. in a technology discipline (Computer Science, Information Management, Computer Engineering, Cybersecurity or equivalent). M.S. desired.
• Relevant certification is desirable, e.g., CISSP, CISM, CISA.
• Working knowledge of information security and data management life cycles based on an established framework: CRI, NIST CSF, NIST SP 800-53, ORX, ISO 27001, SANS, CERT, ENISA, CSA, OACA, ISACA, DAMA-DMBOK.
• Proficiency in MS PowerPoint and Excel. Experience in broader MS Office suite, including Project and Visio is a plus.
• Experience with enterprise GRC tools, e.g. Archer is a plus.

Knowledge, skills, and abilities / competencies required for successful job performance:

• Judgement and decision making.
• Able to work independently, as required.

Success factors / ‘How’:

• Possess strong technical, analytical, and problem-solving skills.
• Provide thought leadership while willing and able to individually contribute to finding solutions.
• Self-motivated to exceed management expectations and objectives.
• Clearly communicate complex technical issues to both business and technical staff at all levels.
• Able to keep organized and detailed documentation.
• Confidence to effectively challenge points of view regardless of seniority or corporate title.
• Professionalism to seek out and embrace diversity of thought and experience.
• Strong collaboration skills to tackle complex security challenges that may span across multiple internal and external departments and groups.
• Able to effectively cope with change and comfortably handle risk and ambiguity.
• Tenacious resolve and positive attitude in challenging situations.

If the above is of interest please call me on 0207 509 8040 to find out more or email me your CV to darius.goodarzi@robertwalters.com.