Business Risk Manager, Suitability Lead in London

Description

Who we’re looking for

The Business Risk Manager, Suitability Lead plays a critical role in supporting the effective management of non-financial risk within Schroders Wealth Management by providing oversight of first-line risk and control activities, with a focus on Suitability & Advice. And ensuring compliance with relevant regulatory and internal policy/framework requirements.

The Business Risk Manager, Suitability Lead acts as a trusted advisor to the global wealth management business, driving a strong risk culture and operational resilience by ensuring risks are proactively identified, assessed, and managed in line with the Group Risk Management Framework.

This role reports to the Global Head of Business Risk and Control, is based in London and works closely with the wider Business Risk team and the Client Advisors.

About Schroders

We’re a global investment manager. We help institutions, intermediaries and individuals around the world invest money to meet their goals, fulfil their ambitions, and prepare for the future.

We have around 6,000 people on six continents. And we’ve been around for over 200 years, but keep adapting as society and technology changes. What doesn’t change is our commitment to helping our clients, and society, prosper.

What you'll do

Suitability Framework Ownership

• Maintain and enhance the suitability and advice control framework across discretionary, advisory and wealth planning activities.
• Develop and maintain global minimum standards for suitability and advice quality.
• Ensure framework alignment with FCA requirements, Consumer Duty and internal policies.

Advice Quality Assurance

• Undertake periodic framework reviews and identify emerging risks and regulatory changes.
• Design and oversee first line suitability and advice quality monitoring programmes.
• Conduct thematic reviews of suitability reports, client reviews, financial plans and investment recommendations.
• Identify trends, weaknesses and recurring control failures.
• Provide independent challenge to Front Office management regarding advice quality standards.

Wider Business Risk & Control Activities

• Establish, maintain, and continuously enhance the first-line risk and control framework in alignment with the Risk Management Framework and corporate governance standards.
• Prepare risk reporting and insights for senior management forums.
• Facilitate Risk and Control Assessments (RCA) and ensure identified risks are accurately captured in relevant systems.
• Ensure proactive identification, transparent escalation, and timely remediation of risk issues and control gaps.
• Lead root cause analysis following risk events and support definition of remedial actions.
• Act as the key point of contact for internal/external auditors on first-line control matters.
• Ensure timely and high-quality regulatory reporting, responses, and remediation plans.
• Contribute to monitoring evolving regulatory expectations and industry standards to maintain alignment and readiness.
• Promote a strong risk awareness culture and accountability across the business.
• Provide coaching and guidance to management and business teams on risk responsibilities, ownership, and accountability.
• Identify opportunities to enhance processes, automation, and data quality within risk management.
• Support transformation initiatives to improve the Wealth risk operating model.
• Contribute to strengthening the overall control environment, moving from reactive to more proactive risk management.

The knowledge, experience and qualifications you need

• Deep knowledge of suitability regulations, investment advice and wealth planning.
• Strong understanding of FCA COBS, Consumer Duty, vulnerable customers and suitability requirements.
• Ability to influence senior Front Office stakeholders and provide independent challenge.
• Strong understanding of regulatory requirements (FINMA, MiFID II, AML/KYC, operational risk, risk governance frameworks).

The knowledge, experience and qualifications that’ll help

• Experience in a complex global private banking, wealth management firm with specific expertise in Suitability & Advice Frameworks, and Suitability & Advice Quality Standards.
• Experience performing thematic reviews, QA and controls testing.
• Motivated to shape this position due to new requirements.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving capabilities with the ability to interpret risk data and translate into actionable insights.
• Strong stakeholder management and influencing skills, with the ability to challenge constructively
• High integrity, independence of thought, and sound judgment.
• Ability to influence organizational culture and drive accountability
• Flexible and able to cope with a changing environment

We recognise potential, whoever you are

Our purpose is to provide excellent investment performance to clients through active management. Diversity of thought, facilitated by an inclusive culture, will allow us to make better decisions and better achieve our purpose. This is why inclusion and diversity are a strategic priority for us and why we are an equal opportunities employer. You are welcome here, regardless of your age, disability, gender identity, religious beliefs, sexual orientation, socio-economic background, or any other protected characteristic.