Global Head of 1st Line Risk

About Columbia Threadneedle Investments

Working at Columbia Threadneedle Investments you'll find growth and career opportunities across all of our businesses. We're intentionally built to help you succeed. Our reach is expansive with a global team of 2,300 people working together. Our capability is diverse with more than 550 investment professionals sharing global perspectives across all major asset classes and markets. Our clients have access to a broad array of investment strategies, and we have the capability to create bespoke solutions matched to clients' specific requirements. Our unwavering focus on our clients and strong financial foundation connects each of our enterprise businesses — Ameriprise Financial, Columbia Threadneedle Investments and RiverSource Insurance and Annuities.

Job Description

To be accountable on the delivery of 1st line operational and regulatory risk management across all areas of the business. Management of a team of 1st Line Risk managers and analysts to maintain consistent communication with senior leadership in discharging their risk management and control obligations in line with policy and regulation. Provide input to risk management strategies and objectives and ensure an integrated risk framework and strong control environment by leading the organization in the proactive identification of risk, continuous control improvement and issue mitigation.

Partnering with the businesses to ensure adherence to the ORM minimum standards including: Risk Event Management (REV), Risk and Control Assessments (RCSA), Control Effectiveness Testing (ISAE/SOC1/2), Operational Soundness, Operational Resilience and KRI/Dashboard Population and Reporting.

Tasks include:

• Manage a global 1st Line Risk team to ensure risks, processes and control activities that cross functional responsibility are properly considered and activity allocated between teams to meet the 1st Line Risk mandated activities for CTI globally.
• Drive operational soundness on a cross functional basis, ensuring consistency of adoption of standards across CTI and supporting staff groups.
• Lead the development of risk management strategies that drive identification, quantification and mitigation of risk within the business, while providing a depth of knowledge and influence.
• Ensuring inherent risks, controls and residual risks are identified and documented per RCSA process.
• Ensuring ISAE and SOC1 testing is performed and submitted to RCS / External Audit timelines.
• Lead the identification and review of the control inventories/maps/KRIs from a first line perspective.
• Lead the Operational Resilience program in the UK with collaboration with Enterprise Resilience and BCP partners, where required.
• Own select policies and procedures and recommend updates as required.

Operational Risk Management

Provide risk & controls thought leadership and expertise, across functions and in conjunction with second line risk. Drive consistency in the application of the operational risk framework across first line risk team, in order to enhance risk identification and reporting. Provide knowledge and expertise to the management of complex risk incidents to ensure thorough communication, timely risk event action remediation and root cause identification. Own the resulting controls/mitigation. Evaluate internal risk trends and leverages industry knowledge to recommend actionable solutions. Provision of oversight to ensure that the first line testing of ISAE controls is conducted and effective remedial actions considered. Own the ISAE 3402 report, including setting the scope and managing the reporting accountant. Manage the integration of multiple ISAE reports.

Governance

Have oversight of the Business control meeting outputs and ensure appropriate follow-ups on most critical items. Contribute to appropriate risk forums on risk thematics.

Risk Expertise

Benchmark industry‑wide data and stay up to date on trends, best practices, issues, and concerns. Maintain knowledge of Risk/Compliance guidance.

Key Capabilities

• Deep Risk/Control knowledge and expertise: thorough understanding of current techniques in operational risk management, controls and operational soundness.
• Analysis: assess multiple data points to develop an actionable plan that is aligned with business objectives.
• Program management: put in place mechanisms and oversee business unit deliverables with respect to the control environment.
• Governance: design, establish, and oversee an integrated governance framework that supports Business Unit head understanding and actioning of key issues; ability to identify escalations as required.
• Influence: influence other stakeholders to deliver on their operational risk responsibilities by providing strong thought leadership.
• Experience in operational risk, controls, business management or audit.

In‑Office Collaboration

We are a client‑centric, relationship‑based business. Working together, in‑person, is foundational to how we achieve results. By fostering a culture of face‑to‑face collaboration, idea sharing, productivity and personal connection, we deliver for our stakeholders — clients, advisors, employees and shareholders. Our employees work in the office at least four days per week, with flexibility to work from home one day per week. Some roles may require additional in‑office time or different in‑office expectations, and specific requirements will be discussed during the hiring process.

Columbia Threadneedle is a people business, and we recognise that our success is due to our talented people, who bring diversity of thought, complementary skills and capabilities. We are committed to fostering an inclusive and performance‑based culture where everyone can belong, grow, contribute and realise their potential.

We appreciate that work‑life balance is an important factor for many when considering their next move so please discuss any flexible working requirements directly with your recruiter.

Columbia Threadneedle Investments is an equal opportunity employer. We consider all qualified applicants without regard to racial or ethnic background, religion or belief, sex or gender, nationality, genetic information, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, marital status, pregnancy or maternity or any other basis prohibited by law. We are committed to fostering an inclusive and accessible recruitment process for individuals with disabilities. If you require a reasonable accommodation to aid your participation in the application or interview process, speak to your recruiter to discuss how we can support you.