Chief Risk Officer

Working across 21 countries, DUAL has built a reputation as a specialist underwriting group and the market of choice for insurance intermediaries around the world. That’s how we have become one of the world’s largest international underwriting agencies (or MGAs) with US$3.4bn GWP.

DUAL is part of Howden, a leading global insurance group with employee ownership at its heart. Founded in 1994, it provides insurance, reinsurance and underwriting services to clients ranging from private individuals to the largest multinational companies. The Group operates in 57 countries, employs over 24,000 people and manages premiums totalling US$50bn on behalf of its clients.

•       Drive the risk agenda across the UK

•       Executive Committee member and attendee at DUAL Corporate Risks (DCR) Board

•       London-based, with the option of hybrid-working

•       Full-time position

Role overview

This is a key second line of defence role that will drive the risk agenda, across DUAL UK. The successful candidate will hold Senior Management responsibility under the Senior Managers & Certification Regime (SMCR) for DCR as SMF4 (Chief Risk) and will be an attendee of the DCR Board and its sub-committees. 

The roleholder will be responsible for the risk and governance infrastructure and risk management framework for DUAL UK, ensuring alignment with the wider Howden Group Risk Management approach. In addition, this role will have responsibility for overseeing the second line Compliance Advisory function as well as overseeing Data Protection and Financial Crime for DUAL UK. Finally, the role also oversees the Second Line Assurance team who provide management with assurance through compliance monitoring, controls testing and thematic reviews into all aspects of the DUAL UK control environment.

We are looking for a motivated and enthusiastic individual with excellent organisational and communication skills and a strong attention to detail. The successful individual will have the ability to work quickly, efficiently and methodically and have in depth knowledge and experience of working within a regulated insurance environment. The successful individual will report to the DUAL UK Chief Executive Officer and work collaboratively with Regional Chief Risk Officers within DUAL International and Howden Group.

Role responsibilities

•    Ensuring that the Risk and Control Framework and associated governance structure operate effectively and consistently across all regulated entities within DUAL UK.

•    Ensuring the effective performance of the Risk and Compliance Functions as the Company’s 2nd Line of Defence.

•    Acting as a key contact point for all applicable regulators.

•    Working in tandem with international colleagues where appropriate.

•    Ensuring that changes to actual, proposed or pending legislation and regulation that may impact the regulated, trading entities are communicated (directly or indirectly) appropriately and that plans for their implementation are agreed by the relevant Boards.

•    Ensuring that the Compliance team provides practical, commercial advice to employees on operating in compliance with all applicable legislation and regulation

•    Ensuring that the Control Frameworks are maintained and updated as approved by the Board and that there is a supporting risk and control assessment plan.

•    Ensuring that all employees within each entity understand what they need to do to comply with relevant legislation and regulation.

•    Guide the design and delivery of the Second Line Assurance programme to test business unit compliance with relevant regulations and Group-wide controls & to undertake thematic reviews as required.

•    Provide support and guidance to the Data Protection Officer.

•    Hold responsibility for ensuring DUAL UK meets its financial crime obligations.

•    This role will be a member of the DUAL UK Executive Committee, and an attendee at the DCR Board, Risk Committee, Audit Committee and Nominations Committee.

Strategy & Planning

•    Works closely with key stakeholders (e.g. CEO, CFO, Non-Executive Directors, senior managers across the businesses etc.) to achieve a well-controlled organisation that can successfully meet its strategic objectives.

•    Advises all stakeholders on key risk and compliance issues, coordinating with Group Legal as required.

•    Develops and implements appropriate solutions to any risk and compliance issues arising that may impact the business strategy.

•    Owns and is responsible for the effective operation and governance of the risk management framework of the Company.

•    Develops, manages and refines qualitative and quantitative metrics for monitoring and reporting key risk exposures against risk appetite, advising the Board on any trends in risk exposure, appetite breaches and associated risk mitigation plans.

People Management/Personal Development:

•    Provides leadership by fostering a culture of employee engagement and role modelling, encouraging and rewarding essential behaviours, maintaining a high level of personal and professional confidence.

•    Manages the Risk & Compliance team to ensure the required standards of performance are met; and that the professional and personal development of all team members increases their capability and effectiveness.

•    Promotes individual accountability through an ongoing performance management approach that aligns personal performance goals with the functional and wider business goals.

•    Ensures there are effective succession plans in place and actively develops team members to provide future successors.

•    Identifies and hires individuals with the requisite skills, knowledge, experience and attitude to perform fulfil their role effectively.

•    Actively undertakes personal development to ensure knowledge and understanding of best practice remains up to date

Policy, Process and Procedures:

•    Oversees the creation of policies and procedures relevant to the regulatory and legal jurisdictions of each entity.

•    Owns the library of all business policies and procedures.

•    Partners with the business leadership to find effective and efficient methods of simplifying and embedding risk management and compliance in their business processes.

Environment, Customer Focus and Relationships:

•    Partners with third parties, regulatory bodies and others as appropriate, serving as a role model for high personal and corporate ethical values and standards of integrity.

•    Provides a primary contact point for external auditors on regulatory matters.

•    Ensures customer/client outcomes are appropriately identified and monitored as part of the risk management framework; that appropriate action is taken to address any actual or potential adverse customer outcomes.

•    Provides essential input as the Chief Risk Officer in credibly challenging the management of current risk issues, developing and integrating new risk strategies into the business where appropriate.

•    Keeps informed of all legal and regulatory developments relevant to the Company/Group.

•    Shares information that could be beneficial to the Company/Group.

Training and Communications:

•    Helps develop and implement an appropriate compliance training programme to ensure all employees are aware of their regulatory obligations and to monitor their completion. 

•    Develops other training solutions where these may be required on an ad hoc basis.

•    Works with internal sources of expertise where appropriate e.g. HR, Training, Legal department, Internal Communications to deliver training solutions and key messages.

Assurance Plans and Reporting:

•    Oversee implementation and execution of the Second Line Assurance Plan and obtain appropriate approvals.

•    Oversee the quality and timeliness of reports issued by the Second Line Assurance Team.

•    Issues all assurance reports to the business, relevant committees and Board in a timely manner, highlighting key findings and providing insight on identified trends or other developments.

Breach Management Process:

•    Maintains a central record of reported actual and potential regulatory breaches / operational losses.

•    Communicates and oversees compliance with standards for the management of suspected incidents of non-compliance to the Board and relevant committees.

•    Collaborates with HR, Legal and UK business leaders and follow a similar process to establish suitable accountability processes, including reporting and disciplinary action which increases severity and number of incidents increases.

Key Regulatory Responsibilities:

•    In collaboration with the Group Head of Risk, act as the primary liaison for all regulatory related communications and interaction with regulators.

•    Responsible for overseeing the management of the Senior Managers & Certification Regime (SM&CR) working with key internal stakeholders as appropriate to ensure that procedures are embedded within the business to ensure compliance.

•    Oversees the timely and accurate submission of the regulatory notifications and other documents and responses to consultation papers and thematic reviews.

•    With the Head of Compliance and the Group Head of Risk, manages all regulatory visits to the business and ensure any outcomes are address and implemented as necessary throughout the business.

•    In collaboration with the Head of Compliance, oversees the approach to DCR’s compliance with the Consumer Duty and the firm’s provision of good customer outcomes, including reporting to the Board.

•    Develops, builds and maintains a positive working relationship with all regulators that have direct dealings with the business as far as is possible.

Key requirements

•    Strong understanding of risk management and how to implement an effective risk management framework in a multi-national insurance intermediary business.

•    Strong understanding of UK and international regulatory frameworks and how these impact on DUAL UK’s activities.

•    Strong understanding of the SM&CR regime and how this should be applied to corporate governance frameworks.

•    Understands the insurance environment and business practices.

•    Strong communication skills.

•    Pragmatic – able to determine how regulatory requirements should be translated into business processes.

•    Outstanding organisational and leadership abilities with high levels of personal integrity.

•    Actively listens to the views of colleagues/business leaders/key stakeholders and builds effective relationships whilst also has the strength of character to challenge where required to ensure operational excellence.

•    Ability to build effective relationships with senior managers and other key stakeholders within DUAL UK and across the Group.

•    Ability to diagnose problems quickly and have foresight into potential issues.

•    A team player, able to contribute significantly at senior level

•    High level of emotional intelligence.

•    High degree of resilience and tenacity.

What do we offer in return?
A career that you define.
Of course, we offer a competitive range of rewards and benefits to support you, but we know you expect all that.
What you might not expect is a job where everyone has a voice, where volunteering in the community is part of the day job, and where everyone is encouraged to play a part towards our sustainability goals. We want people who want to make a difference - not just in the workplace, but in the industry and in the wider community.
 
Our culture: people first
Our core values dictate how we live and work. We’re a group with independence and people at its heart – and a home for talent with a unique culture: the biggest small company in the world.
Being a people-first business has always been central to who we are. Our vision was to create an independent organisation with a distinctive culture that would survive and thrive through the people who shape it. Finding the most talented and entrepreneurial individuals to join the group has been, and will continue to be, key to our success.

Diversity and inclusion
At DUAL, our people are our greatest strength. We are committed to building an open and inclusive culture where everyone feels trusted and that they belong. We work to ensure all candidates, employees, clients and business partners are treated with fairness and respect.
We want every candidate to be able to bring their best to the recruitment process, so if you require reasonable accommodation at any stage, please let us know and we will work with you to provide appropriate support.