Head of Operational Risk, Investments and Support Functions

About the Business

Quilter plc is a leading wealth management business, helping to enable brighter financial futures for every generation.
Quilter oversees £157.4 billion in customer investments (as of August 2026). It has an adviser and customer offering spanning financial advice, investment platforms, multi-asset investment solutions, and discretionary fund management. The business is comprised of two segments: Affluent and High Net Worth.
Affluent encompasses the financial planning business, Quilter Financial Planning, the Quilter Investment Platform and Quilter Investors, the multi-asset investment solutions business.
High Net Worth includes the discretionary fund management business, Quilter Cheviot, together with Quilter Cheviot Financial Planning – offering a highly personalised service to private clients, charities, trustees, and professional partners. Quilter Cheviot has presence throughout the UK, Ireland and Channel Islands.
At Quilter we never stand still. Our foundations are rooted in our extraordinary expertise, which is trusted by hundreds of thousands of customers, but we have great ambitions to stay one step ahead and make an even greater difference to the people and communities we serve, including our colleagues.
Our business is transforming, continually modernising, and becoming even more customer centric. So, if you want to be bold in the pursuit of your ambitions, bring new ideas, and challenge and evolve what we do, it’s the perfect time to join us!

About the Role

Level - 6

Department- Risk

Location - London/ Southampton

Contract - Permanent

As Head of Operational Risk – Investments and Support Functions, you’ll lead a team of risk specialists providing expert oversight, advice and challenge across Quilter Investments, Technology, Data & Information Security, Strategic Projects and HR.

Alongside providing your own expert risk advice and guidance, you’ll ensure key operational risks arising from business activities are independently identified, assessed, monitored, reported and escalated, helping senior leaders make informed, risk-aware decisions.

You’ll play a key role in supporting Quilter’s strategic growth ambitions, partnering with and constructively challenging the business to embed effective risk management. Operating within a fast-moving and competitive environment, you’ll help ensure risks are understood and managed effectively as the organisation continues to grow, evolve and deliver strategic change.

Key Responsibilities

Risk Oversight & Framework

• Review business strategies and oversee key operational risks across Investments, Data & Technology, Strategy and HR, including risks arising from technology, change and AI.
• Work with Risk and Compliance colleagues to develop and enhance the organisation’s risk strategy, appetite and risk management framework.
• Conduct and oversee risk assessments, helping the business identify, assess and mitigate material risks.
• Monitor the effectiveness of risk management and ensure significant risks are appropriately reported and escalated.

Risk Monitoring & Reporting

• Oversee the monitoring, reporting and investigation of risk incidents and breaches, identifying themes and opportunities for improvement.
• Provide clear and insightful risk reporting to senior management, highlighting key risk indicators, emerging risks and recommended actions.
• Attend relevant management committees, providing effective challenge around risk and control exposures, root causes, remediation and control enhancements.
• Contribute to the overall Risk Plan and support the effective management of the Risk Function budget.

Strategic Advice & Business Partnering

• Act as a trusted risk adviser to executives and senior stakeholders, providing independent insight and challenge on business strategies, opportunities and significant change.
• Support the business in developing appropriate risk mitigation strategies and embedding sound risk management into decision-making.
• Work closely with Compliance colleagues to assess relevant regulatory developments and contribute to consultation responses where required.
• Liaise with external stakeholders, industry and professional bodies where appropriate.

Risk Culture & Capability

• Promote a strong culture of risk awareness and accountability across the organisation.
• Partner with Learning & Development to design and deliver effective risk management training.
• Help colleagues understand and apply the risk management framework within their day-to-day responsibilities.

Leadership

• Provide strong leadership across the CRO function and act as a credible deputy to the Risk Director when required.
• Build effective relationships across all lines of defence and with relevant Boards, Committees and industry or professional bodies.
• Lead, motivate and develop the team through coaching, mentoring and regular dialogue, creating an engaged and high-performing culture.
• Use your technical expertise and experience to develop capability across the team, champion best practice and drive continuous improvement.

About You

To be successful in this role, you’ll bring:

• Significant senior-level risk management experience, ideally at Head of or Executive level, gained within the wealth management and/or asset management sector.
• Strong experience within businesses providing investment and holistic financial planning advice, investment solutions, multi-asset portfolios, fund management and/or investment platforms.
• Relevant industry and regulatory qualifications.
• Proven leadership and people management experience, with the ability to build, develop and motivate high-performing teams.
• The ability to respond effectively to changing priorities and emerging material risks, providing clear and credible leadership.
• Strong analytical and risk assessment skills, with the ability to translate complex risk matters into clear, meaningful insight and support effective risk mitigation.
• Significant experience of operating with senior stakeholders and presenting at formal Committee and Board-level meetings.

#LI-KH1

Inclusion & Diversity

We value diversity and strive to promote inclusivity in all aspects of our culture. We believe in equal opportunities for all, ensuring that no applicant encounters less favourable treatment based on anything but their skills, qualifications, experience, and potential. We celebrate the unique contributions of a diverse workforce and create a respectful, nurturing environment where every colleague can thrive.

Values

Do the right thing: We act with integrity and are proudly committed to going above and beyond in service of our clients and the support we provide our communities.
Always curious: We continuously seek new ideas and knowledge so we’re one step ahead of our clients’ needs. We look for inspiration everywhere and encourage experimentation, recognising that this is how we create brilliant solutions for brighter futures.
Embrace challenge: We aim high to transform our potential into meaningful outcomes. With ambition as our driving force and a steadfast commitment to growth, we succeed for the good of every generation.
Stronger together: Combining our diverse talents, we accomplish more collectively than we ever could do alone. We speak openly, actively listen, and support each other, and constructively challenge and embrace new ideas. We seek empowerment and demonstrate ownership and trust, with the confidence to make impactful decisions.

Core Benefits

Holiday: 182 hours (26 days)

Quilter Incentive Scheme: All employees are eligible to participate in incentive scheme, to incentivise business performance and their contribution.

Pension Scheme: A non-contributory company pension scheme that can be boosted through personal contributions.

Private Medical Insurance: Single cover as standard with options to increase cover to include your partner or children.

Life Assurance: 4x your salary.

Income Protection: 75% of salary, less state benefits, payable after 26 weeks of absence.

Healthcare Cash Plan: Jersey employees only

In addition to our core benefits, we offer a range of flexible benefits to UK employees that you can choose from and pay for conveniently via a salary deduction.