Senior Associate - Operational Risk

Position Summary

We are seeking a dedicated and proactive Operational Risk professional to join our team as a Senior Associate. In this role, you will support the global Operational Risk program by overseeing the identification and management of operational risk events, maintaining the risk framework, and ensuring effective governance processes. You will collaborate with various business, risk, support, and control functions worldwide to develop solutions that improve operational processes and strengthen control environments. This hands-on position offers an opportunity to work across multiple business lines and risk disciplines, contributing to a holistic approach to risk oversight. Regular engagement with senior leadership, oversight committees, fund boards, and regulators will be a core aspect of your responsibilities.

Key Responsibilities

• Manage, maintain, and embed the operational risk framework across all products, strategies, and governance processes, including new initiatives.
• Identify, investigate, and analyze operational risk events, ensuring thorough root cause analysis and control assessments.
• Detect patterns and trends in operational risk events to inform proactive risk management strategies.
• Monitor external loss events and conduct "could it happen here" analyses to assess potential vulnerabilities.
• Lead deep-dive reviews on significant or complex incidents, providing ongoing recommendations to improve control measures and updating senior leaders on progress.
• Identify weaknesses in processes and controls, raising issues and coordinating with responsible owners to ensure timely resolution.
• Conduct and oversee risk and control self-assessments across different business units and support functions.
• Support the administration and management of group-wide operational risk tools, ensuring data accuracy and effective reporting.
• Assist in implementing system modifications and enhancements to operational risk systems.
• Provide training to staff on the use of operational risk management platforms.
• Perform risk assessments of third-party services, supporting the due diligence process within the third-party risk management framework.
• Collaborate with Portfolio Managers, Legal & Compliance, Operations, Technology, Client Coverage, and senior leadership to maintain high visibility within the organization.
• Prepare and present operational risk reports for governance committees and other forums, including root cause analyses.
• Generate ad hoc reports for key stakeholders as needed.
• Engage with clients by communicating outcomes following incidents such as errors or breaches, and prepare internal escalation reports for significant events.
• Support the Business Continuity team in executing the business continuity plan and related initiatives.

Required Qualifications

• At least five years of experience in operational risk management, ideally within asset management or banking sectors.
• Bachelor's degree or equivalent educational qualification.
• Hands-on experience with operational risk management frameworks, risk appetite development, and alignment with industry best practices.
• Knowledge of global regulations and guidance related to operational risk and resilience for the asset management industry.
• Experience with operational risk management applications, such as Wolters Kluwer/OneSumX, or similar systems, including configuration and usage.
• Demonstrated ability to support multiple institutional business lines and products within a global risk function.
• Strong attention to detail and accuracy, with the ability to perform effectively in a fast-paced environment.
• Excellent communication skills, capable of tailoring messages to different audiences and engaging with stakeholders at all levels.
• Prioritization of managing multiple projects and collaborating with cross-functional teams.
• Self-motivated, proactive, and capable of working independently as well as within a team.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience supporting diverse business disciplines and products in a global setting.
• Familiarity with global industry regulations and best practices for operational risk and resilience.
• Ability to conduct comprehensive root cause analyses and develop effective remediation strategies.
• Competency in delivering clear and impactful presentations for various governance bodies.
• Prior experience supporting third-party risk assessments and due diligence processes.