Operational Risk Manager (Leeds – Hybrid)
£55,000 – £65,000 + Benefits
A rare opportunity has arisen to join a highly successful, globally backed professional services organisation operating at the heart of the UK property market. The business forms part of a major international financial services group and plays a key role in supporting residential real estate transactions across England and Wales.
Due to continued growth and the increasing importance of robust risk governance, the organisation is now creating a brand-new Operational Risk Manager role within its Risk & Compliance function.
This position has been introduced to provide additional support to the Head of Compliance, whose remit has broadened significantly as the business has expanded. The role will focus heavily on operational risk management, ensuring the business maintains an effective framework for identifying, assessing and managing risk across its operations.
Importantly, this hire also forms part of longer-term succession planning, making this an excellent opportunity for an ambitious risk professional seeking genuine career progression within a stable, international organisation.
The Opportunity
Working closely with the Head of Compliance and key business stakeholders, you will play a central role in strengthening and embedding the organisation’s operational risk framework.
This role will focus primarily on risk governance, risk identification and the ongoing monitoring of operational risks, ensuring the organisation maintains appropriate controls while supporting the business in making informed decisions.
You will have strong exposure across the business and contribute to risk committee discussions, board reporting and the continuous improvement of the organisation’s risk culture.
Key Responsibilities
* Supporting the development and implementation of the organisation’s operational risk management framework
* Managing the risk review process, including quarterly risk and control assessments
* Identifying and escalating emerging operational risks across the business
* Facilitating risk committee meetings and producing board-level reporting
* Maintaining and developing the organisation’s enterprise risk management system
* Supporting the development of the organisation’s ESG risk framework
* Providing pragmatic risk and compliance advice to operational teams
* Advising on remediation following operational risk events or compliance breaches
* Supporting the organisation’s vendor risk management processes
* Conducting compliance monitoring reviews and internal audits
* Supporting client audits and regulatory reporting
* Contributing to the ongoing development of the organisation’s ISO9001 Quality Management System
* Delivering training and guidance to promote strong risk awareness across the business
About You
We are keen to hear from candidates who bring:
* Proven experience within operational risk, risk governance or compliance
* Strong understanding of risk frameworks, controls and governance structures
* The ability to identify, assess and communicate operational risk in a pragmatic and commercial way
* Excellent stakeholder engagement skills and the ability to influence across multiple levels of an organisation
* Experience working within regulated or professional services environments
* Exposure to ISO9001 or quality management frameworks would be beneficial
* Strong analytical skills and the ability to translate complex regulatory or risk concepts into practical business guidance
A professional qualification in risk or compliance would be advantageous but is not essential.
Why This Role?
* Brand new role with the opportunity to shape the operational risk framework
* Clear succession planning and strong long-term career prospects
* Join a stable, globally backed organisation
* High levels of stakeholder exposure and influence
* Hybrid working – 3 days in the Leeds city centre office, 2 days from home
* Competitive salary £55,000 – £65,000 + benefits (depending on experience)