Head of Operational Risk & CASS Oversight - 12m FTC based in either Edinburgh or Glasgow
This is a newly created role for a senior leadership role in designing, implementing, and overseeing the organisation's internal controls risk management framework. This position is focused on providing first-line ownership and oversight of CASS risk, ensuring robust controls are in place and supporting the COO in meeting regulatory requirements. You'll establish and lead the first-line internal controls management function, while enhancing existing frameworks, policies, methodologies, and governance arrangements. The role has a strong emphasis on governance, leadership, and control design, including internal forums, CASS governance and committees, reconciliation and controls oversight, and end-to-end process review. This is an excellent opportunity for someone with deep internal controls and CASS experience, strong leadership capability, and the credibility to shape and strengthen a critical first-line control environment.
What you'll be doing
* Establish and lead the first-line internal controls management function, creating a clear and effective approach to ownership, oversight, and accountability for key control activity.
* Design, implement, and oversee the organisation's internal controls risk management framework, ensuring it supports regulatory requirements and operational effectiveness.
* Provide first-line ownership and oversight of CASS risk, helping ensure robust controls are in place across relevant processes and activities.
* Support the COO on regulatory requirements, translating expectations into practical control frameworks, governance, and oversight activity.
* Develop and enhance existing frameworks, policies, methodologies, and governance to strengthen the overall control environment.
* Lead strong governance activity through internal forums, CASS governance, and committees, ensuring issues, actions, and decisions are appropriately managed and escalated.
* Oversee the work monitoring within the CASS process, helping shape and improve internal control activity across the full end-to-end process.
* Build and maintain key risk management tools, including a risk and control RCSA risk register, while supporting control roadmapping and oversight of the reconciliations team.
What we're looking for
* Proven experience in internal controls, risk management, and governance, with the ability to operate effectively in a senior leadership role.
* Strong expertise in CASS risk and controls, with the confidence to provide first-line ownership and oversight in a regulated environment.
* A strategic and hands-on mindset, able to both build frameworks and ensure they work effectively in practice.
* Demonstrated ability to establish or lead control functions, bringing structure, clarity, and accountability to control ownership.
* Strong governance capability, with experience leading or contributing to forums, committees, and control oversight arrangements.
* Clear and credible communicator, able to work closely with senior stakeholders and provide effective support on regulatory requirements.
* Confidence reviewing end-to-end processes, identifying control gaps, and helping shape practical improvements across complex operational activity.
* Leadership style that combines oversight, collaboration, and direction, particularly when working across blended teams and specialist control areas.