Senior Risk Manager – Model Validation

The role holder will manage and lead a team of Senior Risk Analysts (x3) who focus on technical model validation and verification activities. This is to support effective model risk management within the organisation.

A key responsibility of this role involves overseeing the performance and professional development of Senior Risk Analysts, ensuring their work aligns with internal expectations. Additionally, the role requires applying specialist expertise in statistical and analytical methods to guide the team in ensuring that validation processes adhere to defined technical requirements and governance procedures.

In addition, the successful candidate will lead the technical review and challenge of both existing and new models used across the Society, ensuring these models function to defined performance and governance standards.

This role gives exposure to a broad range of senior external and internal stakeholders, including the Executive. The role holder will prepare and present Validation reports to Model Risk Committee and will regularly attend other risk committees, such as the Board Risk Committee. The role holder will be responsible for coordinating the Retail Credit Model Committees and Financial Model Committees

Building and maintaining effective relationships with both internal and external stakeholders is essential to the role. Supporting broader model risk management initiatives, including calibrating risk appetite, and contributing to the development of appropriate model risk standards and regulatory (SS1/23) alignment activity.

Additionally, the role involves ownership of Model Validation Procedures and related policies, such as Model Conservatism, ensuring these policies remain relevant and effective Along with contributing to wider Financial and Model Risk team initiatives, including participation in thematic reviews.

We’re looking for you to demonstrate experience and knowledge of advanced internal ratings-based (A-IRB) or Credit forecasting models, ideally in the residential mortgage sector.

You will have a breadth of experience in developing or validating models, ideally including IFRS9 plus application and behavioural scorecards. Knowledge and experience of programming in SAS or Python is essential as are advanced skills in the use of MS Excel.

You will have an expert knowledge of regulatory standards and guidance relating to credit risk models and broader model risk management. This could include the development and maintenance of relevant artefacts (e.g. Policies, Frameworks).

You will have excellent stakeholder management skills, with the ability to influence and make a positive impact. You will have prior experience of interacting with senior managers and external stakeholders.

You will have demonstrable experience of line management in a technical specialism such as Model Development or Validation. This should include performance management, objective setting and colleague development.

You will need to have a high attention to detail, be able to work under pressure and be resilient in your approach to work.

In your current or previous roles, you will have gained experience in a statistical environment primarily within financial risk management, model validation, or credit risk analysis.

As a mutual, we’ve always worked together to improve the lives of others. Now one of the largest Building Societies in the UK, over 3,000 of us share that goal, in our branches and Head Office. Our benefits go beyond basic pay, with a discretionary bonus scheme, a culture of reward and recognition and total support for our wellbeing.

We’re serious about equality, of race, age, faith, disability, and sexual orientation, but also of personality and the way we think. By being yourself, you’ll make us stronger.

You can build so much more than a career. Come and make a difference in our Society, that’s been voted a ‘Great Place to Work’ by our team.

Flexibility and why it matters

We understand the need for flexibility, so wherever possible, we’ll consider alternative working patterns. Have a chat with us before you apply to see what the possibilities are for this role.