Head of First Line Risk and Controls

at  Direct Line Group

At Direct Line Group, insurance is just the start. Combining decades of industry experience with talented people in every field from data, technology, customer care and auto repair, to HR, finance and procurement, we’re a customer-obsessed market powerhouse. And we all work together to be brilliant for customers, every single day.
Here at DLG, we want everyone to play their part in owning our Risk and Controls across the business – and we’re doing a lot of work to enable this. We’re reviewing our Risk and Controls teams across the ‘first line’ – e.g. across Claims, Sales and Service Operations, and our technical products (Motor and Household). For us, 2024 is about rebuilding our relationship with the regulators and that’s why we’re recruiting for several Head of Risk and Controls roles across the Group!
Working hand in hand with our Risk and Compliance function, you will have responsibility for keeping people safe and compliant with all regulatory, claims, and underwriting controls.

PURPOSE OF ROLE

As the Head of (First Line) Risk, you will lead the Governance, Risk and Compliance (GRC) management within your business area, embedding processes and developing capabilities that continually improve the provision of GRC services to DLG enabling the strategic direction of the enterprise.
You will work closely as part of a wider ‘3 lines of defense’ - ensuring effective risk and compliance management is undertaken within appropriate risk management frameworks and processes. You will ensure operational control effectiveness assuring compliance to regulatory requirements) and risk posture/policies within DLG and across our Third parties, proactively against the backdrop of emerging risks. You’ll act as subject matter expert for emerging risks, regulatory compliance requirements, and lead on the delivery of the Risk Transformation Programme on behalf of your ExCo member.
Most importantly, you’ll help change the culture around risk management in what will be a period of vast business change and transformation!

WHAT YOU’LL BE DOING:

• Ensuring DLG fosters a culture of rigorous thinking and controls
• Accountable for first line risk and assurance governance objectives, ensuring accurate management information and reporting from Executive Operational committees through to Board.
• Being a trusted advisor to the Executive Committee member/SMF
• Accountable for the function’s Risk framework objectives, ensuring they are comprehensive and aligned to the DLG business strategy and risk appetite.
• Creating department-wide solutions, polices, and standards to keep up with emerging technologies, industry trends, and regulatory change.
• Developing methods to identify key risks that may impact our operations, the delivery of the DLG business strategy, or present a threat to our group risk appetite or compliance status.
• Leading and mentoring a team of Risk and compliance specialists, facilitating teamwork dynamics and interactions with the business.
• Driving collaboration across risk functions, operational teams and change programmes to ensure the appropriate technical capacity, capability and knowledge sharing is in place.
• Managing and maintaining relationships with senior stakeholders within DLG and externally – with suppliers, partners, etc.
• Making recommendations on design and build of robust GRC solutions and controls to enable delivery of the DLG business strategy. Recommendations should include commercial considerations and future agility of business operations.
• Driving audit and testing assurance programmes to ensure DLG controls are compliant with regulatory requirements as well internal standards and policies, providing a holistic view of capability across assigned key thematic areas of the DLG control environment.
• Developing and delivering reports that provide a real time compliance ‘dashboard’ for use at all levels of the organisation and enables tangible and visible risk reduction.

We wouldn’t be where we are today without our people and the wide variety of perspectives and life experiences they bring. That’s why we offer excellent benefits to suit your lifestyle and a flexible working model combining the best parts of home and office-working, varying with the nature of your role:

• Generous 9% employer pension. Regardless of whether you contribute into your pension or not, DLG pay 9% into your pension (but you can take this as cash if you want!)
• Eligibility for annual performance bonus of up to 20%
• Generous holidays - 30 days annual leave (excluding the bank holidays). Plus, the option of buying or selling upto 5 days each year!
• 50% off home, motor and pet insurance
• Free travel insurance and Green Flag breakdown cover
• Electric Vehicle car scheme which allows all colleagues to lease a brand new electric or plug-in hybrid car in a tax efficient way
• Free private medical cover for you!
• Buy-as-you-earn share scheme
• Employee discounts and cashbac