Head of Business and Risk, Wealth Management

Job Description

Role Purpose

The Head of Business and Risk for Schroders Wealth is responsible for embedding the Schroders Group Risk Management Framework within the Wealth Division’s First Line of Defence, ensuring robust governance and transparency when the framework is not applied or material issues arise. The role provides strategic oversight of first-line risk and control activities, ensuring compliance with relevant UK regulatory requirements while supporting cross-border operations. The Head of Business and Risk acts as a trusted advisor to senior leadership, driving a strong risk culture and operational resilience.

About Cazenove Capital

At Cazenove Capital we look after private individuals, families and charities. We are the wealth management business of the FTSE-listed global investment manager Schroders. We help our clients around the world invest money to meet their goals, fulfil their ambitions, and prepare for the future.

About Schroders, our parent company

We’re a global investment manager. We help institutions, intermediaries and individuals around the world invest money to meet their goals, fulfil their ambitions, and prepare for the future.

We have around 6,000 people on six continents. And we’ve been around for over 200 years, but keep adapting as society and technology changes. What doesn’t change is our commitment to helping our clients, and society, prosper.

The base

We moved into our new HQ in the City of London in 2018. We’re close to our clients, in the heart of the UK’s financial centre and we have everything we need to work flexibly.

The team

We are one of the largest UK-based wealth management firms, headquartered in London but with offices around the country. We help private clients, families, charities and some institutions meet their long-term goals by offering our expertise in investment, wealth planning, lending and family office services. We draw on the resources of the Schroders group, as well as having our own in-house investment team.

We’re open to flexible working, so we can all balance our personal and professional commitments.

What you’ll do

Key Responsibilities

Risk & Control Framework Governance

• Establish, maintain, and continuously enhance the first-line risk and control framework in alignment with Schroders Group Risk Management Framework and corporate governance standards.
• Oversee risk assessment processes including Risk & Control Assessments (RCA), continuous control testing, Key Risk Indicators (KRIs), and incident management.
• Ensure proactive identification, transparent escalation, and timely remediation of risk issues and control gaps.
• Collaborate with Group Risk to close framework gaps and harmonize standards globally.

Regulatory & Audit Interaction

• Act as the key point of contact for internal/external auditors on first-line control matters.
• Ensure timely and high-quality regulatory reporting, responses, and remediation plans.
• Monitor evolving regulatory expectations and industry standards to maintain alignment and readiness.

Operational Risk Management

• Lead and manage operational risk programs including issue management, change risk assessments, operational resilience, and third-party risk management.
• Drive root cause analysis and lessons-learned reviews following risk events, near misses, or control failures, including cross-entity read-across activities.

Cross-Border Governance

• Coordinate risk and control activities across Schroders Wealth divisions in multiple jurisdictions.
• Ensure consistency of control standards globally while adapting to local regulatory requirements.
• Act as a liaison between UK operations and global control functions to harmonize frameworks and share best practices

Control Culture & Leadership

• Promote a strong risk awareness culture across the business.
• Provide coaching and guidance to senior management and business teams on risk responsibilities, ownership, and accountability.
• Develop and mentor a high-performing first-line controls team.

Performance & Reporting

• Produce executive-level dashboards, risk insights, and thematic analysis to inform decision-making.
• Track and oversee risk remediation portfolios and key control initiatives.

Qualifications & Experience

Required

• 10+ years of relevant experience in banking or financial services risk management, compliance, or internal audit.
• Demonstrated experience in first-line risk leadership roles or equivalent operational control environment.
• Strong understanding of regulatory requirements (FCA, PRA, MiFID II, AML/KYC, operational risk, risk governance frameworks).
• Proven track record in designing and implementing control frameworks in a complex organization.

Preferred

• Experience in private banking, wealth management, or a comparable regulatory environment.
• Professional certifications in Operational Risk and/or Risk Management

Skills & Competencies

• Strong analytical and problem-solving capabilities.
• Executive-level stakeholder management and communication skills.
• High integrity, independence of thought, and sound judgment.
• Ability to influence organizational culture and drive accountability.
• Leadership experience managing cross-functional teams.

We recognise potential, whoever you are

Our purpose is to provide excellent investment performance to clients through active management. Diversity of thought, facilitated by an inclusive culture, will allow us to make better decisions and better achieve our purpose. This is why inclusion and diversity are a strategic priority for us and why we are an equal opportunities employer. You are welcome here, regardless of your age, disability, gender identity, religious beliefs, sexual orientation, socio-economic background, or any other protected characteristic.

About Us

We’re a global investment manager. We help institutions, intermediaries and individuals around the world invest money to meet their goals, fulfil their ambitions, and prepare for the future.

We have around 6,000 people on six continents. And we’ve been around for over 200 years, but keep adapting as society and technology changes. What doesn’t change is our commitment to helping our clients, and society, prosper.

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