Head of Risk

Our client is a leading bank in Ireland, designed to combine modern digital capabilities with trusted, community-focused banking. As part of the bank's growth, they are seeking an experienced Head of Risk Management to lead the development of the bank's risk governance and framework.

This role offers a unique opportunity to be part of the leadership team, shaping a next-generation bank, embedding a strong risk culture, and establishing robust systems that ensure the bank operates with integrity, resilience, and full regulatory compliance.

The successful candidate will lead the design and implementation of the enterprise risk management framework across all material risk categories, with particular emphasis on credit risk, operational risk, liquidity, market, and conduct risk. The role also involves close collaboration with the Central Bank of Ireland (CBI) throughout the authorisation process, ensuring all risk frameworks and policies meet CBI and EBA standards.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and implement a comprehensive enterprise risk management framework aligned with the retail bank's strategy, products, and customer base.
• Design and maintain the Risk Appetite Statement and Key Risk Indicators (KRIs) covering credit, operational, conduct, liquidity, and strategic risks.
• Oversee credit risk frameworks, including consumer and SME credit underwriting standards, portfolio monitoring, impairment policies, and arrears management.
• Develop operational risk management processes including incident reporting, control testing, risk event analysis, and resilience planning.
• Lead prudential risk processes, including ICAAP, ILAAP, Recovery and Resolution Planning (RRP), and stress testing.
• Provide risk oversight and independent challenge on strategic and operational initiatives, ensuring alignment with regulatory and risk appetite parameters.
• Liaise with the Central Bank of Ireland (CBI) on all risk-related aspects of the licence application and ongoing supervisory engagement.
• Build and lead a high-performing risk management function capable of supporting a growing retail and SME lending portfolio.
• Collaborate with technology, compliance, and operations teams to ensure all systems and processes are built with risk management and operational resilience embedded from the outset.
• Promote a strong risk culture, ensuring clear ownership and accountability for risk throughout the business.

Qualifications, Experience and Attributes

• 10+ years' experience in banking risk management, with significant exposure in banking.
• At least 10 years in a senior leadership or managerial role, ideally within a regulated Irish or European retail banking environment.
• Strong technical understanding of CBI, EBA, Basel, and CRD/CRR requirements, and proven experience managing prudential and conduct risk.
• Experience engaging directly with the Central Bank of Ireland, particularly in relation to authorisation, risk supervision, and prudential returns.
• Proven experience developing or transforming risk frameworks within new or growing banking entities.
• Strong understanding of consumer credit, arrears management, and customer outcomes in a retail context.
• Demonstrated ability to build teams, frameworks, and systems from inception.
• Collaborative leadership style, with strong communication and stakeholder engagement skills across multiple functions and cultures.
• Candidates who have previously held a PCF-14 designation (or are in deputy roles seeking progression) are encouraged to apply.