Operational Risk and Business Manager – Global Markets

About Crown Agents Bank

Crown Agents Bank is a rapidly growing, regulated UK bank connecting emerging and frontier markets to the world through innovative FX and payments technology. Our mission is simple: reduce friction so more money reaches those who need it.

For over 200 years we’ve built trusted networks across hard‑to‑reach markets. Today, we pair that heritage with digital innovation to support fintechs, corporates, governments, development organisations and banks with cross‑border payments and FX solutions.

Role Purpose

This role supports the Head of Commercial Risk & Business Management and the business in Front office Global Markets.  The Operational Risk and Business Manager will be supporting the Chief Commercial Office strategic agenda to optimise Global Markets, client coverage, financial performance, and operational & organisational efficiency. Partnering with the business and risk function to identify assess and manage its processes and risks within agreed risk appetite using the organizations risk framework. Support the product and sales business to proactively drive product development and implementation, adherence to the risk and conduct framework, policy and regulation compliance and changes. Implement industry wide best practices for risk management and ensure alignment across the organization.

Role Responsibilities

Business Growth & Planning

• Partner with senior business heads across FX Trading, Global Markets Treasury, Sales, Trade Finance and Product and Payments to develop and implement operational strategies, which drive trading performance, identify growth opportunities and improve process efficiency.
• Business Management activity
• Continuously optimise day-to-day Front Office operations, identifying and implementing efficiencies across Trading and Sales workflows
• Collaborate cross-functionally with Risk, Compliance, and Operations teams to ensure regulatory compliance, internal policy adherence and effective risk management
• Act as liaison between Global Markets and Banking Front Office, leadership, and other departments e.g. Risk, CEO Office, Compliance, Legal, Operations, Transformation and Technology
• Support budgeting and forecasting, ensuring alignment with business objectives and performance targets
• Lead, drive and support product development and strategic change from ideation to execution, designing scalable solutions and removing operational barriers
• Relationship and cost management of all third-party vendor platforms and service providers (Bloomberg, Refinitiv, 360T, Integral, etc.), ensuring operational continuity

• Establish business governance in conjunction with Desk and Sales Heads ie. Regular business reviews, management meetings.
• Production and delivery of formal top-quality presentations for Board meetings, Shareholder meetings, Senior Management meetings, Strategy sessions and other such forums.
• Monitor and improve metrics and processes to measure the effectiveness of Sales and Relationship Management.
• Implementation and maintenance of management information data sets.
• General support to Head of Commercial Risk and Business Management, Chief Commercial Officer and broader Exco.

Project Management

• Work in close coordination with product, technology, operations, and business heads on strategic projects.
• Ensure horizon scanning observations are considered for business impact and implement enhancements as required.
• Organize and prioritize critical issues and required information for Heads of Business to facilitate efficient decision making.
• Act as a point of contact between Head of Commercial Risk and other stakeholders, providing oversight and guidance to projects of high importance.
• Manage new initiatives and strategic projects, as requested by the Head of Business, other lines of lines of business or self-identified.

Risk Management

• Proactively support the business in managing operational and regulatory risks within the Firm's risk appetite framework, escalating issues as needed to senior leadership
• Identify, escalate, and mitigate business risks that could impair our ability to do business.
• Maintaining the requirements of the Enterprise Risk Management Framework and the Operational Risk Management Policy for Treasury and FX, ensuring that a robust control framework exists and operates effectively to oversee operational and compliance risk effectively.
• Review and enhance current Front Office operational risk governance tools and reporting, driving adoption of technology and tooling to automate controls.
• Develop and promote the use of risk data in the first line of defence, reporting to relevant monthly enterprise-wide forums.

Qualifications

University degree required (BA/BSc). UK Regs and Derivatives and operational risk management essential but not required

Experience

• Proven experience in first line of defence risk and controls or operational risk manager capacity
• 8+ years of relevant experience with proven ability to work in a global capacity.
• FX & Derivatives product knowledge, awareness of technology and infrastructure, as well as an understanding of G10, Emerging and Frontier Market business challenges.
• Understanding of payments and receivables, Trade Finance and Money Market products.
• Proven experience working with sales processes for Commercial banking clients and regulatory  understanding.
• Proven experience in a Business Manager role within a top tier Financial Services organisation.

Skills

• Energetic and dynamic in style with a strong executive presence, and ability to present to senior management and external stakeholders with confidence.
• Ability to identify and implement best-practice operations and solutions.
• Strong initiative, strategic mindset, entrepreneurial spirit, and creative thinking.
• Ability to forge strong internal relationships across a broad range of functions.
• Self-motivated, tenacious, and able to work with high degree of independence.
• High ethical standards and strong control mindset.
• Highly motivated with excellent time management & prioritization skills.
• Ability to excel and maintain a positive attitude in a high-performance, fast-paced professional environment, while managing multiple projects under tight deadlines.
• Highest level of integrity and professionalism.
• Excellent judgment.
• Comfort with ambiguity and proven ability to create clarity in it.
• Self-motivated with ability to handle multiple priorities and meet aggressive timelines.
• Experience working in a heavily matrixed, complex corporate environment, including building, strengthening, and influencing relationships with the parent and sister companies.
• Professional demeanour with strong written and oral communication skills, including developing coherent and concise emails and presentations.
• Strategic analytical capabilities and strong business and financial acumen.
• Proven people management experience.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills.
• Extensive stakeholder management experience.
• Strategic thinker with strong problem-solving abilities.
• Excellent analytical skills and ability to evaluate critical information accurately and report the findings.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

• Hybrid working
• Contributory personal pension plan: - Minimum: Employee 2% and Employer 7%. Employer matches contributions in 1% increments to a maximum of: Employee 5% and Employer 10%
• Life Assurance – 4 times annual salary
• Group Income Protection
• Private Medical Insurance – this may include cover for partner and or children at company cost. Cover includes Optical, Dental and Audiology
• Discretionary Bonus
• Competitive Annual Leave
• 2 Volunteering Days
• Benefit Hub