Risk Partner - Control Testing

As a Risk Management and Control Specialist, you will lead the Risk Department's challenge over first line of defence control testing to give an independent opinion on the reliability of testing. You will share good practice so other areas can learn, and where you identify improvement opportunities you will advise first line control owners and testers, within the parameters of the Enterprise Risk Management Framework. You will challenge controls that first line document as part of their risk management activity to ensure alignment to the Swift Standards.

Are you ready to take the next step in your career and join us in keeping the Swift control environment robust? Can you apply critical thinking to a range of dynamic scenarios to oversee and challenge first line control testing?

The Control Testing team is within the Risk Performance Team, part of the wider Risk Department at Swift. We support our colleagues, across first and second lines, to continue to deliver excellence in risk management. No two days are the same, and by joining us you will be supporting delivery of Swift’s strategy by providing subject matter expertise to ensure colleagues implement control frameworks and control testing.

What to expect

In this role you will:

• The Risk and Control Partner reports to the Head of Risk Performance
• Champion the delivery and use of the new GRC Tool
• Ensure that Control Testing Frameworks aligns to the ERM principles and other control frameworks in place (e.g. ISAE-baseline, Agile Control Framework).
• Apply expertise to challenge control owners and testers, to ensure the risk is appropriately mitigated and the mixture of controls is suitable (per risk(s)).
• Support Risk Department colleagues during RCSA activity and provide expert input and guidance on i) which controls are needed, ii) how to document controls in line with the framework and iii) how to write test steps to robustly test controls.
• Sample and then challenge control testing that the first line has completed, to provide a second line opinion on how robust the testing is (in line with the CT framework). Identify areas that require further support/ training/ etc and make arrangements to provide this.
• Identify opportunities to automate controls and/ or their testing.
• Oversee first line control testing progress, including escalation of control tests at risk of missing deadlines.
• Monitor and report RCSA progress against plan on a weekly basis, and escalate any at risk of missing deadlines.
• Support the preparation of regular reporting to Executives and Board. Collate information from various sources and analyse to gain insights.
• Input and support the medium-long term view on continuous improvement of RCSAs and first line control testing.
• Prepare and present ad-hoc training/ awareness (RCSA and/ or controls testing) requested by first line as well as regular updates (usually held as 'all company' Teams calls).
• Develop specific skills and understanding related to own area of expertise. Bring new external ideas to improve processes.
• Drive simplification and a harmonised approach in documenting and testing controls.

What will make you successful?

We are seeking professionals with: 

• 8+ years of experience as an internal auditor, tech risk or compliance specialist (or equivalent)
• Understanding of risk management principles and experience of implementation
• Critical thinking skills, ability to challenge and deliver feedback
• Relationship management skills, ability to present difficult messages well
• Ability to see the bigger picture and support Swift overall
• Confidence to speak-up

Preferred qualifications:

• Degree-level education
• Relevant professional qualification (CIA, CIIA, IRM, CISA, etc)

What we offer

• We put you in control of your career
• We give you a competitive package
• We help you perform at your best
• We help you make a difference
• We give you the freedom to be yourself

We give you the freedom to be yourself. We are creating an environment of unique individuals—like you—with different perspectives on the financial industry and the world. A diverse and inclusive environment in which everyone's voice counts and where you can reach your full potential.

If you believe you require a reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, please contact us to request accommodation.

Don't meet every single requirement? At Swift, we are dedicated to building a workplace where people can bring their full selves and ideas to the team, so if you are excited about this role, we encourage you to apply even if you do not meet every single qualification.

What we offer

We give you the freedom to be yourself. We are creating an environment of unique individuals – like you – with different perspectives on the financial industry and the world. A diverse and inclusive environment in which everyone’s voice counts and where you can reach your full potential.

We are committed to an inclusive and accessible recruitment process. If you require a reasonable accommodation related to accessibility during your application or interview, please contact [email protected] or indicate this in your application.

Please note that this mailbox is not monitored for general recruitment enquiries and should only be used for accessibility or accommodation-related requests (for example related to vision, hearing or neurodiversity).

All requests are confidential and will not affect your candidacy.

Don’t meet every single requirement? At Swift, we are dedicated to building a workplace where people can bring their full selves and ideas to the team, so if you are excited about this role, we encourage you to apply even if you do not meet every single qualification.