Operational Risk Manager

Job Description

Who we are

Aberdeen Investments is part of Aberdeen Group plc, one of the UK’s leading Wealth & Investments groups.

Strengthening talent and culture is one of our strategic priorities. We strive to make Aberdeen a great place to work so that we can attract and retain the industry’s best talent.

Our people put our stakeholders at the heart of everything they do by helping us to make a positive difference to the lives of our clients, customers, colleagues, shareholders and society.

We are repositioning our specialist asset management business to meet client demand and are committed to providing excellent client service, supported by leading technology and talent.

As a global business, Aberdeen consists of three divisions: Investments, Adviser, and interactive investor (ii). Each division is dedicated to meeting and adapting to our clients' evolving needs.

Our Asia Pacific Investments business has a large, dedicated and highly experienced investment team which has been investing across the region since 1985, and manages all our Asian products, including regional, country, smaller companies, and sustainable investing propositions.

The team has a strong regional footprint with offices in Singapore, Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur, Tokyo, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Seoul, and Sydney. This breadth gives us close proximity to the companies we own and the markets we invest in. Our APAC operations have been based in Singapore since 1992. We invest in Asian companies to grow with them and to help them to become better investors

• This is a global second-line operational risk role supporting the Investments business in the effective identification, assessment, oversight, and management of operational risk across the operating platform.
• This role reports functionally to the Head of Operational Risk – Investments and regionally to the Deputy CRO - Asia Pacific
• Support the consistent application of the Enterprise Risk Management Framework across Investments, helping the first line identify, assess, manage, monitor, and report operational risks and controls.
• Provide oversight and constructive challenge on key operational risks, emerging risks, risk events, issues, and control weaknesses, helping ensure that material exposures are understood and addressed through a business-aligned operating model.

• →Partner with the first line to manage risk events and issues, map end-to-end processes, and identify key risks, controls, and control gaps.
• →Analyse and challenge the root causes of material risk events and remediation actions, and contribute to thematic reviews to identify recurring issues, trends, and lessons learned.
• →Support the implementation and ongoing embedding of the Enterprise Risk Management Framework, providing effective oversight, guidance, and challenge to first- and second-line stakeholders.
• →Escalate material concerns where activity may fall outside the ERMF, risk appetite, or management expectations, and support timely remediation.
• →Collaborate with second-line colleagues, regional risk leaders, and subject matter specialists to deliver coordinated and effective risk oversight across the business.
• →Act as a trusted risk partner to Investments, Product, Client, Operations, and central functions, building strong stakeholder relationships and influencing sound risk-based decision-making.
• →Provide focused operational risk oversight and support for APAC business activities, acting as a key point of contact for regional stakeholders and ensuring alignment between global risk frameworks and regional business practices.
• →Produce high-quality operational risk reporting and insights for senior Investments leadership, governance committees, and boards.
• →Oversee the RCSA process and associated attestations, ensuring that risk and control assessments remain current and that newly implemented key controls are reflected in relevant process and control documentation.
• →Participate in business forums, projects, and change initiatives to identify and challenge operational risks, influence key decisions, and support the design and implementation of sustainable BAU controls.
• →Whilst operating as part of the global Operational Risk team, the role is expected to provide enhanced support and coverage for APAC business activities, working closely with regional stakeholders to ensure risks are effectively identified, assessed and managed in line with global standards.
• →Support the effective use of the enterprise risk management system (e.g. ServiceNow) to ensure timely capture, tracking and closure of risk events, issues, and actions in line with defined standards.
• →Leverage data, reporting tools and emerging technologies to enhance risk insights, improve reporting standards, and drive efficiency in operational risk processes
• →Coaching and mentoring junior members of staff.

• Degree qualified and/or professionally qualified in a relevant discipline such as risk, audit, accountancy, or actuarial science.

• Significant experience in operational risk, non-financial risk, internal controls, or a comparable second-line role within asset management, financial services, or a similarly regulated environment.
• Strong understanding of operational risk frameworks, controls, governance, and risk reporting within a regulated environment.
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to interpret complex information, identify key risks, and focus on material issues.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to provide clear, concise, and credible advice to senior stakeholders.
• Practical experience in risk framework implementation, oversight, challenge, and the assessment of key operational risk exposures.
• Ability to communicate complex risk concepts in a concise, practical, and commercially relevant way.
• Strong stakeholder management and influencing skills, with sound judgement and the ability to operate effectively in a matrix organisation.
• Experience in developing and using MS Suite of AI applications including Power BI.