Head of Governance, WEG

Westpac Group is Australia’s oldest bank and company, supporting customers, businesses and communities for over 200 years. Westpac Institutional Bank provides a range of financial services to corporate, institutional and government clients across Australia and our international locations.

Westpac Europe GmbH, based in Frankfurt, is Westpac’s European banking subsidiary and plays an important role in supporting our institutional clients and broader international strategy.

As Head of Governance and Regulatory Affairs, you will play a key role in supporting the Management Board and maintaining a strong governance and regulatory framework across Westpac Europe GmbH.

You will help our Managing Directors meet their executive accountability obligations, coordinate key governance processes and oversee regulatory change relating to the subsidiary’s corporate governance. Working closely with senior leadership, Legal, Risk and regulatory stakeholders, you will provide practical advice and oversight across a broad range of governance and regulatory matters.

• Support the Managing Directors in meeting their executive accountability obligations in Germany, including maintaining appropriate processes, tools and governance frameworks.
• Coordinate Management Board, committee and shareholder meetings, including agendas, papers, minutes and follow up actions.
• Maintain key governance documentation, including the Management Responsibilities Map and Statements of Responsibilities for Managing Director functions.
• Manage the flow of information between the Management Board, committees, Group Secretariat and other key stakeholders.
• Embed and enhance strong governance standards across Westpac Europe GmbH, aligned with the broader Westpac Group framework.
• Coordinate regulatory applications, submissions and communications with relevant internal and external stakeholders.
• Own and manage the regulatory change framework for the subsidiary, with a particular focus on corporate governance requirements.
• Provide oversight and advice on the implementation of relevant German and European regulatory developments.
• Identify legal, regulatory and operational risks arising from regulatory change and help the business understand and respond to their potential impact.
• Support regulatory engagements, local licensing requirements and other legal and regulatory matters in partnership with Westpac’s Legal and Risk teams.

This is a senior and highly visible role with the opportunity to shape governance and regulatory affairs within Westpac’s European banking subsidiary.

You will work closely with the Management Board and senior leaders across Westpac, with a broad remit spanning executive accountability, corporate governance, regulatory change and regulatory engagement.

You will also be joining an international organisation with the opportunity to build relationships across Westpac’s global Institutional Bank and wider Group.

• At least 10 years’ experience within financial services, with strong exposure to the German regulatory environment.
• In depth knowledge of relevant German and European Union banking regulation, particularly corporate governance and regulatory accountability requirements.
• Strong wholesale banking experience and an understanding of the requirements applying to regulated banking subsidiaries.
• Experience supporting Management Boards, executive committees or comparable senior governance forums.
• Experience managing regulatory communications, applications or regulatory change.
• Strong judgement and the ability to translate complex regulatory requirements into clear and practical solutions.
• Excellent stakeholder management skills and confidence working with senior leaders, regulators, auditors, Legal and Risk teams
•  Strong organisation and attention to detail, with the ability to manage multiple priorities independently.
• Professional proficiency in German and English.
• A university degree in Law, Business, Economics or a related discipline, or an equivalent professional qualification.

If you are an experienced governance or regulatory affairs professional looking to take on a broad and influential role within an international banking organisation, we would be pleased to hear from you.