Head of Risk & Regulatory Compliance

At M&G our purpose is to give everyone real confidence to put their money to work. As an international savings and investments business with roots stretching back more than 170 years, we offer a range of financial products and services through Asset Management, Life and Wealth. All three operating segments work together to deliver attractive financial outcomes for our clients, and superior shareholder returns.

Through our behaviours of telling it like it is, owning it now, and moving it forward together with care and integrity; we are creating an exceptional place to work for exceptional talent.

We will consider flexible working arrangements for any of our roles and also offer work place accommodations to ensure you have what you need to effectively deliver in your role.
Summary
We know that an inclusive environment makes us more accessible and ensures we attract, engage, promote and retain exceptional people. We welcome applications from all individuals regardless of age, gender/gender identity, sexual orientation, ethnicity/nationality, disability, or military service and welcome those who have taken career breaks. We will consider flexible working arrangements or home working arrangements for any of our roles and also offer workplace accommodations to ensure you have what you need to effectively deliver in your role.
Are you passionate about Sustainable Finance and Risk Management? Do you have experience in sustainability risk and compliance themes (Climate, Natural Capital, Human Rights, Corporate Governance) and familiarity with frameworks and industry initiatives on sustainability issues? Do you want to influence financial business units (Asset management, Life Insurance and Wealth Management) to improve their climate alignment and impact on society?

The team:
The Central Sustainability Office (CSO) Team of M&G PLC is a dedicated group who work closely with asset management, asset owner, corporate sustainability teams and fundamental analysts across the M&G PLC group and is responsible for global activities of the group. The team is located in London.

Context for the role:
The Head of Sustainability Risk and Compliance will lead the risk and regulatory strategic approach for the M&G Plc group. This role covers risk and regulatory compliance in the Central Sustainability Office and reports to the Chief Sustainability Officer.
Key responsibilities
First line sustainability risk ownership
• Ownership of plc sustainability risk policies
• Ownership of greenwashing risk frameworks and business standards, including undertaking work to review whether these are embedded in the business and receiving reporting from the businesses
• Ownership of reputational risk management, working with Corporate Affairs to ensure effective frameworks in place to manage the risks
• Owning the Risk and Control Self-Assessment ("RCSA") inputs for sustainability risk and controls at a group level
• Owning the Own Risk and Solvency Assessment(" ORSA") to ensure the company's Solvency situation through risk identification, assessment, measurement, management and reporting
• Proposing risk tolerances for SMF, BRC / Board approval within the risk appetite framework owned by the Risk Function
• Ownership of risk management reporting from second and third line risk teams
• Management of relationships and coordinated risk management across the three lines of defence
• Reporting of sustainability risk to relevant Committees
• Setting sustainability KRI's and ensuring tracking across the Group
• Owning and defining the risk management RACI
Regulatory compliance • Contribute to horizon scanning of ESG/Sustainability regulatory developments
• Assessing M&G preparedness for sustainability regulatory developments and interpreting regulatory requirements for the Group
• Identify the implementation risks and opportunities from regulatory horizon scanning, identifying owners, timelines and resources required to meet regulatory requirements
• Provide and support training on sustainability regulations
• Participate in regional and global initiatives and projects related to sustainable finance risk and compliance
• Owning and defining the regulatory compliance RACI

Key knowledge, skills and experience:

Knowledge:
• Strong knowledge of sustainability matters in financial services and capacity to engage on environmental, social and governance topics
• Strong knowledge of 1st line sustainability risk issues management and mitigation
• Working knowledge of Sustainability Finance regulations such as SFDR, SDR, CSRD and the EU Taxonomy
• Detailed understanding of voluntary reporting and disclosure regulations such as TCFD, TNFD, UNGC and CDP
• Knowledge of life & pensions and savings & investment products, markets and competitors
• Working knowledge of risk and controls frameworks
Skills:
• Strong sustainability risk management technical skills, with professional accreditations preferable
• Ability to effectively communicate on activities and outcomes on material ESG issues and themes
• Outcomes driven approach with the credibility to deal with stakeholders on contentious matters • Flexible, responsive and self-starter
• Degree educated (academic qualification in a sustainable discipline is a plus)

Experience:
A minimum of 10+ years working in regulated financial services environment, with a sustainable risk and or compliance background
• Experience in setting up and managing first line risk function
• Experience in analysing how sustainability regulations affect business models and using this analysis with stakeholders across the group to encourage stronger sustainable practices
• Experience in establishing and maintaining effective relationships for successful collaboration with internal teams
• Experience in conducting sustainability regulatory gap analysis and producing reports and recommendations to senior stakeholders
• Outcomes driven approach with the credibility to deal with stakeholders on contentious matters
• Experience in representing organisations at high level events

Work Level: Manager / Expert
Close Date: 4th October 2024

We have a diverse workforce and an inclusive culture at M&G plc, underpinned by our policies and our employee-led networks who provide networking opportunities, advice and support for the diverse communities our colleagues represent. Regardless of gender, ethnicity, age, sexual orientation, nationality, disability or long term condition, we are looking to attract, promote and retain exceptional people. We also welcome those who take part in military service and those returning from career breaks.