Vice President, Operational Risk Management

Posted:
10/3/2024, 5:00:00 PM

Location(s):
England, United Kingdom ⋅ London, England, United Kingdom

Experience Level(s):
Expert or higher ⋅ Senior

Field(s):
Operations & Logistics

Oaktree is a leader among global investment managers specializing in alternative investments, with $193 billion in assets under management as of June 30, 2024. The firm emphasizes an opportunistic, value-oriented, and risk-controlled approach to investments in credit, private equity, real assets, and listed equities. The firm has over 1,200 employees and offices in 22 cities worldwide.

We are committed to cultivating an environment that is collaborative, curious, inclusive and honors diversity of thought. Providing training and career development opportunities and emphasizing strong support for our local communities through philanthropic initiatives are essential to our culture.

For additional information please visit our website at www.oaktreecapital.com

Scope and responsibilities

The Operational Risk Management (ORM) team helps to identify non-investment risk across Oaktree globally, contributing to continuous operational improvement. ORM partners with Oaktree professionals globally to continually assess and enhance the risk and control environment.

Oaktree is seeking a Vice President to work closely with the Senior Vice President in ORM, and be responsible for aiding in the implementation, coordination, execution and continued enhancement to Oaktree’s global Operational Risk Management framework, with a specific focus on Oaktree’s international offices.

The individual will work directly with all major businesses, operational functions and investment teams to help identify, assess, and mitigate operational risks across Oaktree’s business. The individual may also have limited client and regulatory contact in cases where Oaktree is asked to provide information on the Operational Risk framework. Candidates should be comfortable challenging the assumptions and conclusions of senior individuals while maintaining constructive relationships with management.

Key responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

  • Risk and Control Assessment: Facilitate risk and control assessments to identify potential risks and implement effective controls, validating remediation of operational risk exposure and related control gaps.
  • Root Cause Analysis: Conduct root cause analysis of operational events and develop strategies to mitigate future risks.
  • Governance: Lead risk management presence and content in governance forums, ensuring comprehensive oversight and identification of operational risk trends.
  • Risk Reporting: Preparing and presenting detailed risk reports / dashboards / metrics to senior management and stakeholders, highlighting key risk areas and recommended actions.
  • Trend Analysis: Identify and analyze operational risk trends to inform strategic decision-making.
  • Continuous Improvement: Providing thoughtful and collaborative leadership promoting risk transparency and business unit-level ownership and accountability over operational risk and control environments, fostering continuous improvement.
  • Risk Aware Culture: Promoting Oaktree’s risk aware culture, serving as the subject matter expert on operational risk initiatives. Identifying, initiating, and fostering relationships with business and operational partners to promote a culture of continuous improvement, driving constructive communication with the ORM team.
  • Regulatory Compliance: Ensuring compliance with relevant jurisdictional regulatory requirements, expectations and industry standards related to risk management e.g., risk appetite statements, ICARA, ICAAP, IRAP.

Experience required

  • 6+ years of operational risk management, enterprise risk management and/or related experience required; experience in the investment management industry preferred.
  • Experience facilitating top-down and bottom-up risk assessments, focused on existing and emerging risk areas.
  • Practical experience with Basel, COSO, ERM, risk and control self-assessment tools, methodologies and concepts.
  • Outstanding verbal and written communication skills to work cross-functionally and at all levels internally.
  • Proven capability in collecting and analyzing complex data, evaluating information and systems and drawing logical conclusions.
  • Track record in planning and project management and in maintaining composure under pressure while meeting deadlines.
  • Strong skills in resolving problems and negotiating issues.
  • Highly organized and able to manage multiple projects with differing priorities to meet deadlines.
  • Team-oriented, possessing strong integrity and professionalism and sharing in Oaktree’s common goal of excellence.
  • Demonstrated ability in:
  • Applying sound judgment in the evaluation of risks and controls;
  • Challenging the assumptions and conclusions of more experienced staff members;
  • Facilitating insightful conversations to ensure appropriate consideration and evaluation of risks;
  • Performing effective root cause analysis to identify control gaps and weaknesses and recommending appropriate corrective course of action;
  • Collaborating with business managers to promote an effective risk management culture by proactively identifying areas of operational risk;
  • Proficient in Microsoft Office products including, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Visio, Outlook and other business software to prepare reports, memos and summaries. Experience with GRC tools and PowerBI a plus.

Personal attributes

  • Excellent interpersonal, verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to leverage firm wide resources in an effective and judicious manner.
  • Self-initiated with a proven ability to work independently and a strong work ethic.
  • Ability to operate independently on short and long-term goals.
  • Flexible and team-oriented with strong integrity and professionalism.
  • Ability to take on a task/project and “run with it” to conclusion.
  • Passion for improving systems and processes, ability to act as a change agent with a focus on innovation.
  • Detail-oriented and a natural problem solver; have the resolve to independently research problems and offer solutions.
  • Thrives in roles that require outside of the box thinking, solving problems and navigating through ambiguous and /or complex issues.
  • Critical thinker, interested in playing a key role in driving the strategic vision for the ORM function within the firm and collaborating effectively with firmwide business, risk and control partners.
  • Self-starter with a natural inclination to interpret guidance, improve upon proposed ideas, organize and deliver recommendations, and deliver agreed upon solutions.
  • Intellectual curiosity and a quick learner.
  • Desire to travel.

Education

Bachelor’s degree is required. Professional certifications (e.g., Operational Risk Manager certificate from PRMIA or similar, CFA, FRM) a plus.

Oaktree Capital Management, L.P. is an equal opportunity employer

Equal Opportunity Employment Policy

Oaktree is committed to diversity and to equal opportunity employment. Oaktree does not make employment decisions on the basis of race, creed, color, ethnicity, national origin, citizenship, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, past or present physical or mental disability, HIV status, medical condition as defined by state law (genetic characteristics or cancer), pregnancy, childbirth and related medical conditions, veteran status, military service, marital status, familial status, genetic information, domestic violence victim status or any other classification protected by applicable federal, state and local laws and ordinances. This policy applies to hiring, placement, internal promotions, training, opportunities for advancement, recruitment advertising, transfers, demotions, layoffs, terminations, recruitment advertising, rates of pay and other forms of compensation and all other terms, conditions and privileges of employment. This policy applies to all Oaktree applicants, employees, clients, and contractors. Staff members wishing to report violations or suspected violations of this policy should contact the head of their department or Human Resources.