Head of Insurance Risk

Department: Risk

Employment Type: Permanent - Full Time

Location: London, UK

Description

Key Responsibilities

• Strategic advisory and partnership: Cultivate deep, collaborative relationships with Underwriters, Exposure Management, Capital Modelling, Ceded Re, and Actuarial teams. Act as a sounding board and strategic partner to enhance risk mitigation controls without stifling innovation.
• Team leadership and development: Lead, coach, and nurture a team of three risk professionals. Champion their career development, well-being, and success within the wider Risk Management function.
• Risk strategy and appetite: Review and challenge insurance risk appetite setting and monitor the Group and entities’ risk appetite utilisation against the approved risk appetite limits. Review and challenge the Group and entities’ annual business plan. Deliver risk opinions on new strategic initiatives.
• Executive reporting and governance: Design and deliver high-impact, insightful Risk MI for Executive Committees and Boards. Discuss insurance risk related matters at key governance forums, including the Capital & Liquidity Committee and Group Executive Risk Committee.
• Resilience and emerging risks: Define insurance stress and scenario testing approach and develop proactive management actions to address risks identified. Champion and embed our emerging risks framework within Underwriting.
• Insightful reviews: Lead the development of the insurance risk plan for the year including the annual risk reviews plan. Oversee the delivery of the plan and ensure risk reviews deliver value adding insights to Management and Boards.
• Data-driven innovation: Champion the use of data and technology within the risk function. Collaborate with Data Engineers and BI Developers to design intuitive analytical tools and dashboards that empower better decision-making.

Skills Knowledge and Expertise

• Industry expertise: Extensive experience in a senior Insurance Risk or broad actuarial role, ideally within the London market. Strong understanding of underwriting cycles, pricing, reserving, capital modelling and reinsurance programmes.
• Exceptional stakeholder management: A proven track record of building consensus and influencing outcomes through empathy, active listening, and collaboration—particularly with Underwriting teams.
• Empowering leadership: Experience managing, mentoring, or guiding teams, with a leadership style rooted in support, inclusivity, and knowledge-sharing.
• Clear communication: The ability to translate complex, technical risk concepts into clear, actionable, and engaging insights for both technical and non-technical audiences, including Board members.
• Forward-thinking mindset: A genuine interest in leveraging technology, analytics, and data to improve processes and strategic decision-making.

Benefits

• Competitive Salary
• 30 days Annual Leave
• Birthday Leave
• 10% Employer Pension Contribution
• Private Health Insurance Medical Cover
• Group Income Protection
• Life Assurance Cover
• Enhanced Parental Leave
• Annual Health Check
• 3 days of Volunteer Leave each year
• £1,300 to spend on learning & wellbeing
• Give as You Earn
• Cycle to Work
• Season Ticket Loan