Head of Risk Data and Systems

Job Description

Business Unit: Group Risk, Risk AnalyticsSalary Range: Individual MatchJoin Virgin Money as we transform our team into one that is ready to meet the challenges of the future, setting us up to support our ambition to disrupt the status quo and turn traditional banking on its head. Were on the lookout for like-minded individualsand innovators to help drive our strategy forward. Were also transforming how we work, offering our colleagues more choice, control and flexibility to live and work how they choose with A Life More Virgin.Heres what it means for YOU:

• 38.5 days annual leave for all colleagues (including bank holidays and pro rata if part-time)
• Five extra paid well-being days per year
• A 35-hour working week
• 20 weeks paid, gender neutral family leave (52 weeks in total) for expectant parents and those looking to adopt
• Market leading Pension & Private Medical Insurance
• Flexible benefits including Cycle to Work, Wellness & Health Assessments and Critical Illness
• Ability to work anywhere in the UK (where the role allows)

And you get these Red-Hot Rewards from day one!Here at Virgin Money we take a huge amount of pride in what we do, working seamlessly across all areas to achieve the same goals for the business. This is an exciting time as we stand up our Risk Analytics Centre of Excellence (RACE). Our ambition is todrive forward enhanced modelling capability by providing:

• Consistency: Modelling choices conducted consistently across models removing incoherence between outputs.
• Best practice sharing: Advanced modelling approaches (e.g. ML, monte carlo simulation, OpenBanking data) rapidly shared.
• Delivery speed: Ability to load balance across a large centralised team of similar skill set, building on pre-existing data sets and codes and rapidly engage with system implementation.
• Efficiency: Consolidated model landscape with re-use of engineered and cleaned data and validated code snippets

Youll work closely with other senior leaders across the risk teams and the business to provide guidance, and challenge to ensure these principles are adhered to. Ensure model development and innovation is driven forward to stand up the Centre of Excellencein Risk Analytics, bringing the core principles to life. Youll represent Risk Analytics by attending and providing input to committee and Board papers, along with the regulators. Youll work with stakeholders at all levels across the Group, particularly withRisk Finance, and Audit teams.As a leader, a core part of your role will be to deliver the very best performance through your team by keeping our Purpose, Strategic Aims and Values & Behaviours at the heart of all they do whilst developing their team with stretching goals to build capabilityand ambition.Day to day youll:

• Develop a plan for the Data and Systems team that is aligned to the Risk department plan as well as the wider Virgin Money plan (under the CDO)
• Deliver and oversee an effective and efficient systems, data and modelling environment that is conducive to efficient modelling practices and the production of high quality and accurate Risk Reporting
• Lead the provision of comprehensive data management solutions that deliver consistent, accurate and auditable data both historical and current. End users of data will be primarily risk modelling, reporting and credit
• Lead the development of policies, processes, systems and (data) models that continually enhance the value of data and information assets
• Regularly review and asset market for the provision of data assets, weaving value added data services into overall data strategy
• Build and maintain relationships with third parties, including suppliers, regulators and professional bodies
• Provide independent challenge to ensure VM adheres to regulatory requirements and follows best practice
• Work in conjunction with CIO and CDO functions to influence data strategy to achieve business objectives in line with risk appetite
• Own the Risk data architecture and infrastructure assurance methodology
• Design and deliver a programme of data architecture and infrastructure assurance
• Delivers cost effective performance and drives continuous improvement, efficiencies and increased productivity

There are a few essentials you need to bring:

• Highly numerate with a track record in data driven analysis, including identifying trends and creating and managing solutions
• Technical proficiency in data systems, architecture and infrastructure
• Experience in dealing with third parties (data providers, regulator and professional bodies)
• Confident communicator at senior management and executive level
• Experienced in successfully leading and creating high performing teams
• Experience of building trusted relationships with a wide range of stakeholders at all levels, including feeding opinions and challenges into the governance process in a constructive and authoritative manner to ensure the 2nd line opinion adds value andis effective.
• Excellent and effective communication skills, both verbal and written, with experience of managing challenge and conflict
• Capacity to handle high workflows and prioritise appropriately, ensuring tasks are completed within required timeframes
• High motivation and to demonstrate a professional "can do" attitude
• Proven excellence in influencing, challenging and guiding the business to make decisions which are aligned to strategy and customer need

The icing on the cake (but not essential):

• Degree educated in a numerate discipline
• A broad understanding of the various types of models (IRB, IFRS9, ST, Digital Lending, Early Warning, Collections, etc.) developed within RACE
• A strategic view of the banking industry with an understanding of how its evolution would affect the model set of assets

We really need you to have the skills and experience listed in the essentials section above, but the rest is just our wish list, so please dont let that put you off applying, wed love to hear from you!Inclusion at Virgin Money Inclusion is at the heart of everything we do here at Virgin Money. Its good for you, its good for us and its amazing for our customers. We know that great minds dont think alike, so we rely on your diverse thoughts, feelings, beliefs and backgrounds tobe th