Risk & Controls Oversight Lead - Models & AI

Purpose of the role

To assess the integrity and effectiveness of the banks internal control framework to support the mitigation of risk and protection of the banks operational, financial, and reputational risk.  

Accountabilities

• Knowledge of business areas, products, processes and platforms to be able to assess risk
• Collaboration with various stakeholders across the bank and business units to improve overall control effectiveness through detailed documentation of control assessments, procedures, and findings.
• Identification and investigation of potential weaknesses and issues within internal controls to promote continuous improvement and risk mitigation aligned to the bank’s control framework, prioritised by its severity to disrupt bank operations.
• Development of reports to communicate key findings from risk assessment including control weaknesses and recommendations to control owners, senior management, and other stakeholders.
• Execution of reviews to determine the effectiveness of the bank's internal controls framework aligned to established and evolving policies, regulation, and best practice.
• Implementation of adherence to the Barclays Controls Framework and set appropriate methodology of assessing controls against the Controls Framework.

Vice President Expectations

• To contribute or set strategy, drive requirements and make recommendations for change. Plan resources, budgets, and policies; manage and maintain policies/ processes; deliver continuous improvements and escalate breaches of policies/procedures..
• If managing a team, they define jobs and responsibilities, planning for the department’s future needs and operations, counselling employees on performance and contributing to employee pay decisions/changes. They may also lead a number of specialists to influence the operations of a department, in alignment with strategic as well as tactical priorities, while balancing short and long term goals and ensuring that budgets and schedules meet corporate requirements..
• If the position has leadership responsibilities, People Leaders are expected to demonstrate a clear set of leadership behaviours to create an environment for colleagues to thrive and deliver to a consistently excellent standard. The four LEAD behaviours are: L – Listen and be authentic, E – Energise and inspire, A – Align across the enterprise, D – Develop others..
• OR for an individual contributor, they will be a subject matter expert within own discipline and will guide technical direction. They will lead collaborative, multi-year assignments and guide team members through structured assignments, identify the need for the inclusion of other areas of specialisation to complete assignments. They will train, guide and coach less experienced specialists and provide information affecting long term profits, organisational risks and strategic decisions..
• Advise key stakeholders, including functional leadership teams and senior management on functional and cross functional areas of impact and alignment.
• Manage and mitigate risks through assessment, in support of the control and governance agenda.
• Demonstrate leadership and accountability for managing risk and strengthening controls in relation to the work your team does.
• Demonstrate comprehensive understanding of the organisation functions to contribute to achieving the goals of the business.
• Collaborate with other areas of work, for business aligned support areas to keep up to speed with business activity and the business strategies.
• Create solutions based on sophisticated analytical thought comparing and selecting complex alternatives. In-depth analysis with interpretative thinking will be required to define problems and develop innovative solutions.
• Adopt and include the outcomes of extensive research in problem solving processes.
• Seek out, build and maintain trusting relationships and partnerships with internal and external stakeholders in order to accomplish key business objectives, using influencing and negotiating skills to achieve outcomes.

All colleagues will be expected to demonstrate the Barclays Values of Respect, Integrity, Service, Excellence and Stewardship – our moral compass, helping us do what we believe is right. They will also be expected to demonstrate the Barclays Mindset – to Empower, Challenge and Drive – the operating manual for how we behave.

As a Risk and Controls Oversight Lead in First Line, you'll be responsible for providing expert oversight on Models & AI. You’ll play a critical role in ensuring our risk management practices are strong, effective, and always in compliance of risk and control management frameworks. You’ll also act as a key bridge between the Customer & Digital Team, Chief Operating Office (CCO), second and third-line risk partners, and other stakeholders.

In this role, you’ll develop and assess risk appetite, lead conversations on risk acceptance, ensure controls are designed and assessed properly, resolving any gaps and improving the control environment. You'll also ensure ongoing monitoring of controls to keep the business audit ready, embed proactive risk management culture, assessing new business initiatives and leveraging tools KRIs and risk dashboards.

You’ll stay on top of market trends and emerging risks, driving continuous education based on internal and external themes and lessons learnt. You'll be responsible for ensuring compliance with relevant laws and regulations, preparing and enhancing governance papers and reports. Additionally, you’ll identify opportunities for data led controls monitoring and automation of controls. You’ll ensure compliance with RCSA, Issue management and Risk events management process in line with Operational Risk framework.

To be successful as a Risk and Controls Oversight Lead – Models & AI, you should have experience with

• Expertise in Model Risk Management and Artificial Intelligence, with a focus on ethical principles, transparency, fairness assessments, and model algorithms.

• Proven experience in data analytics, data science, and driving automation and digitization within Risk Management processes.

• Up-to-date with the latest advancements in Models and AI, including Generative AI, and the associated risks.

• Deep understanding of market trends, competitor activities, and the broader risk environment, using this knowledge to drive continuous improvements in internal controls.

Some other highly valued skills may include

• Self-motivated with the ability to work independently while contributing effectively within a team of risk specialists.

• Ability to balance risk considerations with commercial objectives when defining Risk Appetite and influencing stakeholders on risk acceptance.

• Capable of applying expertise in Models and AI risk within the context of Customer & Digital, ensuring tailored solutions for this area.

You may be assessed on the key critical skills relevant for success in role, such as risk and controls, change and transformation, business acumen strategic thinking and digital and technology, as well as job-specific technical skills.

This role is based in London (Canary Wharf).