Director, Agency and Trustee Services

Head of Risk Control as a member of the management board (Geschäftsleiter(m/f/x)) at a German payment institution KAS Europe

Kroll Agency and Trustee Services (KATS) part of the Kroll groups business services provides independent conflict-free third-party agency and trustee services. Servicing the bond and loan markets KATS has developed its strong reputation by providing proactive and bespoke services to its clients. The Kroll group currently manages over 1500 loan and bond transactions globally.

As part of the Kroll groups strategic expansion KATS is establishing and scaling its German agency platform. For this purpose KATS has established Kroll Agency Services (Europe) GmbH (KAS Europe) i.e. a German limited liability company currently applying for an authorisation as a payment institution within the meaning of the German Payment Services Supervisory Act (Zahlungsdiensteaufsichtsgesetz ZAG) from the German Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (Bundesanstalt für Finanzdienstleistungsaufsicht BaFin). Within this context KAS Europe is looking for a Head of Risk Control who will simultaneously be appointed as a member of KAS Europes management board (Geschäftsleiter(m/f/x)) and hold the position of a Director within the Kroll group (the Head of Risk Control).

KAS Europes Head of Risk Control will in particular be responsible for implementing overseeing and adjusting KAS Europes risk control function and simultaneously head KAS Europes second line of defense. Amongst others the role should ensure robust identification assessment monitoring and mitigation of operational legal and conduct risks across the full loan agency lifecycle while maintaining compliance with internal policies and external regulatory requirements (in particular under the ZAG BaFins ZAG Minimum Requirements for Risk Management (ZAG-MaRisk) and relevant guidelines and administrative practices by the European Banking Authority (EBA) and BaFin.

In this regard KAS Europes Head of Risk Control will act as a key control function and trusted partner to KAS Europes and the wider Kroll groups front office operations legal compliance and technology units with accountability for control governance risk reporting and continuous improvement of the control environment.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

As the member of the management board (Geschäftsleiter (m/f/x)) responsible for KAS Europes second line of defence and in this regard risk control function the Head of Risk Control should provide independent challenge and oversight while remaining close to day-to-day activity. The Head of Risk Control should ensure accurate and on-time delivery of all key task items including (but not limited to) the following:

Risk Governance & Control Framework

• Establishing and further developing a system of risk indicators and an early risk detection procedure covering operational legal reputational and conduct risks.

• Define implement and monitor key controls across agency activities (e.g. deal onboarding notice processing cash management consent management amendments and restructurings).

• Ensure adherence to KAS Europes risk appetite internal control standards and global policies.

Operational & Process Risk Oversight

• Supporting management in all risk policy matters especially in the development and implementation of the risk strategy as well as in the design of a system to limit risks.

• Identify key risk drivers within agency processes and ensure appropriate preventative and detective controls are in place.

• Oversee incident management including root cause analysis remediation planning and tracking of control enhancements.

• Ongoing monitoring of the institutions risk situation and risk mitigation.

Regulatory & Compliance Interface

• Ensure compliance with applicable regulations and supervisory expectations especially regarding payment services regulation (e.g. ZAG BaFins ZAG-MaRisk and relevant EBA and BaFin guidelines and administrative practices).

• Act as a key contact for internal audit external audit and regulatory reviews relating to agency risk and controls.

• Coordinate responses to audit findings and regulatory actions ensuring timely and sustainable remediation.

Risk Reporting & Management Information

• Develop and deliver high-quality risk reporting and management information for both KAS Europe and the wider Kroll group (the latter as far as relating to KAS Europe).

• Monitor key risk indicators control performance issues and trends.

• Escalate material risks and control weaknesses in a timely and transparent manner.

Stakeholder Management

• Partner closely with KAS Europes management board operations legal compliance finance and technology teams.

• Provide independent challenge while maintaining a pragmatic solutions-oriented approach.

• Represent KAS Europes risk control function in governance forums committees and project steering groups.

People & Leadership

• Lead develop and mentor a local risk control team (where applicable).

• Foster a strong risk and control culture within KAS Europe.

• Contribute to regional and global risk initiatives and best-practice sharing.

KEY REQUIREMENTS:

Experience & Qualifications

• Extensive experience (typically 8 years) in risk control operational risk or control functions within payment services syndicated loans or corporate banking. Ideally the Head of Risk Control candidate already has at least three years of experience as a management board member (Geschäftsleiter (m/f/x)) at a regulated institution.

• Strong understanding of syndicated loan agency products and processes.

• Proven experience engaging with regulators auditors and senior management. Ideally the Head of Risk Control candidate is already known to BaFin.

• Bachelors degree in finance business law or a related discipline; advanced degree or professional certifications (e.g. certification as Financial Risk Manager or Professional Risk Manager) advantageous.

Technical & Regulatory Knowledge

• Deep knowledge of operational risk frameworks and internal risk control standards.

• Familiarity with EU and German regulatory requirements especially regarding payment services regulation (e.g. ZAG BaFins ZAG-MaRisk and relevant EBA and BaFin guidelines and administrative practices).

• Strong understanding of loan documentation agency roles and lifecycle events.

Skills & Competencies

• Strong leadership influencing and stakeholder management skills.

• Ability to provide effective independent challenge while enabling business objectives.

• Excellent analytical organisational and communication skills.

• High attention to detail with a pragmatic risk-based mindset.

• Support the build-out and scaling of KAS Europes platform ensuring controls are embedded into new products processes and systems from inception.

Language Skills

• Fluency in English required.

• German language skills highly desirable.

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