Risk Management Leader

• This position has direct access to Management so that issues and concerns can be communicated at the appropriate level and independence is maintained.

Being part of the company’s 2nd line of defense, this position sets guardrails, monitors risks, and provides strategic advice and challenge to the Business (1st line).

• Dimensions of Position: Provide quantitative indicators on which the position has impact – e.g., earnings, revenue, budget, staffing, etc. Include indicator that best represents the main purpose of position.
• Risks are governed by MetLife Non-Financial Risk Framework, which covers compliance and operational risks (collective, “non-financial risks” or “NFR”). The NFR Framework includes the NFR Management Policy, Risk and Issue Rating Framework, and NFR Taxonomy, as well as standards for risk assessments, risk events, and issue management.
• Risk Management Lead’s role is to ensure that the business in the Country operation is conducted compliantly and within the risk appetite thus avoiding any negative impact in the below main areas:
• Customer protection and process execution risk, including operational risks related to sales compensation, and sales-related fraud and other prohibited activities, and customer benefit payment risk, including transactions processing and compliance with customer contracts.
• Establishes guardrails for risk taking as the organization pursues its strategic objectives and business plan.
• Guide the business around principles that define operational risks that are assumed while being actively managed and controlled, and risks that should be avoided by establishing appropriate risk appetite levels, risk limits and guidelines.
• Country Risk Management Lead has unfettered and direct access (consistent with local laws and regulations) to all resources, including data, documents, and personnel that are necessary to effectively execute risk oversight responsibilities.
• Responsible for supporting the company’s Non-financial risk assessment by conducting risk-based, second line control validation and oversight activities to identify non-financial risks and escalates key matters to Management and the appropriate governance bodies and work with risk owners on identifying corrective action plans for gaps identified
• Identification, assessment, monitoring and reporting of emerging risks at the strategic and operational levels utilizing appropriate tools and techniques taking cognizance of changes in the risk environment.
• Deliver a risk framework that enables MetLife’s lines of business and corporate functions to comply with applicable laws, rules, regulations, and policies, maintain risk levels within MetLife’s risk appetite, and integrate risk principles across MetLife’s lines of business and corporate functions.
• Provide constructive challenge to the lines of business and corporate functions, partnering with them to implement processes and controls, as well as to foster a culture of compliance.
• Ensure that products are designed in accordance with all applicable laws and regulations and with MetLife standards and that sales meet company requirements for suitability and are properly documented.
• Where necessary, act as point of contact for regulators and build professional relationships.
• Develop and implement operational risk-related metrics and management reporting that will help with effective oversight and management of risks with corrective actions taken to address any weakness, in a timely manner.
• Chair and lead the local Risk Audit and Compliance Committee (RACC) that highlights main activities of GRM local team along with discussions of heightened risks with the local management team.
• Report regularly to sub-regional Head of Risk and Compliance and Senior Management about significant operational risk related activities and emerging risks.
• Enable local management to execute the MetLife Global Compliance and Risk Frameworks, by providing awareness to owners of Operational risks, and by challenging and reviewing risk assessments regularly.
• Ensure that the annual risk-based plan of operational Risk oversight activities is properly planned abiding by local law expectations and global MetLife requirements by communicating results with the respective local and regional management and monitor the remediation by action plan owners.
• Report any breaches of policies, requirements and regulations to the respective local and regional management and recommend action plans for remediation as applicable.
• Monitor, review and link loss events/breaches, and challenge control environment in place to prevent reoccurrence.
• Support the local rollout of MetLife global policies; provide local input into the Risk management Policies where applicable.
• Facilitate developing and maintaining a robust risk appetite Statement with agreed tolerances and risk limits as well as developing and enhancing reporting metrics to monitor performance against appetite and recommend appropriate risk response strategies (mitigation plans).
• Manage the day-to-day risk management processes and procedures in close interaction with the Regional functional team.
• Support the Head of Risk and Compliance of Levant as well as the EMEA Chief Risk Officer in Operational Risk-related initiatives.
• Design and deliver ongoing training programs to enhance awareness of risk across the organization and maintaining a risk management philosophy and culture.
• Managing and maintaining effective coordination of risk management activities with assurance providers, including; internal/external audit, legal and compliance functions.
• Represent Risk Management on corporate or enterprise-wide projects or policy initiatives impacting or governing risk governance and control.
• Continually refreshing knowledge for the executive management on updated industry leading practices for risk governance matters pertaining to the insurance industry including board practices relating to risk governance.