Associate, Financial Services: Risk & Regulatory

About the job

This role sits within the Financial Services (FSI) team at Alvarez and Marsal in London. A&M FSI comprises of two core areas of expertise – Risk & Regulatory (R&R) and Performance Improvement (PI). We work with clients across the financial services space, with a focus on banks, private equity investors, regulatory authorities, insurers, wealth and asset managers and other specialised financial services firms.

Through our FSI practice, we provide assistance to financial institutions that are underperforming or in need of a remediation, reorganisation or  restructuring, helping clients navigate through complex and unique challenges that require thoughtful, tailored solutions. Drawing on extensive expertise in risk and regulatory, our team of senior ex-regulators and industry practitioners provide practical and credible strategies to adapt to a complex regulatory landscape where decisions are based on judgment rather than rules. We are looking for an Associate to support our growing regulatory team, helping to deliver and expand our services in a customer facing role. 

A&M’s FSI professionals work on some of the world’s most high-profile cases in a rapidly transforming financial services landscape, striving for game-changing solutions that provide impactful long-term change. Working directly with our client’s management team, A&M's involvement reassures all stakeholders that the company is taking important steps to address its problems and to maximise its value.

Purpose of the Associate role:

Within our growing and highly regarded FSI team, an opportunity exists for a risk & regulatory specialist at the Associate level. Against a backdrop of unprecedented growth we are looking to hire someone with a successful track record of delivering regulatory solutions to clients with a blend of operational and risk & regulatory skills, an entrepreneurial approach and networks across the financial services community. 

Supported by the European FSI teams, you will help build the profile and reputation of A&M in the identification of Risk & Regulatory initiatives within Financial Services. You will reflect the operational distinctiveness that is A&M; a business savvy, solution-focused business entrepreneur who is determined to make a difference and not afraid to challenge the status-quo.

Key Responsibilities:

You will be at the heart of delivering Risk & Regulatory within financial institutions, where the regulatory perspective is central to a business-critical judgement. You will be actively involved in developing our business, and be an integrated part of the R&R team. Assignments will range from advising on implementing new regulation, and the transformation of systems, processes and policies, through to helping clients remediate adverse regulatory findings or manage intense regulatory scrutiny. You will also support vendors and acquirors of regulated firms with regulatory due diligence, supervisory engagement and the Change in Control process. Other activities include (non-exhaustive):

• Translating regulatory requirements into business and functional requirements and control changes to achieve compliance;

• Assisting to mobilise complex regulatory change and remediation programmes, creating project plans and managing delivery of programmes;

• Reviewing and testing controls frameworks embedded within financial institutions, including enterprise-wide risk management frameworks, conduct risk, credit risk, operational risk, liquidity risk etc;

• Review and assess risk and compliance operating models of financial institutions, and identify areas of improvement

• Reviewing and testing policies and procedures of financial institutions and assess them against regulatory requirements and best practices;

• Benchmark client implementation of regulatory requirements against peers and industry best practice, providing effective challenge to clients and helping them instil meaningful change;

• Providing regulatory and technical advice to support clients on UK and European regulatory developments;

• Interpret and understand complex UK and EU regulation and in turn communicate these clearly to clients;

• Develop comprehensive reports and presentations to clients, which provide meaningful conclusions and results.

To deliver on these responsibilities effectively, you will need to:

• Be an action-oriented self-starter with strong analytical skills and entrepreneurial flair, in line with the A&M culture and values

• Be comfortable working independently as well as in a high performing team

• Have a strong background in the regulation of financial services, and an appetite to expand your knowledge and expertise further

• Keep constantly on top of regulatory priorities and changes, and advise clients accordingly

• Be comfortable and credible in working closely with senior stakeholders in the client’s business and with professionals from leading financial institutions.

• Eager to grow and develop the R&R practice, alongside senior management, developing forward-looking strategies and be involved in recruitment and upskilling of juniors

Requirements

Essential:

• Established knowledge and experience of the financial services sector is essential, particularly in relation to prudential risk, conduct risk and financial crime or other relevant area. This experience may have been gained in a variety of roles (e.g. in financial institutions, a consultancy or regulatory body).

• A high-grade degree qualification from a top tier university;

• Mix of hard and soft skills, drive and leadership, ability to generate impact, assertiveness;

• Strong project management capabilities, stakeholder management skills at senior levels;

• Strong ability to conceptualize, summarize, and provide key messages to clients and/or senior levels;

• Strong managerial skills, with ability to distribute workload among team members

• English language skills are essential (both written and spoken) along with excellent writing skills, Excel and presentation Powerpoint skills;

• Willingness to travel internationally;

• Right to work in the UK;

Desirable:

• Hands-on experience working closely with or directly within a regulator (e.g. PRA /FCA or an EU equivalent);

• Knowledge of recent or pending EU regulatory initiatives, e.g. CRDIV, Solvency II, MiFID II; IDD; IFPR, etc.;

• Additional qualification levels (such as MSc or MBA) would be preferred;

• Additional European languages are highly desirable.

• EU citizenship or right to work in the EU.

Why A&M?

Companies, investors, lenders and government entities around the world turn to Alvarez & Marsal (A&M) when conventional approaches are not enough to activate change and achieve results. Privately-held since 1983, A&M is a leading global professional services firm that delivers performance improvement, turnaround management and business advisory services to organizations seeking to transform operations, catapult growth and accelerate results through decisive action. Our senior professionals are experienced operators, world-class consultants and industry veterans who draw upon the firm's restructuring heritage to help leaders turn change into a strategic business asset, manage risk and unlock value at every stage.
Our heritage is restructuring, but for over 35 years we have grown from a premier restructuring boutique to a global consulting firm with more than $2 billion in revenues. Over the course of time we have experienced the shifts in the various regulatory environments around the world.

Diversity & Inclusion

A&M’s entrepreneurial culture celebrates independent thinkers and doers who can positively impact our clients and shape our industry. The collaborative environment and engaging work—guided by A&M’s core values of Integrity, Quality, Objectivity, Fun, Personal Reward, and Inclusive Diversity—are the main reasons our people love working at A&M. Inclusive Diversity means we embrace diversity and we foster inclusiveness. It runs through how we recruit, develop employees, conduct business, support clients, and partner with vendors. It is the A&M way.

Voluntary Inclusion

It is Alvarez & Marsal’s policy to provide and promote equal opportunity in employment, compensation, and other terms and conditions of employment without discrimination because of race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, family medical history or genetic information, political affiliation, military service, pregnancy, marital status, family status, religion, national origin, age or disability or any other non-merit based factor in accordance with all applicable laws and regulations.

Unsolicited Resumes from Third-Party Recruiters

Please note that as per A&M policy, we do not accept unsolicited resumes from third-party recruiters unless such recruiters were engaged to provide candidates for a specified opening. Any employment agency, person or entity that submits an unsolicited resume does so with the understanding that A&M will have the right to hire that applicant at its discretion without any fee owed to the submitting employment agency, person or entity.