Head of Product Control - Client Modelling

FNZ; City of Edinburgh; Hybrid; GBP 70,000 - 110,000

Job description

Location: Edinburgh or London

Working Pattern: Hybrid

Contract: Permanent

Role Overview:

We are seeking a Head of Product Control to establish and lead a high-performing team responsible for overseeing modeling risk across FNZ Group. This strategic role combines team leadership, advanced risk management, and collaboration with stakeholders to drive the organization’s financial control and business strategy.

Key Responsibilities:

• Building and integrating three direct reports into a fully functioning Product Control team with responsibility for providing oversight of modelling risk across FNZ Group.
• Partner with risk managers and financial controllers to implement and maintain robust control frameworks.
• Partner with modelling teams to enhance capability, accuracy, and usability of models.
• Monitor and reconcile financial product valuations, identifying and resolving discrepancies.
• Validate pricing models and ensure alignment with accounting and regulatory standards as well as the impact on business value including return calculations.
• Evaluate the financial performance of products and provide actionable insights to drive business strategy.
• Oversee financial risk models, primarily business plan and customer profitability models as well as credit, market, operational, and liquidity risk models.
• Conduct scenario analysis, stress testing, and sensitivity analysis to assess and predict financial risks including input into regulatory processes/reporting.
• Provide regular reports and insights to senior leadership, highlighting emerging risks and their potential impact.
• Model Risk Management (including statistical, advanced AI/ML based techniques) - Formulation of guidelines/policy, laying down of roadmap, establishment of model risk governance including frameworks, validation, inventory management, attestations, and optimization.
• Program/Delivery Management – Create project plans and coordinate with key stakeholders.
• Collaborate with stakeholders to integrate advanced analytics and machine learning into risk modeling processes.

Desired Qualifications and Skills:

Education:

• Bachelor’s or master’s degree in finance, economics, mathematics, engineering, or a related field.
• Qualified accountant (and >3 years post qualified).
• Professional certifications (e.g., CFA, FRM, PRM) are a plus.

Experience:

• 3–5 years of experience in financial risk modeling, product control, or a similar role in banking, financial services (such as Product Finance in an Investment Management firm), or fintech.
• Strong understanding of financial instruments, derivatives, and risk management principles.

Technical Skills:

• Advanced knowledge of Excel and experience with financial systems (e.g., Bloomberg, Reuters, or similar).
• Familiarity with accounting principles (e.g., IFRS, GAAP) and regulatory requirements (e.g., Basel III, IFRS 9).
• Statistical Techniques: Linear & Logistic Regression, Hypothesis Testing, Exploratory Data Analysis, Survival Analysis, Cluster Analysis, various Statistical Tests and Cross-Validation Techniques, ML Algorithms.
• Proficiency in programming languages like Python, R, or MATLAB for quantitative modeling.

Soft Skills:

• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with attention to detail.
• Excellent communication skills to manage multiple stakeholders, who at times have conflicting aims as well as to present complex concepts to non-technical audiences.
• Ability to work collaboratively in a fast-paced and dynamic environment.

This is a unique opportunity for a highly skilled leader to establish and drive a critical function within FNZ, shaping the future of our financial control and risk management capabilities. If you are passionate about leading teams, solving complex challenges, and leveraging advanced analytics to deliver strategic impact, we encourage you to apply.

Application Deadline: 31/01/2025

About FNZ:

FNZ is committed to opening up wealth so that everyone, everywhere can invest in their future on their terms. We know the foundation to do that already exists in the wealth management industry, but complexity holds firms back.

We created wealth’s growth platform to help. We provide a global, end-to-end wealth management platform that integrates modern technology with business and investment operations. All in a regulated financial institution.

We partner with over 650 financial institutions and 12,000 wealth managers, with US$1.5 trillion in assets under administration (AUA).

Together with our customers, we help over 20 million people from all wealth segments to invest in their future.