Senior Validation Manager - Virgin Money : Job Details

Business Unit: Risk, Model Risk Management Salaryrange: circa £95,000 per annum DOE + red-hot benefitsLocation:  Remote - work from anywhere within the UK (expectation to travel to a Hub twice a quarter)Contract type:  Permanent

Get out of your comfort zone. Live a life more Virgin.

Our Team

The Independent Model Validation (IMV) team provides evidenced oversight in the form of independent validations and reviews, and we work with stakeholders across the bank to ensure robust model development activities whilst adhering to frameworks and policies by supporting identification and remediation of gaps in compliance.

An exciting opportunity has come up due to the expanding scope of our operations! We are looking for a Senior Manager focusing on novel financial risks and non-financial risks, incl. fraud and AI/ML.

You'll be responsible for a team of validation professionals covering an array of model types and performing highly analytical validations including the development of challenger models. The team will formalise and embed the validation frameworks, including supporting education of all areas that use and develop models. Through horizon scanning, you will also ensure alignment with industry best practices and innovations, compliance with future regulation and participate in Bank and industry consultation responses.

What you'll be doing

• Leading a team of validation professionals, facilitating the delivery of validation projects, people's continuous professional development and shaping the team's overall operational processes.
• Engaging extensively with stakeholders in areas with little / no exposure to model risk management, ensuring their educated in all things MRM, bringing new models into governance and assessing the model risk in these areas.
• Implementing the team's strategy in relation to emerging areas of model risk and implementing best practice approaches through horizon scanning, research, and participation in industry forums.
• Improving model validation process efficiency/effectiveness (e.g. Agile validation).
• Influencing frameworks to continually enhance the validation process and standards in the team's areas of responsibility.
• Providing expert-level input and challenge into model and strategy developments and changes throughout the model lifecycle.
• Regularly reviewing and challenging, where necessary, portfolio and model monitoring, feeding into relevant management forums and key stakeholders.
• Representing MRM in modelling initiatives across the business and providing committees with regular progress on validations both for developments and BAU renewals.
• Representing, the Bank with external bodies including external audit functions, external consultancies, and the regulator.

We need you to have

• Significant experience of model development and/or validation of financial risk models, incl. operational risk, as well as non-financial risk models, primarily fraud, AML, and AI/ML models.
• Expert knowledge across a range of modelling methodologies, regulatory requirements and industry best practice, ideally in the world of fraud modelling and/or AI/ML.
• Expert working knowledge of at least one programming language (e.g. SAS, Python or R) used in the area of AI/ML and/or fraud risk modelling.
• Strong leadership and people management skills, and proven ability to develop strong networks with key stakeholders at all points.
• Strategic thinking, capacity for innovation and ability to identify processes suitable for automation.
• Technical knowledge of model risk management and recent developments in this area.

It's a bonus if you have but not essential

• Understanding of the data landscape and data practices in fraud, AML and AI/ML modelling.
• A good understanding of the emerging validation methodologies and regulatory landscape around AI/ML across geographies.
• A broad appreciation of all models used by the Group, and the related impacts on strategy and customers.
• Experience in Agile working.

Red Hot Rewards

• Generous holidays - 38.5 days annual leave (including bank holidays and prorated if Part–Time) plus the option to buy more
• Up to five extra paid well-being days per year 
• 20 weeks paid, gender-neutral family leave (52 weeks in total) for expectant parents and those looking to adopt 
• Market-leading pension
• Free private medical cover, income protection and life assurance
• Flexible benefits include Cycle to Work, wellness and health assessments, and critical illness 
• Ability to work anywhere in the UK (where the role allows) 

And there's no waiting around, you'll enjoy these benefits from day one.

Feeling insatiably curious about this role? Apply as soon as you can. If we're lucky to receive a lot of interest, we may close the advert early and would hate you to miss out.

We're all about helping you Live a Life More Virgin, so happy to talk flexible working with you.

Say hello to Virgin MoneyWe're making great strides towards achieving our ambition of becoming the UK's best digital bank.  As a full-service digital bank with a heritage stretching back over 180 years, we`re a workforce to be reckoned with.  We're putting the full power of our experience behind disruptive ideas that reinvent the role a bank plays in people's lives. We strive to create positive experiences for our millions of customers and our purpose, ‘Making You Happier About Money', underpins everything we do. We believe in doing banking differently, innovating and working together to make a real difference. Join us and Live a Life More Virgin that empowers you with choice and flexibility in how you work.

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