City of London
Overview: A rapidly expanding proprietary trading and global markets firm is seeking a Head of Risk to lead the design and execution of its enterprise-wide risk framework. The firm has deep roots in global markets and prime brokerage, and is now scaling aggressively into multi-asset proprietary trading strategies and client-facing financing. This is a senior, high-impact role reporting directly to the executive team, suited for a candidate with a strong buy-side multi-strategy background who can bridge quantitative risk analytics, governance, and commercial decision-making in a fast paced environment. The Role: The Head of Risk will be responsible for building and overseeing the risk management framework across market, credit, liquidity, and operational risk. You will develop and maintain the infrastructure, policies, and culture that enable disciplined growth while supporting an entrepreneurial trading environment. You’ll work closely with trading, finance, technology, and compliance teams to ensure all activities are conducted within the firm’s risk appetite, while enabling strategic expansion into new asset classes and products. Key Responsibilities • Risk Framework Design: Define and implement the firm’s overall risk management framework, spanning proprietary trading and prime brokerage activities., • Market & Portfolio Risk Oversight: Establish methodologies for exposure measurement, VaR, scenario analysis, stress testing, and drawdown control across multi-asset portfolios., • Credit & Counterparty Risk: Oversee margining, collateral, and exposure management across counterparties, clients, and clearing relationships., • Liquidity & Capital Management: Partner with Finance and Treasury to align capital allocation, internal pricing of risk, and regulatory capital requirements., • Operational & Model Risk: Identify and mitigate operational risks across trading and technology infrastructure; validate and challenge models and assumptions where relevant. • Governance & Reporting: Lead risk committee processes, define escalation thresholds, and deliver clear, actionable reports to senior management and the board., • Technology Integration: Collaborate with technology teams to develop or refine risk systems and real-time monitoring tools., • Team Leadership: Build and manage a small, high-performing risk function, fostering a culture of accountability and proactive risk management., • Strategic Projects: Assess new product lines, asset classes, and jurisdictions from a risk perspective, ensuring appropriate controls before launch. Ideal Candidate Profile • Experience: 10+ years in risk leadership roles within a multi-strategy hedge fund, proprietary trading firm, or global markets / prime brokerage environment., • Expertise: Strong grasp of market, credit, liquidity, and operational risk, with experience designing frameworks in growth or transformation-stage firms., • Quantitative Rigor: Comfort with risk modelling, stress testing, VaR, and scenario design; able to challenge and validate models with data-driven reasoning., • Commercial Acumen: Adept at translating complex risk concepts into business context and engaging with trading and executive stakeholders., • Regulatory Awareness: Familiar with UK/EU financial regulations and risk governance expectations for trading and brokerage firms., • Leadership: Proven ability to build, develop, and lead teams while working cross-functionally in a fast-paced environment., • Communication: Excellent written and verbal communication skills; capable of providing clear, concise reporting and influencing at board level. Preferred: • Experience in a regulated prime brokerage or prop trading environment., • Advanced quantitative or financial degree (MSc/PhD/CFA/FRM)., • Familiarity with real-time risk monitoring, automation, or big data applications in trading risk., • Exposure to multi-asset or global market strategies. Why This Role • Join a firm in rapid expansion mode with the opportunity to shape its risk culture from the ground up., • Direct influence over risk policy, governance, and infrastructure., • Exposure to a broad set of trading strategies and global markets., • Senior leadership visibility and collaboration with top-tier trading and executive talent., • Entrepreneurial environment with strong financial backing and institutional rigor.