EMEA Chief Risk and Compliance Officer

Location: EMEA country where MetLife has a presence. See footer *.

The Team You Will Join

MetLife EMEA, a leading life insurer in the Europe, Middle East, and Africa region, is looking for a Chief Risk and Compliance Officer to lead the Global Risk Management (GRM) and Compliance Risk Management (CRM) functions and ensure alignment with the company’s strategic objectives and risk appetite.

The Chief Risk and Compliance Officer will report to the Executive Vice President, Chief Risk Officer and Head of MetLife Insurance Investments. This role will also have a dotted line reporting to both the Chief Compliance Officer and the President and CEO of MetLife EMEA and will be a member of the EMEA Executive Committee as an SEO (Senior Executive Officer) of MetLife EMEA.

The Opportunity

This role will be located at one of the MetLife EMEA offices. The total organization size is approximately 75. The incumbent will be a member of the EMEA Management Committee, GRM and CRM Senior Leadership Teams.

How You’ll Help Us Build a Confident Future (Key Responsibilities)

• Develop and implement the risk and compliance strategy, policies, frameworks, and processes for MetLife EMEA, in accordance with the global and regional standards and regulatory requirements.
• Establish and maintain effective relationships with internal and external stakeholders, including regulators auditors, rating agencies, and industry associations.
• Stay abreast of changes in the regulatory environment, the business impact of regulatory changes, as well internal changes such as new product development, business strategies and initiatives, and emerging risks. Analyze and work with the businesses and functions to implement changes accordingly.
• Oversee the identification, assessment, measurement, monitoring, reporting, and mitigation of financial and nonfinancial risk.
• Propose to and periodically review the company’s risk strategy and appetite with the Board of Directors and Executive Management Committee. Work closely with the CEO, CFO, CIO, and Profit Center head to review capital, investment, and product plans, ensuring they are consistent with the risk appetite and in compliance with the company’s related risk policies and limits. Clearly communicate with management about risk return tradeoffs during strategic and tactical business discussions.
• Provide independent and objective advice and challenge to the business units and functions on risk and compliance matters and foster a strong risk and compliance culture across the organization.
• Lead and manage the Risk and Compliance team, and ensure adequate resources and succession, inclusion, engagement, skills, and capabilities to support the business needs and objectives.
• Advise on and provide credible challenge to compliance with relevant laws, regulations, and compliance policies.
• Lead a team responsible for executing a comprehensive compliance program, including an annual testing & monitoring plan designed to test the effectiveness of key first line controls.
• Identify and communicate results of compliance risk assessments, compliance issues, and control concerns to appropriate senior management.
• Work closely with peers to ensure consistent processes and approaches are followed and that synergies are realized, breaking through silos and encouraging a collegial and globally coordinated and consistent risk and compliance model.
• Represent MetLife EMEA in various risk and compliance committees, forums, and initiatives at the global, regional, and local levels, including chairing EMEA Risk Committee. Chair the Risk Management Committee and Compliance Committee. Ensure that matters are appropriately covered and escalated to the committees and lead discussions. Provide regular risk management updates to the board level Risk and Control Committee and Board of Directors Meeting, escalating key decisions when necessary.

What You Need to Succeed (Required Qualifications)

• Minimum 15 years of relevant experience in risk and compliance management or related role.
• Demonstrated ability to understand applicable laws and regulations, translate to business executives, and implement processes to support compliance with them.
• Strong knowledge and understanding of the EMEA regulatory environments and related financial and nonfinancial risks.
• A sound understanding of life insurance products, reinsurance, fixed income/ALM, alternative assets, and risk analysis, management techniques and quantitative skills (derivatives and hedging).
• Basic understanding of insurance company accounting practices.
• Strategic and analytical thinking, with the ability to balance risk and business objectives and provide sound and pragmatic solutions.
• Ability to think proactively and make recommendations and complex decisions, and to it anticipate regulatory needs and expectations and plan for them.
• Proven leadership and management skills, with the ability to inspire, motivate, and develop a high-performing team and build relationships at all levels.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to influence and collaborate with senior executives and stakeholders across the organization.
• Fluency in English, both written and spoken, is required.
• Educational background – minimum bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university; professional qualifications such as Fellow or other actuarial associations, CFA or similar, or J.D. preferred.

What Can Give You an Edge (Additional Skills)

• Relevant experience gained from working in the insurance or financial services industry.

• We will consider suitable applicants in an EMEA country where MetLife is located. These countries are:

Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czech Republic, France, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Portugal, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Spain, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom, Bahrain, Egypt, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, UAE