Group Risk Assurance Controls Specialist

A career at Lombard Odier means working for a renowned global wealth and asset manager, with a strong focus on sustainable investing. An innovative bank of choice for private and institutional clients, our independently owned Firm is one of the best-capitalised banking groups in the world, managing close to CHF 300 billion and operating from over 25 offices across 4 continents.
 

With a history spanning over 225 years, Lombard Odier is an investment house providing a comprehensive offering of discretionary and advisory portfolio management, wealth services and custody. We also offer asset management services and investment strategies through Lombard Odier Investment Managers and provide advanced banking technology to other financial institutions.
 

“Rethink Everything” is our philosophy – it is at the heart of everything we do. We have grown stronger through more than 40 financial crises by rethinking the world around us to provide a fresh investment perspective for our clients.

We are seeking a highly skilled, motivated and proactive Risk Assurance Controls Specialist to join the Operational Risk Management department in Switzerland. The Risk Assurance Controls Specialist will play a key role in the second line of defense, focusing primarily on the design and execution of control testing plans to ensure the effectiveness of the first line of defense risk and control frameworks. This role will involve performing comprehensive assessments of key controls, identifying gaps, recommending improvements to mitigate risks across the organization, and documenting the outcome in comprehensive reports that are presented to senior management in the organization.

YOUR ROLE

Control Testing & Monitoring:

• Conduct regular and ad-hoc control testing in alignment with the bank's operational risk management policies and procedures.
• Assess key controls across business units in order to confirm that they comply with relevant internal policies, procedures and, and best practices.
• Evaluate the effectiveness of key controls, identifying weaknesses, inefficiencies, or potential risks.
• Provide timely and accurate testing results to management, ensuring transparency and actionable insights.
• Track and report the remediation of identified exceptions, control gaps and deficiencies.
• Support the wider Risk Assurance Controls Team with the implementation of the bank’s risk assurance program and contribute to the evolution of the operational risk management strategies.

Second Line of Defense:

• Operate as part of the second line of defense, ensuring independent monitoring and oversight of the first line’s risk and control management practices.
• Provide risk assessments, test results, and control evaluations to senior management and relevant stakeholders.
• Collaborate closely with the teams across the 3 line of defense to ensure alignment with strategic risk objectives.

Risk Reporting & Communication:

• Prepare detailed reports and risk assessments on the effectiveness of controls and associated risks for management and governing bodies review.
• Provide recommendations for risk mitigation and control improvements to reduce operational, , and compliance risks.
• Communicate effectively with stakeholders at various levels, including business units, senior management, and external auditors.

Continuous Improvement:

• Contribute to the development and enhancement of control frameworks, testing methodologies, and operational risk management practices.
• Stay up to date with evolving regulations, industry trends, and best practices in risk assurance and compliance.
• Drive a culture of risk awareness within the bank, providing advice and guidance on best practices related to control testing and risk management.

YOUR PROFILE

• Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Business Administration, Accounting, Risk Management, or a related field highly desirable
• Minimum 3 years of experience within a private banking or financial services industry with at least 1 year in operational risk management, internal control monitoring, or audit, with a focus on control testing and risk assurance.
• Good understanding of the three lines of defense model in private banking.
• Expertise in control testing methodologies, risk and control self-assessments, and reporting;
• Strong knowledge of banking operations, regulatory requirements (e.g., FINMA, Basel III), and industry standards;
• Excellent analytical, problem-solving, and critical-thinking skills;
• Proficiency with MS Office Suite; knowledge of data analysis and GRC software is a plus;
• Strong written and verbal communication skills in English and French; additional languages are a plus.
• Ability to establish and maintain an effective collaboration with a diverse community of stakeholders;
• A strong team player, who is reliable and independent, able to prioritize and work to demanding deadlines;
• Resident in Switzerland.

Our Maison’s DNA is defined by five core values. Excellence drives us to be the best at what we do, while Innovation fuels our progress. Respect underpins every interaction, and Integrity shapes our actions. Together, we are One Team, united in serving our clients with unwavering dedication.

As a responsible and supportive employer, we promote a diverse and inclusive work environment for our employees and candidates. Diversity, Equity and Inclusion are woven into the fabric of our Maison’s DNA, and we strive to ensure that our employees can fulfill both their personal and professional aspirations by encouraging internal mobility and individual upskilling programs. We firmly believe that building Diverse Teams contributes to our successes and to deliver on this, we actively embed Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in our business strategy.

It is an exciting time to join our Teams. All applications will be handled in the strictest confidence.