Senior Operational Risk Advisor, Life and Health Insurance

Desjardins • Montreal, QC

7d • Hybrid

About The Position

As a senior operational risk advisor for the second line of defence, you act as a preferred strategic partner representing the life and health insurance sector. You provide added value thanks to your in-depth expertise in the life and health insurance sector, as well as your ability to monitor, challenge and establish guidelines for non-financial risks, with a view to creating value and ensuring the long-term viability of business activities. Recognized as a point of reference in life and health insurance, you have an in-depth understanding of the various products, processes, regulatory issues and operational risks specific to this sector (distribution, administration, claims, client experience, digital transformation, suppliers, etc.). You use this knowledge to make informed decisions that are consistent and aligned with risk management best practices. You play a leadership role within the second line of defence, in particular by overseeing the end-to-end production of the sector’s quarterly reports on operational risks. You independently oversee complex files and facilitate structured, pragmatic and business-oriented discussions with high-level internal partners. Your ability to explain complex life and health insurance issues at the executive level is an important part of your role. You also provide support to the risk officer, who you may occasionally replace at key meetings, thereby ensuring that risks are consistently represented in the sector’s strategic directions.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in actuarial science, business administration, finance, accounting, risk management or any other relevant field
• A minimum of eight years of relevant experience, including significant experience in the life and health insurance sector
• Experience steering complex files
• Experience in operational risk management, including knowledge of risk management methodologies, frameworks and tools
• Proficiency in French, both spoken and written
• Advanced proficiency of English, both oral and written due to the nature of the duties or work tools or because the position involves interactions with English-speaking partners, members and/or clients
• Demonstrated expertise in life and health insurance, including an in-depth understanding of products, processes and operational issues
• Expertise in performing analyses, writing and giving presentations at the executive level
• Knowledge of a financial institution’s business activities and operations

Nice To Haves

• Other combinations of qualifications and relevant experience may be considered
• Professional designation in risk management (FRM, PRM, ORM, CRM, etc.) or in actuarial science (ASA, CERA)

Responsibilities

• Produce, analyze, write and present the quarterly operational risk report for the life and health insurance sector, demonstrating a thorough understanding of applicable business and regulatory issues.
• Maintain ongoing business dialogue with colleagues in the life and health insurance sector to support teams in identifying, assessing and proactively managing risks.
• Ensure the quality, consistency and business value of the second line of defence’s deliverables, including conducting reviews, challenges and quality assurance of the risk positions.
• Maintain an integrated vision of the life and health insurance sector’s risks, diagnose priority issues and prioritize activities in line with the sector roadmap.
• Serve as an expert point of reference for assigning, coordinating and guiding files, and contribute to team member development through knowledge transfer and feedback.
• Represent the team on various committees and decision-making bodies, including filling in for the risk officer, and influence key decisions on multidisciplinary projects affecting life and health insurance.
• Actively assist with efforts to update operational risk management practices, processes, tools and methodologies, taking into account considerations specific to the life and health insurance sector.

Benefits

• Competitive salary and annual bonus
• 4 weeks of flexible vacation starting in the first year
• Defined benefit pension plan that provides predictable, stable income throughout retirement
• Group insurance including telemedicine
• Reimbursement of health and wellness expenses and telework equipment

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior