Role Summary
The Director Investment Risk will lead the design, implementation, and oversight of the firm's investment risk framework across private markets, real estate, structured products, and alternative investments.
The role ensures robust risk governance across deal underwriting, portfolio monitoring, valuation oversight, liquidity management, and concentration limits while enabling business growth within defined risk appetite.
This is a senior leadership position requiring deep technical expertise, strong commercial judgment, and regulatory awareness.
Key Responsibilities
1. Investment Risk Framework & Governance
- Develop and maintain the firm's investment risk framework across asset classes (Private Markets, Credit, Real Estate, Structured Products, etc.).
- Define risk appetite statements, portfolio concentration limits, and exposure thresholds.
- Establish risk policies covering underwriting, valuation, impairment, and exit risk.
- Chair or co-chair Investment Risk Committee.
2. Transaction & Deal Risk Assessment
- Independently review investment proposals prior to IC approval.
- Challenge underwriting assumptions (IRR, DSCR, leverage, exit multiples, sensitivities).
- Assess counterparty risk, sponsor quality, covenant strength, and structuring risks.
- Review downside cases and stress scenarios.
- Provide formal written risk opinions to the Investment Committee.
3. Portfolio Risk Monitoring
- Monitor portfolio exposures (sector, geography, sponsor, asset class).
- Develop early warning indicators for deteriorating assets.
- Oversee watchlist process and restructuring risk reviews.
- Assess liquidity risk and funding mismatches.
- Report portfolio risk metrics to management.
4. Market & Liquidity Risk Oversight
- Monitor interest rate, FX, and credit spread exposure.
- Assess macroeconomic impact on portfolio valuations.
- Oversee hedging effectiveness (if applicable).
- Evaluate exit market conditions for private assets.
5. Valuation & Model Risk
- Challenge valuation methodologies (DCF, comparables, NAV models).
- Ensure independent model validation processes.
- Oversee stress testing frameworks.
- Review third-party valuation reports where applicable.
6. Regulatory & Compliance Alignment
- Ensure alignment with local regulatory frameworks.
- Support ICAAP, stress testing, and capital adequacy exercises (if regulated).
- Interface with regulators during reviews and audits.
7. Risk Reporting & Board Engagement
- Prepare quarterly Board risk reports.
- Present risk trends and emerging threats.
- Develop dashboards covering:
- VaR (if applicable)
- Exposure limits
- Concentration ratios
- NPL / impairment trends
- Liquidity metrics
8. Leadership & Team Management
- Lead and mentor investment risk analysts.
- Foster a culture of independent challenge.
- Coordinate with Investment, Treasury, Compliance, and Finance teams.
Candidate Profile
Experience
- 1015+ years in Investment Risk, Credit Risk, or Portfolio Risk.
- Experience within:
- Investment Bank
- Asset Manager
- Private Equity platform
- Development Finance Institution
- Sovereign / Institutional platform
- Strong exposure to private markets and illiquid asset risk.
Technical Skills
- Deep understanding of:
- Financial modeling
- Stress testing
- Valuation techniques
- Portfolio analytics
- Structured credit
- Experience reviewing complex term sheets and legal structures.
- Strong Excel / risk analytics capabilities.
- Familiarity with risk systems and reporting tools.
Education
- Bachelor's degree in Finance, Economics, Mathematics, or Engineering.
- CFA / FRM preferred.
- MBA advantageous.
Personal Attributes
- Independent and strong challenger mindset.
- Commercially aware not a box-ticking risk officer.
- Strong communication skills with Board-level presence.
- High integrity and governance mindset.
