Banking COO, Front Office Risk and Control SME, Vice President

Please note that this position is a 12 month FTC to perm position. 

Who are we?

We are not your typical financial institution. It’s our people who make us a cut above. Here, every person is respected because of their differences, not in spite of them.

We pride ourselves on a culture of purpose, passion and compassion. At Mizuho, we provide the stability of an international industry leader with the career trajectory of a growing business. Our steady, strategic growth gives our people at all levels rewarding degrees of responsibility and a richer work experience than a boutique firm or an established giant could offer alone.

Working for Mizuho opens doors not just to a rewarding career with excellent prospects, but to lasting friendships with colleagues from diverse cultures. It’s the local expertise of our employees that makes our global network so powerful. By collaborating with colleagues and clients who have your same ambition, you can amplify your sphere of influence and base of knowledge as part of one of the largest—and growing—banks in the world.

What is the opportunity?

The successful candidate will join a newly formed Business Change and Governance (BC&G) Team (the Team). The Team sits within the Front Office (FO) of Mizuho EMEA’s Corporate and Institutional Banking (CIB Banking). CIB Banking covers Banking clients (including corporate finance, project finance, strategic advisory solutions, leveraged finance) and Capital Market clients (including DCM, DCM syndication, securitised products, ECM).

The BC&G Team has three core objectives. You will support the Head of the BC&G Team to achieve the Team’s governance and risk management objective:

• Project leadership and change management: the Team is responsible for all change impacting the FO, both strategic projects and smaller BAU changes that results in greater efficiency and improved ways of working.
• Governance and risk management: the Team is the 1LOD for the FO and is responsible for governance, risk and control-related activities that impact the FO. The Team embeds procedures and controls to ensure the FO adheres to the regulatory environment and operates with an acceptable level of risk.
• Enhance client engagement: embed Salesforce across the FO, refine and improve how client engagement activities are managed in Salesforce.

To achieve its objectives, the Team partners and engages with multiple teams across Mizuho including the COO, FO Bankers, IT and Projects, Chief Strategy Office, Compliance, Operational Risk, Audit, Japanese Head Office departments and various other support functions across multiple jurisdictions.

The ideal candidate will be a Subject Matter Expert (SME) of CIB Banking FO risks, controls, governance frameworks and processes, with a proven track record of success in a complex financial services environment. You will play a pivotal role in ensuring that CIB Banking operates with effective oversight and compliance.

What will you be doing?

Governance Framework and Oversight:

• 1LOD for CIB Banking FO activities including issue and risk management – identify risks and issues, identify and deliver activities to mitigate risks and close issues.
• Oversight of CIB Banking’s Risk Control Self-Assessment (RCSA) framework: manage RCSA activities, monitor and enhance controls, conduct route-cause analysis, develop and implement remediation activities of identified gaps,
• Manage BAU governance related activities across CIB Banking: liaise with HO Departments, support functions and the FO to ensure CIB Banking effectively completes these activities within agreed timelines.
• Lead the development, implementation, and continuous improvement of CIB Banking governance frameworks, ensuring alignment with regulatory requirements, industry best practices, and the Bank's strategic objectives. 
• Oversee cross-functional governance processes, ensuring adherence to policies, procedures, and standards.
• Manage the CIB Banking Front Office Supervisory Committee (FOSC). Ensure the FOSC provides effective oversight of CIB Banking. This includes: preparing committee material, critically assessing material provided by committee members, identifying items that need to be escalated to the FOSC.
• Provide expert advice on governance matters, ensuring the bank is well-positioned to respond to internal and external changes and audits.

Stakeholder Engagement & Leadership

• Serve as a key point of contact for governance matters within the Bank, liaising with senior leaders, risk management, compliance, legal, and other support functions. 
• Foster strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders to ensure alignment on governance and change management priorities. 
• Promote a culture of integrity, accountability, and transparency across the organisation.

Change Management

• Drive governance-related small change initiatives initiated by the COO, ensuring they are executed effectively and deliver measurable outcomes. 
• Act as a champion for continuous improvement, identifying opportunities for improving controls, operational efficiencies and streamlining processes. 
• Partner with cross-functional teams to deliver change projects that enhance risk management, compliance, and operational resilience. 

What do you need to succeed?

• SME of FO controls, governance frameworks, risk management, compliance, and regulatory requirements within a CIB Banking environment (essential).
• Self-motivated, ability to work with minimal supervision (essential).
• Precise attention to detail and accuracy (essential).
• Strong communication and stakeholder management skills across multiple jurisdictions (essential).
• Highly organised and the ability to manage multiple priorities in a dynamic environment (essential). 
• Ability to navigate regulatory challenges and anticipate governance needs in a rapidly changing financial landscape.
• Ability to prioritise work to meet tight deadlines.
• University Degree or equivalent.

What Mizuho can offer you

Here at Mizuho, there are fantastic progression opportunities and clear paths to promotion. We will give you ample opportunity to affect change and to help grow our business.

In addition to the great opportunity outlined above we are also currently able to offer:

• Competitive starting salary, plus discretionary bonus
• Non-contributory pension
• 27 days’ annual leave
• Core working hours*
• Hybrid working  - office and home based*
• Virtual GP
• Wellbeing benefits, including Mental Health Allies and First Aiders

*For applicable roles only

At Mizuho, we embrace flexible ways of working when the role permits. We offer different working arrangements like part-time, job-sharing and hybrid (office and home) working. Our purpose-led culture and global infrastructure help us connect, collaborate, and work together in agile ways to meet all our business needs.

At Mizuho we are committed to supporting equality, diversity and equality, and seek to create a workplace that is fully inclusive. We welcome applications from all sections of the community that we operate in and from all ethnic backgrounds, sexual orientation, beliefs, gender identities and disabilities

If you require more information about our equal opportunities policy or wish to discuss any accessibility requirements or reasonable adjustments please contact the recruitment team – recruitment@mhcb.co.uk and we will be happy to help.