Head of Controlling & Risk - Director

Swissquote, the leading digital bank in Switzerland with more than 1,500 employees across Europe, the Middle East and Asia, is looking for a Head of Controlling & Risk – Director. The role heads the Controlling & Risk department, overseeing roughly 20 specialists spread over various risk lines, and guarantees that credit, market, liquidity, operational and related regulatory risks are identified, monitored, challenged and reported in line with the Board‑defined risk appetite. The daily work combines leadership, governance and hands‑on risk oversight. You will set the department’s priorities and operating model, coach managers and teams, and ensure resources are allocated efficiently while fostering continuous skill development. Reporting duties include preparing clear risk updates for the Risk Committee, Executive Management and the Board, and escalating material risk events, key risk indicators and remediation actions. You will own and continuously improve the Group’s risk framework—policies, methodologies, taxonomy, controls and reporting standards—while drafting and updating related governance documents. The position also serves as the senior liaison for credit, market and liquidity risk on investments, client‑activity monitoring, operational risk (excluding dedicated IT and AML functions), reconciliation of cash, securities and crypto, and regulatory interaction with FINMA, SIX and other authorities. In addition, you will contribute to new‑business risk analyses, process‑automation projects and transformation initiatives across a wide product range that includes securities, derivatives, digital assets and FX products. The candidate must hold a master’s degree in a relevant discipline and bring more than ten years of leadership experience within banking, financial services or risk management, preferably at a regulated, international institution. Demonstrated responsibility for multiple risk disciplines and the ability to manage multidisciplinary expert teams are essential. You need deep expertise in credit, market, liquidity and operational risk within a banking context, solid knowledge of Swiss banking regulation, FINMA expectations and Basel standards, and strong strategic thinking, business acumen and judgement. Excellent communication, presentation and writing abilities for risk reports, policies and Board‑level material are required, as is a technology‑oriented mindset with a keen interest in digitalisation, data and AI. A background that includes FRM or CFA certification, familiarity with ICT, cyber and data‑security risks, experience with GRC platforms, RCSA, KRI and incident‑management workflows, quantitative/model‑risk and stress‑testing skills, as well as data‑science, AI and automation applied to risk monitoring, will be considered advantageous. Swissquote offers a fast‑growing, inclusive environment where you can own projects, experiment, and develop your career without a formal dress code, while contributing to a bank that aims to make finance powerful and engaging. What the role asks for: - Master's degree in relevant field - 10+ years leadership experience in banking or risk - Proven responsibility for multiple risk disciplines - Broad expertise in credit, market, liquidity, operational risk - Knowledge of Swiss banking regulation, FINMA, Basel standards - Strong strategic thinking and business judgement - Excellent communication and presentation skills - Technology‑mindset with interest in digitalisation, data, AI - Nice-to-have: FRM or CFA certification - Nice-to-have: Understanding of ICT, cyber, data‑security risks - Nice-to-have: Experience with GRC platforms and incident workflows - Nice-to-have: Quantitative/model risk and stress‑testing expertise - Nice-to-have: Data science, AI, automation for risk monitoring