Head of Operational Risk and Resilience

Since being founded in 2018, Copper has been building the standard for institutional digital asset infrastructure with a focus on custody, collateral management, and prime services.

Led by Amar Kuchinad, Copper's Global CEO, the firm provides a comprehensive suite of custody, trading and settlement solutions that reduce counterparty risk and bring greater capital and operational efficiency to digital asset markets. At the heart of Copper's offering is Multi-Party Computation (MPC) technology – the gold standard in secure custody. Copper’s multi-award winning custody system is unique in that it can be connected to centralised exchanges, DeFi applications and even staking pools without the assets leaving the custody.

Built on top of this state-of-the-art custody, ClearLoop is the first solution in the market that overcomes a growing industry challenge; counterparty risk with exchanges. This solution underpins a full prime services offering, connecting global exchanges, and enabling customers to trade and settle directly from the safety of their MPC-secured wallets. By reducing settlement time for transfers to a few milliseconds (without blockchain network dependency) and offering enhanced security measures, ClearLoop is rapidly reshaping the way asset managers trade and manage capital.

In addition to industry-leading security certifications, Copper has one of the strongest insurance coverages in the industry from an A+ rated insurer, positioning the firm as the partner of choice for institutions seeking to safeguard their assets.

DEPARTMENT/ TEAM PURPOSE:  

The Risk Team at Copper embeds and maintains an effective Enterprise Risk Management Framework across the business lines, ensuring that any risks to the business are identified, assessed and measures put in place to mitigate or reduce the risk in accordance with regulatory compliance (where it applies), approved risk tolerance, risk appetite and strategic plans.  

ROLE PURPOSE  

The Head of Operational Risk and Resilience plays a crucial role in identifying, assessing, and mitigating risks associated with an organisation's operations while ensuring resilience against disruptions. 

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:  

Risk Management 

• Develop and implement an Operational Risk Management Framework including inherent risks, controls, residual risks and risk appetite statement 
• Lead risk mitigation strategies and ensure compliance with regulatory requirements. 
• Monitor and report on operational resilience metrics, ensuring business continuity plans are robust. 
• Provide training and awareness programs on operational risk management. 
• Lead incident response and ensure lessons learned are integrated into future risk strategies 
• Analysis & reporting of any material risks 
• Assisting the design & implementation of quantitative & qualitative strategy & risk controls 
• Ensure you support with the operational effectiveness of Risk systems & procedures 
• Attend the risk review meetings and Risk Committee, chaired by the Chief Risk Officer, which aim to continually assess and manage all forms of risk across the enterprise 
• Develop, improve & manage effective Risk Management

Security 

• Manage high security environments 
• Manage the technology security and physical security system and programmes 
• Conduct security risk assessments for facilities, staff and life systems e.g. access control 
• Take responsibility for the travel security and Executive security planning experience 

Resilience 

• Plan and manage resilience programmes for financial services with regulatory obligations 
• Presenting to senior management 
• Managing external clients and/or regulators

SKILLS & EXPERIENCE  

Essential  

• 10+ years working in a role managing risk, governance and security, preferably in the digital space or in a regulated environment 
• Strong awareness of process, controls, systems, and technology relevant to the role 
• Understanding of Operational, Credit, Market & Liquidity Risk 
• A working knowledge of the main regulatory frameworks relating to Risk 
• Ability to assert and influence and clearly articulate risks and issues 
• Strong operational risk skills including the perceptiveness to identify early warning signals 
• Ability to lead and drive controls across products and functions 
• Ability to manage through influence  
• Assurance programme experience or qualifications 

Desirable 

• Risk Management certifications, Security Certifications (CISA, CISM, CISSP, ISO27001) or other relevant certifications
• Preferable to have had experience in high-risk environments

The benefits offered

• Holidays: 27 days per annum paid holiday, in addition to bank holidays
• Years of Service Days: Employees are awarded one additional day of paid time off per year of service (up to three years)
• Vitality Health:
  • Medical Insurance: Copper provides all employees with individual cover. Medical history is disregarded, and a 24/7 virtual GP is available (£100 excess per person per year)
  • Dental Insurance: Comprehensive dental cover for preventative, restorative and emergency treatment
  • Audiology Cover: Employees can claim back up 80% of costs, up to £300, for any hearing tests or hearing aids
  • Optical Cover: £500 optical cover (through Vision Express) or 80% reimbursement up to £300 for any other optician
  • Menopause Support: Unlimited support for those experiencing symptoms of the menopause, such as video consultations with a dedicated menopause practitioner
  • Vitality services also include an additional £100 for minor diagnostic tests and private prescriptions, including home diagnostics
  • Headspace - Copper's policy provides all employees with a free Headspace subscription. Headspace provides great resources to manage stress, improve sleep, meditate and enhance mindfulness
  • Discounts and free benefits - the Vitality programme has been designed for preventative care to encourage members to improve their overall health and will reward those for doing so. Employees can access additional benefits such as 50% off running shoes, discounted health screenings, 50% off at Nuffield Health or Virgin Active gyms and much more
• Home Working Energy Support Scheme: to combat energy prices increasing globally, Copper will provide you, in addition to your salary, with a monthly top-up of £60 or £75 (subject to your energy supplier)
• Pension up to 10% matched contribution to our company pension scheme via Smart Pensions
• Cycle to Work
• Life Insurance cover: Four times your base salary
• EAP: access unlimited mental health consultations and contact a 24/7 confidential helpline for emotional support
• Unmind
• Sponsored Learning and Development opportunities
• Regular company events and social activities

In return for everything you can bring to Copper, we can offer you an exciting, challenging role in a fast-growing and dynamic business, with career opportunities and welcoming working environment.

If you think you have everything we're looking for and more, then we'd love you to apply for the opportunity.

Copper is an equal opportunity employer. We embrace diversity and equal opportunities in a serious way. We are committed to building a team that represents a variety of backgrounds, perspectives, and skills. The more inclusive we are, the better our work will be. So, bring us your experience, perspectives, and skills. It is in our differences that we will continue to grow and ensure Copper is transforming how institutional investors engage with digital assets. Copper is a Disability Confident Employer, please let us know if you have a disability. If you require us to provide any assistance during the recruitment process, then we would ask you to highlight this to us and we will be happy to accommodate.