Head of Risk

Nearwater Capital is a rapidly growing and innovative specialty finance company headquartered in New York City with global operations and client base. Established in 2017, Nearwater has distinguished itself as a leader in delivering thoughtful, solutions-based financing to some of the largest financial institutions and financial services firms in the world.

Nearwater is expanding its business and is seeking an organized and experienced Head of Risk. The Head of Risk will lead the firm in identifying and instituting sustainable risk programs that meet the regulatory expectations for risk management and integrate the function within the compliance, control, and reporting infrastructure of the firm. Strategically, the successful candidate will establish and maintain industry best practices for risk management.

Responsibilities will include:

Overseeing the design and implementation of a consistent risk management framework to be applied across business units.

Focus on risk-based standards across business units, with an appreciation for the nuances and complexities of risk in each.

Lead the adoption of a simplified organization-wide risk management program, integrating considerations of risk into strategic decision-making.

Collaborate with leadership across function and business unit to ensure there is alignment regarding the execution and implementation of the risk management program.

Oversee, monitor, review, and improve the key business risk management processes and performance to ensure effectiveness in strategy and implementation of best practices.

Proactively automate manual processes and establish best risk and control practices.

Partner with other control groups to establish and administer policies and procedures, in partnership with the Firm’s management, for the handling, management response, remediation, retesting and closing of noncompliance and risk issues for each BU.

Drive remediation efforts and pursue all relevant focus points from hot spots, deep-dive topics and within business unites to ensure awareness and attention.

Present regularly to the Business Risk Committee on risk-related topics.

Work closely with senior management to ensure all Dodd-Frank required risk procedures are completed.

Work in close partnership with control functions such as Legal, Compliance, Operations, and Finance to ensure an appropriate governance and control infrastructure.

Contribute to a culture of responsible finance, good governance and supervision, expense discipline and ethics.

Skills/Qualifications will include:

15+ years of experience in a related role

Broad understanding of industry best practices and regulatory expectations for risk management.

Strong understanding regulatory processes, activities, and requirements for a SEC and other regulated entities.

Credible and respected by the regulators; able to build strong working relationships with key regulatory officials.

Good organizational, planning, and project management skills, with the ability to multitask and drive multiple projects concurrently.

Experience or proximity to risk management for a prime brokerage and / or total return swap business a plus

Financial or quantitative Bachelor’s degree or equivalent years of service

What’s in it for you:

Nearwater offers an attractive market compensation and benefits package. As a creative, intellectual capital firm, Nearwater is proud to be 100% work from office.

You will be joining a firm that is well established, but still growing rapidly and You will have the ability to impact the design of developing new business segments.

Be exposed to myriad interesting and complex issues surrounding financial structures and transactions. Learn firsthand about the execution of your colleague’s responsibilities in Risk, Finance, Operations and Compliance in a way that can only be obtained working in a small firm environment. You will be asked to deep dive into every facet of these transactions, and your insight will be relied upon.

Work in a fast paced and intellectually stimulating environment, in which you will learn something new every day.

A collaborative working environment where every voice is heard.