Head of Risk Management - Malta

Role Overview

This position is for a client of Weekday AI, requiring over 5 years of experience in risk management. The role is full-time and located in Malta, with potential considerations for Sicily, Italy, Greece, Tunisia, and Albania.

Key Responsibilities

• Establish and oversee the company's Risk Management Framework by defining and managing relevant risk policies and procedures aimed at minimizing risks.
• Advise the Board of Directors on updates to the Risk Appetite Statement annually, setting appropriate risk tolerance levels aligned with strategic goals.
• Maintain a comprehensive risk register to systematically document identified risks along with mitigation strategies.
• Identify, assess, quantify, and mitigate various risks, including integrity risks such as AML/CFT and fraud, as well as ICT, operational, market, credit, legal, compliance, and conflicts of interest risks related to crypto-asset services. Risk assessment should consider individual business units, overall organizational risk, and outsourced operations.
• Perform continuous risk evaluations to ensure effective risk management.
• Design, implement, and monitor credit and counterparty risk policies, supervising exposures accordingly.
• Develop and recommend risk measurement methodologies, including risk appetite thresholds and tools for ongoing risk monitoring.
• Ensure all activities comply with risk-related regulatory requirements.
• Work closely with senior management to manage major risk exposures, provide detailed analyses, and enhance risk controls especially during new product development activities.
• Lead regional efforts in incident response and crisis management.
• Create targeted strategies to mitigate or control specific risks.
• Set up continuous monitoring mechanisms and prepare regular risk management reports for leadership.
• Annually review the risk management framework to verify its effectiveness and adaptability to emerging risks.
• Stay informed on the latest industry trends and emerging risks to update risk strategies accordingly.

Additional Duties

• Assist in preparing reports for the Board, senior management, auditors, and regulatory bodies.
• Handle regulatory and audit information requests and support thematic reviews by these parties.
• Participate in meetings as needed.

Mandatory Compliance

The selected candidate must successfully complete the MFSA PQ process.

Candidate Profile and Skills

• Preferably experienced with operations in crypto, investment, or banking sectors; a relevant financial services or compliance qualification is mandatory.
• Demonstrates strong verbal and written communication skills, sound analytical judgment, and the ability to follow up efficiently.
• Capable of clear and prompt communication and committed to teamwork with a genuine interest in blockchain and digital assets.
• Eager for continuous learning and exploring advancements in technology and regulatory compliance.

Must-Have and Preferred Skills

• Mandatory skills: Credit Risk management expertise.
• Desirable skills: Financial Risk, Market Risk, and legal entity risk management experience.