About Latitude and the role
Latitude is a leading financial services provider offering consumer lending, credit cards and sales finance solutions through major retail and platform partnerships. Our purpose: We make it possible - with financing solutions in the moments that matter.
As Risk & Operational Excellence Lead (Line 1 Risk) – Sales Finance / Merchant Partners, you will embed and uplift first‐line risk and control practices across Sales Finance while driving process simplification, automation and operational resilience. You'll partner across product, pricing, marketing, partner management and operations to ensure that new initiatives are launched with fit‐for‐purpose controls, that our Risk and Control Self-Assessment (RCSA) and testing cadence is lived in the business, and that incident insights translate into durable process and control improvements.
This role works shoulder‐to‐shoulder with the Controls & Assurance Lead and the Incidents & Remediation Lead to deliver a connected Line 1 risk operating model and strengthen risk culture across the business value chain.
In this role, you'll:
Risk & Control Framework (Line 1 ownership)
* Own and facilitate continuous RCSA cycles for Sales Finance processes, ensuring risks and controls are complete, accurate and aligned to risk appetite.
* Plan/coordinate control testing (design & operating effectiveness), track remediation through to closure and evidence outcomes.
* Establish and monitor KRIs, analyse trends and elevate breaches promptly with clear actions.
* Maintain audit‐ready risk registers, control libraries, testing evidence and governance documentation.
Incident learning to durable improvements
* Partner with the Incidents & Remediation Lead to translate incident root causes and emerging themes into process redesign and control enhancements; track and verify remediation outcomes.
* Contribute to root cause analysis with process maps/data flows; prioritise fixes that reduce recurrence and customer impact.
Change, readiness & execution
* Conduct risk assessments for change; in partnership, confirm pre‐implementation control readiness before go‐live (incl. pricing execution, campaign approvals, partner onboarding).
* Optimise processes via simplification and automation, clarifying roles/responsibilities and controls embedded in day‐to‐day workflows.
* Prepare concise risk, incident and control reporting for leadership and risk/ops forums; ensure traceability of decisions and actions.
* Escalate material incidents, breaches and trends in line with governance requirements and risk appetite.
* Build effective partnerships across Line 1 teams, Line 2 Risk & Compliance, Technology, Legal, Customer teams and senior leaders to drive collective outcomes.
Regulatory alignment & obligations
* Partner with Compliance and Legal to interpret regulatory changes and support timely implementation and attestations across Sales Finance.
* When required, support liaison with regulators (e.g. APRA/ASIC) in partnership with Line 2 functions.
Governance, reporting & stakeholder engagement
* Prepare concise risk, incident and control reporting for leadership and risk/ops forums; ensure traceability of decisions and actions.
* Escalate material incidents, breaches and trends in line with governance requirements and risk appetite.
* Build effective partnerships across Line 1 teams, Line 2 Risk & Compliance, Technology, Legal, Customer teams and senior leaders to drive collective outcomes.
People leadership & ways of working
* Coach Senior Analysts, set priorities and review outputs to consistently high standards.
* Promote a strong risk culture and continuous improvement mindset across the BU.
What you'll bring:
* 7+ years experience across operational excellence, operational risk, controls or assurance in financial services / fintech (Consumer finance advantageous).
* Proven capability delivering RCSA, control testing, remediation and incident/issue management end‐to‐end. Hands‐on experience improving or redesigning operational processes in a regulated environment.
* Strong knowledge of the Three Lines of Defence, operational risk principles and BU governance.
* Ability to interpret process maps, data flows and system controls across business/technology environments. Analytical and detail‐oriented, with a pragmatic approach to embedding controls into day‐to‐day workflows.
* Experience with risk platforms (e.g., Protecht) and analytics/automation tools to generate actionable insights. You are naturally fluent in using AI and digital tools to streamline documentation, accelerate control testing, enhance operational process design, and generate actionable insights for monitoring and reporting.
* Excellent stakeholder engagement, influencing and communication skills; ability to translate technical risks into practical business actions.
* Leadership experience coaching analysts and uplifting standards at pace.
* High attention to detail, sound judgement, and the ability to operate in fast‐paced, high‐pressure environments with competing priorities.
* Able to take a pragmatic and commercially minded view of risk, ensuring a well‐functioning risk‐controlled operation that delivers against commercial priorities.
* You are naturally fluent in using AI and digital tools to streamline documentation, accelerate control testing, enhance operational process design, and generate actionable insights for monitoring and reporting.
Benefits
* To spend more time with your loved ones – with an extra week of paid leave each year through our Take 5 initiative.
* To balance work and life – with a hybrid working model, giving you the flexibility to work from home while connecting in the office just two days a week.
* To put your wellbeing first – with Sonder, a 24/7 support app for mental and physical wellness.
* To access great financial benefits – with discounts on Latitude products and services.
Latitude offers a flexible working environment. We support a safe, healthy, engaging, and productive working environment for all employees and workers, whether that be in your home, the office or a combination of both.
Successful applicants will be required to complete a background check (including criminal history and bankruptcy check) prior to commencement of employment.
Only open to Australian or New Zealand Permanent Residents or Citizens.
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