Senior Operational Risk Analyst

Business Area: Group Risk and Funding

Place of Work: Liverpool

Contract Type: Fixed Term Contract

When you join USS, the size and scale of our pension scheme means you will have numerous opportunities to learn and develop your career. Given our size you'll have real autonomy and influence as you collaborate closely with a wide-ranging team of experts.

Our office is a vibrant place to work, and we offer flexibility of office/homeworking due to our hybrid model.

About the role

In your role as Senior Operational Risk Analyst, you will make a meaningful and valued contribution from the outset. This role will provide a great opportunity to sit within the second line Enterprise and Operational Risk Management (EORM) team, which is responsible for overseeing risk management and control activities across USS.

The role reports into the Operational Risk Manager, who is responsible for risk oversight and assurance across Group Functions, including HR, Finance, Group General Council (GGC), Group Risk and the corporate insurance programme.

The primary focus of the role is to support the embedding and continuous improvement of the Operational Risk Framework. You will provide analysis, insight, and challenge to help ensure effective risk management, strong controls, and high-quality governance across the business.

This is a 12-month fixed term contract to provide maternity cover.

What you will be doing

As a trusted part of the Group Risk and Funding team you will be responsible for:

Delivering Results:

• High-quality, insight-led risk reporting to support committees and senior stakeholders
• Analysing risk events to identify trends, root causes and emerging risks
• Tracking actions and provide challenge to ensure timely and effective resolution
• Using the risk system (Protecht) to maintain accurate data and support reporting and analysis
• Supporting thematic reviews and deep dives into key risk areas

Framework and Control

• Supporting the embedding and ongoing development of the Operational Risk Framework
• Contributing to the assessment and improvement of controls, including design and effectiveness
• Promoting alignment between risk events, controls and risk profiles across the business
• Supporting the management of the corporate insurance framework

Stakeholder Management

• Building strong working relationships with colleagues across EORM, Information Security, Compliance, HR and Finance
• Supporting and challenge business Risk owners and Risk Champions with the identification, assessment and documentation of their risks and controls
• Providing constructive challenge on risk assessments, controls and actions
• Supporting a proactive and forward-looking approach to risk management

Process Improvement and Innovation

• Identifying opportunities to simplify and improve risk processes
• Supporting the use of automation and AI tools (e.g. Copilot) to enhance efficiency and insight
• Contributing to ongoing enhancements to risk systems and reporting approaches

About you

We know that sometimes people can be put off applying for a job if they don't tick every box, if you're excited about working for us and have most of the skills or experience we're looking for, then please apply, regardless of whether you meet all the requirements outlined in this profile.

To be successful in the role you will have:

• Experience in operational risk, risk management, audit or a business control function within financial services
• Strong understanding of risk and control frameworks, including control assurance
• Experience in risk event or incident management and analysis
• Ability to analyse data and provide clear, practical insight to stakeholders
• Good communication and stakeholder management skills
• Strong working knowledge of Microsoft Office tools
• Experience using generative AI tools (e.g. Copilot) is desirable

At USS, every individual contributes to building a secure financial future for our members and their families. We strive to create a work environment where everyone can thrive professionally while making a meaningful impact on the lives of others. We're also committed to helping you build your career by providing opportunities for development. We put a focus on recognising and supporting each individual's unique career path, driving this forward with the support of an engaged and proactive management team. Here at USS, we want you to thrive in and out of work with a friendly team, flexible culture and excellent range of benefits!

How we will reward you

• Great starting salary
• Generous annual leave package
• Access to a high quality pension scheme provided through Universities Superannuation Scheme
• Supportive people policies (including enhanced occupational sickness pay and family friendly pay)
• Financial contributions towards your personal development to help you maintain your physical and mental wellbeing
• Access to a range of health and wellbeing services i.e., private healthcare, discounted gym membership
• Learning and development opportunities to develop your skills, knowledge and talent
• Employee Volunteer Day’s to support the communities where you work and live
• Cycle to Work Scheme

Our people are what makes us different. We work together to create a diverse and inclusive culture that embraces individuality, where people are welcomed and feel comfortable in the knowledge that they can be themselves. Our purpose firmly states the importance of members, putting them ‘front and centre’ of what we do. This is embedded through our values:

• Integrity
• Collaboration
• Excellence

Universities Superannuation Scheme (USS) was established in 1974 as the principal pension scheme for universities and other higher education institutions in the UK. We work with around 330 employers to help build a secure financial future for almost 577,000 members and their families. We are one of the largest private defined benefit pension schemes in the UK, with total assets of around £76.8bn (at 31 March 2025). To find out more, please visit https://www.uss.co.uk

USSL is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We strive to ensure our recruitment process is as flexible and inclusive as possible so we can attract diverse candidates and recruit the best talent. We want all candidates to perform at their best during the recruitment process, so if you need any reasonable adjustments or if there is anything we can do to help support you through your recruitment journey please let us know by contacting resourcing@uss.co.uk.