Introduction:
A rare opportunity to partner with Executive and Board leaders to shape enterprise risk outcomes that protect members and strengthen the future of a member‑owned bank. Play a critical part in shaping and strengthening the Bank’s risk management capability, with a strong focus on credit decisioning, credit policy, CPS 220 and CPS 230 compliance, and control self‑assurance.
About us.
A unique life requires a unique bank.
Defence Bank is a member-owned bank that has been proudly serving the Defence Community for 50 years. With 26 branches across Australia and our award-winning app, Defence Bank is where our members need us – anywhere, anytime.
The bank provides financial products and services to the Australian Defence Force and its unique community, reinvesting profits for the benefit of our members. We are a leader in our sector and our people led, technology enabled environment, celebrates the individual talents, personalities, interests and needs of our people.
Winner of the Best Reward & Recognition program 2024 and a finalist for Employer of Choice 2024, it is not only our employees who think our bank is truly one of the best places to work.
Description:
The Opportunity.
We are seeking an experienced and pragmatic all-rounder Head of Risk to lead second‑line risk oversight across our purpose-driven bank, reporting to the Chief Risk Officer.
This senior leadership role is responsible for the oversight and ongoing effectiveness of the bank’s Risk Management Framework, with a strong focus on Risk strategy, Risk Identification and Assessment, Credit decisioning, Operational Risk, Business Continuity, Control Self‑Assurance, Credit Policy development and oversight, You will partner closely with the business to lift risk maturity, providing balanced oversight that supports sustainable growth while keeping the bank safe. You will hold a delegated lending authority to decision complex and large lending applications and provide oversight into the delegated lending framework.
You will play a key role in advising Executive Management and the Board on risk matters, translating regulatory requirements into practical, proportionate risk settings appropriate to a member‑owned bank.
Your key responsibilities will include (but are not limited to):
Overseeing and maintaining the Bank’s Risk Management Framework, with primary accountability for Credit and Operational Risk oversight, ensuring alignment with CPS 220 and CPS 230 requirements.
Provide independent review and challenge of material credit decisions, including complex approvals, policy exceptions and emerging risk concentrations.
Oversee the effectiveness of the Bank’s credit decisioning framework, balancing risk appetite, member outcomes and commercial objectives.
Ensure alignment of credit frameworks with the broader Risk Management Strategy and Risk Appetite.
Monitor adherence to policy and identify emerging risks or structural weaknesses.
Providing second line oversight of credit risk appetite, lending policy, underwriting standards and key lending controls.
Risk Identification and Assessment, identifying, assessing and prioritising risks at both an Enterprise and business level.
Provide oversight, review and challenge across all material risks.
Designing and overseeing the Control Self‑Assurance program and cyclical risk assessments, including attestations and remediation tracking.
Leading the design and ongoing effectiveness of the Bank’s Business Continuity Strategy, with a key focus on critical operations.
Monitoring, escalating and reporting on risk incidents, breaches and emerging risks, in line with the Risk Appetite Statement.
Delivering clear, insightful risk reporting and advice to Executive Management and the Board Risk and Compliance Committee.
Collaboration and Culture, working closely with business unit, risk champions and other departments to embed a positive risk culture
Stakeholder engagement, liaising with regulators, auditors and external partners to communicate risk related matters effectively
Skills and Experiences:
About You.
You are a seasoned risk professional with strong Credit decisioning, operational and credit risk capability, known for your sound judgement, commercial mindset and ability to work constructively with the business. You are comfortable operating at senior levels, influencing outcomes through collaboration rather than control, and balancing risk discipline with practical delivery.
You will have:
Extensive experience in banking, operational risk, credit risk or senior lending roles, with exposure to second‑line risk oversight.
Strong credit and lending delegation experience.
Strong technical understanding of operational and credit risk frameworks, risk appetite, policies and control environments.
Strong knowledge of APRA prudential standards, particularly CPS 220 and CPS 230.
Ability to balance risk discipline with practical, commercial outcomes.
Demonstrated ability to interpret and implement regulatory requirements, including APRA, ASIC, NCCP and Privacy obligations.
Experience designing or overseeing risk assurance, control testing or CSA‑type programs.
Highly developed analytical, problem‑solving and decision‑making skills.
Proven leadership capability, with a collaborative style and the confidence to engage Executive and Board stakeholders.
We count on you. And you can count on us.
We have a great range of employee benefits including:
Savings and discounts across our range of products and services
Innovative Work-Life fit program including additional paid leave
A generous annual corporate wardrobe allowance
Birthday leave
Access to our internal "reward and recognition" platform - vouchers, discounts, e-cards and much more!
Interested? We'd like to hear from you.
Defence Bank is committed to providing equal opportunities for employment and seek to have a team that reflects our diverse community. We encourage anyone interested in our role and a career at Defence Bank to apply.
All successful candidates will be required to complete employment checks prior to an offer of employment.
Whilst we value and appreciate the time and effort you made to apply for this position, only short-listed applicants with Australian Working Rights will be contacted to discuss their application.
Applications will be reviewed as they are received, and the position may close at any time once a suitable candidate is identified. We encourage interested applicants to submit their applications promptly.
