Chief Operating Officer - Risk - 6 Month Fixed Term Contract

Legal & General (L&G) is a leading UK financial services group and major global investor.

We’ve been safeguarding people’s financial futures since 1836, and strive to build a better society, while improving the lives of our customers and creating value for shareholders.

We are one of the world’s largest asset managers and provide powerful asset origination capabilities. Together, these underpin our retirement and protection solutions: we are an international player in pension risk transfer, in UK and US life insurance, and in UK workplace pensions and retirement income.

Our Group Functions provide the services that all areas of the business need. This requires a talented and diverse team behind the scenes, who enable everyone at L&G to do what they do best. 

Joining us means helping to improve the lives of our customers and contributing to the success of the business every day.

Internal Closing Date: 9th September 2026

We’re recruiting for a Chief Operating Officer (COO) within Risk on a 6 months fixed term contract.

This is a critical leadership role at the heart of Group Risk, partnering with the Group Chief Risk Officer to shape strategy, drive transformation and strengthen the effectiveness of the Risk function. This is a unique opportunity to influence how Risk operates across a complex, regulated organisation, working closely with senior executives, Boards and governance committees to deliver meaningful change and ensure robust oversight. The role combines strategic leadership, operational delivery and stakeholder engagement, providing the opportunity to make a significant impact during a period of transformation and growth.

What you’ll be doing:

• Shaping the strategic direction, operating model and future capability of the Group Risk function
• Delivering risk transformation initiatives and translating strategic priorities into measurable outcomes
• Strengthening risk frameworks, policy architecture and internal control environments across the Group
• Designing and embedding governance structures, accountability frameworks and decision-making processes
• Supporting engagement with senior executives, Boards and Risk Committees to enable effective oversight
• Improving efficiency, collaboration and ways of working across Risk and wider business functions
• Leading oversight of Risk budgets, data, reporting and technology to support informed decision-making
• Providing senior leadership, challenge and guidance across governance, processes, systems and controls

Who we’re looking for:

• Significant leadership experience within financial services or another highly regulated environment
• Strong expertise in risk management, governance, internal controls and organisational effectiveness
• Proven experience in COO, Risk, governance, transformation or broader control function leadership roles
• Deep understanding of UK regulatory expectations and experience engaging with the PRA and FCA
• A track record of delivering complex change programmes and transformation initiatives with measurable outcomes
• Strong stakeholder management and influencing skills, with the credibility to engage at Board and Executive Committee level
• Excellent strategic judgement, with the ability to bring clarity and momentum to complex challenges
• The ability to build trust, foster collaboration and lead through change in a fast-paced environment

Whatever your role, we reward performance and behaviour with a package that looks after all the things that are important to you. Here are some of the benefits we offer:

• The opportunity to participate in our annual, performance-related bonus plan and valuable share schemes
• Generous pension contribution                                                                                                           
• A company car allowance
• Life assurance 
• Healthcare Plan (permanent employees only) 
• At least 30 days holiday, plus public holidays. There’s also the option to buy and sell holiday 
• Competitive family leave 
• Participate in our electric car scheme, which offers employees the option to hire a brand-new electric car through tax efficient salary sacrifice (permanent employees only) 
• There are many discounts we offer – both for our own products and at a range of high street stores and online 
• We’re creating net‑zero carbon workplaces by 2030 by investing in our sustainable, modern offices across the UK, all designed to bring people together and elevate the in‑person experience

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At L&G, we believe it's possible to generate positive returns today while helping to build a better future for all. 

If you join us, you’ll be part of a welcoming, inclusive culture, with opportunities to collaborate with people of diverse backgrounds, views, and experiences. Guided by leaders with integrity who care about your future and wellbeing. Empowered through initiatives which support people to develop their careers and excel.

We care passionately about outcomes rather than attendance and are therefore open to discussing all kinds of flexible working options including part-time and job shares. Although some roles have limited flexibility due to customer demand, we accommodate requests when we can. 

It doesn’t matter if you don’t meet every single criterion in this advert. Instead, think about what you excel at and what else you can bring in terms of strengths, potential and connection to our purpose.