Operational Risk Manager

Company Intro

Booking Holdings (NASDAQ: BKNG) is the world's leading provider of online travel and related services, provided to consumers and local partners in more than 220 countries and territories through five primary consumer-facing brands: Booking.com, Priceline, Agoda, KAYAK and OpenTable. The mission of Booking Holdings is to make it easier for everyone to experience the world. For more information, visit BookingHoldings.com and follow us on X (formerly known as Twitter) @BookingHoldings.

Booking Holdings Financial Services (hereinafter “BHFS”) provides financial services in the form of payment services and e-money products across all the brands. BHFS is committed to conducting its business in compliance with applicable laws, regulations and guidelines, with integrity and to the highest ethical standards

Job Summary

The Operational Risk manager role sits within Risk in Second Line of Defense. The Operational Risk manager will report to the Chief Risk Officer and will be responsible for implementing and maintaining the Risk Management Framework in line with the company’s strategy. The role is also responsible for supporting and challenging the BHFS business functions in the management of risk both internally and externally (outsourced services). 

This a senior hire, suitable for risk professionals with a track record of delivering risk programmes, and proven technical expertise. A key component of the role will involve driving and maturing risk management practices across BHFS and promoting a proactive, risk-aware culture.

Key Responsibilities

This is a multi-faceted risk role which will encompass leading and executing against key areas in the risk management framework, including:

• Developing and driving the risk controls framework by collaborating with SMEs across all functions in BHFS and R&C colleagues across the Group, to ensure a smooth and efficient framework approach.

• Being an articulate communicator to maintain strong stakeholder management, foster collaboration and drive ownerships and accountabilities for risks across functions. 

• Be a risk leader in recruiting, coaching and supporting other risk team members to achieve their career goals, and promoting awareness of risk management by delivering training sessions.

• Risk and Control Self-Assessments (RCSAs): leading the RCSA programme and facilitating risk and control self-assessments across functions, providing plans and tools to support the wider execution team.

• Risk events Management: Be accountable for the risk event process and conduct reviews across events reported by the business functions, including root cause analysis, action planning oversight and lessons learned, to ensure swift and effective resolution.

• Issues Management: Oversee the Issues management process to ensure business functions report and execute against issues with suitable action plans to correct issues and avoid re-occurence.  

• Control testing oversight: conduct reviews of control testing performed by the business functions to evaluate the control design and operating effectiveness and provide in-depth analysis to Senior Management. 

• Risk Appetite Statements (RAS) & Key Risk Indicators (KRIs): Drive and facilitate RAS & KRI annual reviews. Monitor KRI results reported by the business functions and review action plans where benchmarking thresholds have been breached.

• Second Line reviews: conduct reviews and provide independent oversight on wider initiatives such as Third Party Risk Management assessments, Change risk assessments and Operational Resilience plans.

• Risk Reporting: provide accurate and timely reporting and commentary to relevant periodic risk reporting and Quarterly Risk Committees.

• Risk Stakeholder management: Collaborating with Group Internal Audit on engagements and Brand R&C colleagues to oversee outsourcing process activities within the Brand control environment (risk assurance activities).

• Governance: Promote a risk aware culture and support with the practical implementation of the BHFSI risk management policies, frameworks and practices. 

• Risk Tooling: Support with the global implementation and maintenance of the BHFS Risk management tool.

Knowledge and Skills

• 7+ years experience in the payments or online travel industry or in risk management 

• Experience in independently leading risk programmes

• Strong technical knowledge to promote a risk aware culture and mentor junior members of team

• In-depth understanding of risk management tools and methodologies

• Strong analytical and problem solving skills

• Ability to build strong relationships and  confidence to influence senior stakeholders

• A good understanding of financial services and payment products

• Ability to deliver effective presentations on a wide array of risk topics to senior management

• Ability to effectively prioritize and lead workload, work under pressure and deliver on timelines

• Enthusiastic, self-starting and flexible and agile work attitude

• Process, problem solving and committed approach

Booking Holdings Financial Services International Ltd. is an equal opportunity employer that is committed to diversity and inclusion in the workplace. We are committed to treating all employees equally, regardless of gender, civil status, family status, sexual orientation, religious belief, age, disability, race or membership of the traveler community. We believe embracing equality and diversity in the workplace benefits not just our organisation but also individual employees, departments and our customers.

This policy extends to every phase of the employment process including, but not limited to, recruitment, selection, placement, transfer, training and development, position elimination, restructure, promotion, compensation, benefits, layoffs, termination, and all other conditions or privileges of employment. Booking Holdings Financial Services International Ltd is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer and makes hiring decisions based solely on qualifications, merit, and business needs at the time.