Risk Management Specialist

What you’re passionate about

You are an experienced risk management professional who is enthusiastic about all things risk-related and you understand the importance of organizations having an effective enterprise risk management (ERM) program. You thrive at leading organizations to maintain an effective ERM program, which includes a comprehensive framework (governance, methods and processes used) to manage risks and seize opportunities related to the achievement of organizational goals and objectives. As the ERM lead, you enjoy proactively working with various internal stakeholders, including executive management, to understand the broad spectrum of risks facing their business areas and provide guidance and expertise to ensure they appropriately manage their risks.. A key success factor would be to lead and strengthen the risk culture within the organization. ERM is not to create more bureaucracy, but to facilitate discussion on what the major risks are and what the mitigations need to be to manage those risks throughout the organization.

A typical day for the Risk Management Specialist

This position reports directly to the Director, Risk Management and Compliance, and will have opportunity to work closely with the Vice President, Finance and Chief Financial Officer as well as with the Executive Team (including the Chief Executive Officer and Vice Presidents). The incumbent will also work with other levels of management as well as other individuals from all business areas.   

Under the direction of the Director, the incumbent will be primarily responsible for leading the ERM Program; other key responsibilities will be leading the organization’s Fraud Risk Management Program and providing ongoing communication and education/awareness to integrate risk culture into day-to-day processes and procedures. The key responsibilities and activities include but are not limited to the details below.

ERM Program

• Maintain the corporate risk framework (includes risk objectives, risk philosophy and approach, risk appetite, risk rating criteria, etc.) and adjust as necessary to maintain a sound corporate ERM program that reflects best practices. Stay abreast of new developments/changes in best practices in the risk management discipline and develop and enforce policies and processes as required.
• Develop measures of success to assess progress and monitor the achievement of objectives.
• Lead and facilitate processes and workshops for the identification, assessment and risk mitigation of corporate risks and divisional risks, as deemed necessary. This requires proactive and ongoing collaboration with management (risk owners and key stakeholders such as the Executive Team and other levels of management) and business areas to gather information and provide guidance and consultation to generate fruitful risk dialogue.
• Develop effective monitoring and reporting of risk management activities to key stakeholders (APS Board, executive management and senior managers) such as dashboard reports and other high-level reports.
• Assist the Director and, collaborating with APS’ communications team, prepare the Risk Management Annual Report with input from stakeholders and risk owners.
• Maintain the corporate risk register, key risk indicators and other registers/inventory of risk information and implement program enhancements.

Fraud Risk Management Program

• Complete and maintain the Fraud Risk Management Program, which includes reviewing and continuously strengthening key corporate fraud risk management processes such as governance, risk assessment, monitoring and reporting. Measures of success and strategic vision of the Program should be developed and reported against to key stakeholders.
• Coordinate and lead fraud risk assessment workshops with key business areas, as required.
• Collaborate with Internal Audit and other business areas to complete the various fraud risk management program activities, including assisting in fraud investigations, as instructed.

Communication & Education/Awareness

• Act as a catalyst in communicating the requirements and needs of the ERM and fraud risk management programs to assist the business areas in integrating risk culture into day-to-day processes and procedures.
• Provide oversight, ensure management reporting is accurate, and ensure accurate management reporting is completed within required timeframes.
• Keep abreast of emerging issues and develop a strong understanding of organizational and cross-functional goals and objectives, including new legislative changes, as required, that impact APS and its stakeholders and provide regular updates to the Director and management as appropriate.
• Provide consultation services to business areas on risk-related and fraud-related issues/activities. 
• Provide leadership in the planning and execution of efforts to drive continuous improvements in the ERM and fraud risk management programs.
• Provide oversight and direction in the education and training of APS employees regarding risk management and fraud risk management. Collaborating with the APS Education team, deliver mandatory risk and fraud training to all employees.
• As required, collaborate with external stakeholders on coordinating and sharing APS’ ERM program with the common goal of creating synergy and strengthening the strategic partnership with them.

What you bring

Qualifications

• University Degree with at least 5-8 years of directly related experience in progressively responsible positions and/or at a senior level
• Experience working in a regulated industry in a risk management role preferred
• Professional risk designation is required. (e.g. CRMA, CRM\, RIMS-CRMP, etc.)
• Pension legislation and income tax knowledge would be an asset but is not required
• Equivalent combinations of education and experience may be considered.

Knowledge and Experience

• Strong knowledge of risk management frameworks, industry best practices and experience with risk management-type activities.
• Strong knowledge of strategic planning, financial and project management principles, and experience implementing best practices is desired.
• Working knowledge of corporate operational processes, guidelines, policies, and associated risks.
• Basic understanding of industry-standard best practices relating to the governance and administration of the Alberta government pension plans will be an asset.
• Basic knowledge of pension administration.
• Significant knowledge and experience in research methodology and statistics.
• Basic understanding of the Public Sector Pension Plans Act and regulations, the Employment Pension Plans Act and regulations, and the federal Income Tax Act would be an asset.
• Basic knowledge of actuarial, legal, and other operational concepts will be an asset.
• Keep knowledge and expertise up to date by continuously monitoring changes in regulation and legislation and best practices in risk management and compliance management.

Skills

• Strong management, leadership, and negotiation skills
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills
• Strong relationship, communication (written and verbal) and presentation skills
• Strong understanding of client service objectives
• Strong facilitating (workshops) skills
• Good project management, execution, monitoring and reporting
• Strong research skills in all aspects

Abilities

• Ability to deal with conflicting issues, roadblocks, dependencies, and change, demonstrating strong negotiation and conflict resolution skills.
• Ability to manage the procurement and work products of external consultants.
• Ability to share and receive ideas, advice and feedback in a team environment. 
• Ability to proactively identify and support the management and mitigation of risks associated with implementing risk management activities in the Corporation.
• Ability to create and deliver engaging presentations to internal and external stakeholders and facilitate group discussions and workshops on risk management and related topics.
• Capacity to work independently and demonstrated ability to build excellent working relationships.
• Ability to influence others to achieve corporate initiatives regarding risk management and strengthening corporate risk culture.
• Ability to deliver professionally on responsibilities and commitments with a sense of urgency.
• Ability to manage stress in an environment with high expectations, deadlines, limited budgets and changing priorities.

Why choose APS

APS is made up of hard-working, respectful and talented people who understand and invite diversity to the workplace. We take pride in holding ourselves accountable and continuing to meet or exceed service levels for plan members, pensioners and employers. We ensure they receive quality services because they—along with our people—are the reason we endure and succeed.

And it sure feels good helping hard-working Albertans receive their well-deserved pensions.

What APS has to offer

• Defined benefit pension plan
• Flexible work arrangements that make sense to you: work from home, compressed work weeks and more
• Community-minded workplace with a friendly team environment
• Vacation starting at 15 days per year, 13 statutory holidays, personal days, plus office closure between Christmas and New Year’s Day
• Competitive benefit package featuring extended health and dental benefits and a 100% employer-paid flexible spending account
• In-house training programs, extensive career development and coaching program, access to external education opportunities and wellness programs
• Discount programs through various partner agencies