Head of Reputational, Climate & Sustainability Risk

Global Risk and Compliance

Risk and Compliance is a global function that brings together all aspects of regulatory and financial crime risk management. Acting as risk stewards, and incorporating a range of specialist teams, we work together with the business and leverage advanced technology to help HSBC navigate a complex regulatory landscape and embed a sustainable approach to compliance risk management that supports safe growth and ensures fair outcomes for clients. Compliance aspires to continuously raise the bar and set leading standards across the industry to help HSBC safeguard its customers and the communities within which it operates.

We are currently seeking an experienced professional to join our team.

In This Role, You Will

• Provision of advice and support to the lines of business in HBCN, Regional and Group Reputational, Climate and Sustainability Risk colleagues and other stakeholders in relation to reputational, sustainability and climate risks, specifically preparation and final review of high-quality papers for decisioning committees (RRCSCs or cases that require approval by the Group Reputational Risk Committee)
• Be the Risk Steward for reputational, climate and sustainability risk across HBCN
• Act as alternate Chair for the HBCN RRCSCs and ensure that they are run efficiently and follow appropriate governance requirements
• Act as approver for Sustainability Risk Rating reviews or transactional clearances as required under various Sustainability Risk polices
• Ensure that all lending undertaken under Green Lending or Sustainability Linked lending products meets HSBC Risk Appetite (i.e. avoidance of “greenwashing”)
• Undertake strategic analysis and deep dive reviews, as required, on emerging issues that could create reputational risk for HSBC and develop mitigation plans, including input to development of relevant principles or policies
• Be a key member of the HBCN Risk teams and a member of the HBCN Risk ExCo
• Work effectively with lines of business and risk stewards to identify, measure and mitigate the impacts of Climate & Environmental risks and other ESG Risks on HBCN’s activities.
• Stewardship of Reputational Risk assessments, which are required before the Bank enters into a wide range of major business activities or respond to different types of major events (i.e. strategic changes, major projects, new business and products, major marketing events and media communications, information disclosure, major lawsuits, penalties, etc.) with pre-cautionary action plans in place.
• Overseeing the monitoring, responses and reporting mechanisms for Reputational Risk events based on the materiality.
• The correlation between Reputational and Climate Risk and other risk types such as Credit Risk, Market Risk, Liquidity Risk, Operational Risk, Country Risk, Interest Rate Risk, Strategic Risk, IT Risk, etc. needs to be considered.
• A drill on a Reputational Risk scenario is required and Reputational Risk should be factored into the stress testing framework
  
  

Impact On Business

• Providing the stewardship for HBCN’s Reputational, Climate and Sustainability Risk in reviewing and aligning inputs from frontline team, Compliance, Tax and other subject matter experts to produce succinct yet comprehensive papers for senior committees to review; aligned to the Group FIM
• Provide strategic thought leadership in the development, assessment and implementation of the Reputational, Climate and Sustainability Risk management
• Ensure operational integrity and compliance with all related policies and procedures, whilst providing specialist knowledge and direction to stakeholders related to all guidelines.
• Coordinate on cross regional cases and global cases with RCSR peers around the globe and share best practices
• Oversee/contribute to advice given to relationship teams regarding reputational, sustainability, environmental and climate risks in the Region(s) and act as decision taker as appropriate
• Provide oversight over the first line of defense’s identification of key risks and mitigants
• Specific to Mainland China, oversee and manage HBCN’s compliance with the CBIRC Guidelines on Reputational Risk Management, published in February 2021.
  
  

Customers / Stakeholders

• Build effective relationships with the lines of business, GFs and DBS in HBCN, as well as within the HBAP Risk teams, RRCSC members (local, region and Group) and other stakeholders
• Review management information, addressing both recurring and ad hoc reporting requirements in respect of the above
• Aligned to the CBIRC Guidelines, HBCN Risk is leading department for Reputational Risk management. There are full time or part time resources in each GB, GF and branch to manage Reputational Risk, in their respective area and branch. The role holder will need to support these colleagues, run regular forums and workshops and arrange trainings, as required
• Also aligned to the CBIRC Guidelines, the HBCN Board, the Supervisor, the Senior Management, the Global Businesses and the Global Functions all have responsibility for reputational risk management, and the role holder will need to build strong relationships with these stakeholders.
  
  

Leadership & Teamwork

• Be a team player and build relationships with the wider RRCS, front line, Risk teams and other GFs and DBS
• Be a team player and build relationships with the wider Sustainability Finance & Environmental/Climate risk teams in the region and at a Group level
• Communicate clearly and consistently to all parts of the business across HBCN, ensuring actions are aligned to messages
• Execute role with a level of autonomy while being mindful of when to seek guidance and approval.
  
  

Operational Effectiveness & Control

• Ensure policy and process changes are implemented in a disciplined and consistent manner
• Ensure that all appropriate controls are embedded and tested, as required
  
  

To be successful in the role, you should meet the following requirements:

• A robust understanding of the retail, commercial and corporate banking business, combined with a strong understanding of corresponding risk management
• A comprehensive understanding of reputational (incl. financial crime) and sustainability/climate risks based on significant experience of risk management framework.
• A strong appreciation of climate change and a good understanding of the risks that it creates across different industries and geographies.
• Strong analytical skills to grasp, consolidate and distil diverse and complex sources and ranges of information.
• Proven strategic leadership skills to drive complex deliveries across multiple team
• Capacity to identify, assess and mitigate and control reputational, sustainability and climate risks.
• Experience in regulatory/internal Stress Testing.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills to articulate often complex, controversial and subjective issues to a wide range of stakeholders, including GMD/GGM populations.
• Strong interpersonal skills to build rapport and strong working relationships with a range of stakeholders
• Excellent business writing skills
• A good understanding of policies, procedures, front line and middle office operations.
• Be able to demonstrate strong attention to detail
• Be able to work effectively under pressure
• Be comfortable escalating decisions, where appropriate
  
  

You’ll achieve more at HSBC.

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Issued by HSBC Bank (China) Company Limited