Rowan W. Email & Phone Number

Peterborough, Gb

Peterborough, Gb

Cambridge, United Kingdom

As Group Risk Director (2021 – Present)• Set up Cambridge’s greenfield group risk function and consolidated the existing decentralised business, IT and project risk management activities into a coherent matrix structure.• Engaged main Board (PAB), PAB Audit & Risk Committee (ARC) and Executive Board on risk, and assisted divisional risk teams to engage divisional managing directors & leadership teams.• Built consensus at board / leadership team levels, firstly on risk vision, strategy and objectives; secondly on risk policy, appetite and maturity levels; and thirdly on Cambridge’s principal risks.• Built consensus on and shaped a commercial risk culture i.e. “take more/bigger opportunities safely”; co-advocated behavioural change with HR e.g. on empowerment, decision-making and accountability; and supported by promoting risk education / awareness and leading by example.• Big picture approach i.e. to strategic risk assessment, top operational risks and internal controls.• Co-facilitated good governance e.g. regulatory (Ofqual) compliance, UK Corporate Governance Code, Security & Data Privacy Board member and chair Group Risk Management Committee. • Report to Group CFO, Group Chief General Counsel and Audit & Risk Committee Chair.As Senior Manager, Risk & Quality, OCR (2019 – 2020)• Implemented an enterprise-wide risk management framework for OCR, and redeveloped OCR's risk reporting and engagement with the MD, senior leadership team and regulatory team.

Peterborough, United Kingdom

• Consultant to Client Boards of MIB in respect of data governance frameworks and certain quasi-Financial Director services e.g. business planning, financial planning & analytics models.• Created intellectual property and negotiated its sale to US drone business for equity.

Milton Keynes, United Kingdom

• As Head of MIB Audit: Transformed 12 FTE QA dept. into a risk-based internal audit dept., implementing risk training (IIA), methodologies (e.g. COSO, CobIT) and software (MKInsight), and modernising the Audit Committee per FCA standards. Most FTE progressed to managers.• As Head of Managed Services Compliance: Developed viable governance frameworks and analytics with 4 client boards, 3 regulators & industry groups.• As Head of Managed Services Audit: Designed and grew to 14 FTE, whilst maintaining high client and regulator (FCA, Ministry of Justice & DVLA) satisfaction levels, a risk-based insurance industry data management / governance audit service for sector-specific bodies (‘clients’) e.g. MedCo and ELTO that supervised 5,000+ entities on behalf of regulators. Implemented data analytics and CAATs tools and our specialist skills competed successfully with external auditors.

London Area, United Kingdom

• Developed / delivered practical case study-based continuous professional training in the City in commercial finance, IFRS, governance, analytics, outsourcing and IT audit for e.g. BPP.

London, United Kingdom

As Head of Business Planning / Strategy, Henderson Global Investors plc 2004 – 2010• Set up strategic planning, financial planning and strategic change function after AMP/Pearl Life de-merger and facilitated delivery of the strategic re-positioning over 4 years i.e. to an externally focused investment manager, with higher profitability from an inward-focused arm of an insurer. • Co-led with CEO/CFO decision-making sessions with the Executives and Board; critiqued each Business Unit’s strategy with its MD and leadership team; and facilitated insights with extensive competitor, market, data and risk analysis and financial models on multiple business scenarios. • Set up and ran corporate project management office delivering M&A e.g. class 1 acquisitions; restructures, both operational and financial e.g. equity/bond raising, listings & tax redomicile; strategic outsourcing; business alliances; & major new commercial ventures (products/markets). As [Consultant] Internal Audit Manager, recapitalised Pearl Life Group 2003 – 2004• Co-established internal audit function; mapped finance processes to stop errors / resolve legacy issues; prevented FCA enforcement in pensions; and quantified IFA fund mis-selling claims.

Usa And S. Africa

• SA: 2nd highest sales (set up alliances with software houses and explained IT to clients in layman’s terms); consulted on data strategy and analytics; troubleshooter for bespoke/niche systems; and led delivery of EY’s ‘black empowerment’ strategy via process re-engineering.• USA: Co-devised blueprint for E&Y 3-5-year Audit Integration (Internal, Financial & IT) global strategic change programme and co-delivered Phase 1 end-to-end within success criteria.

Manchester, United Kingdom

• Transformed traditional ACIB-background audit team into modern controls-based audit team that added value to emerging call centre and internet-based banking processes & technologies.• Co-developed new processes/policies for outsourcing, call centre and retail internet banking.• Advised on implementation of leasing, general ledger, corporate banking & smartcard systems.

Leeds

•Specialised in bespoke opinions in complex accounting, potential fraud and going concern audits.

Fca, Accountancy

Master'S Degree, Classics

Mba, Business

Post-Graduate Diploma, It

Acib, Banking