Nigel Green, IRMCert: Programme Validation Manager, Finance & Efficiency, Nationwide Building Society
The Institute of Risk Management (IRM) asks its members what working in risk is really like and what hints and tips they'd share with people looking to move into the industry.
Nigel is accountable for assessing the impacts of an enterprise wide strategic implementation programme and its risk impacting alongside the benefits assurance delivery. Engagement and collaborative functionality across all communities a critical path to success, with the design and implementation of critical reporting tools.
How did you get your job?
I fell into what some may reference as a back door, through a regulated field-based supervisor. My accountabilities and expectations grew with the role. Through a natural OD and after the opportunity to consultant for a couple of years, I ended at Nationwide. Again, through my career I have built up my risk experience, across multiple disciplines such as projects, business as usual, controls, MI design & development.
Currently I provide assurance to our of key strategic goals, efficiency. It has enabled me to operate accords the twelve pillars or (communities as we call them) understanding how the risk of (not because of) efficiency could potentially damage the society, through intended or unintended consequences.
What’s a typical day like as a Programme Validation Manager?
The beauty of any risk role should be variety and I certainly get that. From understanding what benefits, a programme may bring, alongside the articulation of the risk issues and how best the society can manage them in accordance with its published Enterprise Risk Management Framework/appetite, could be just the morning.
What do you enjoy most about your job?
The ability within a defined framework to identify and call out key risk issues our MRT/society and risk committees should be cognisant of and understand their threat level and if any related controls.
What are the challenges?
Not everyone listens – first time round. Often you have to reframe to make clearer your intent but you should always be relentless and have conviction.
In what way are your IRM qualifications relevant?
Whilst NBS has a well-regarded ERMF framework, the IRM qualification has really opened my mind up to a broader spectrum of considerations and theories to consider, e.g. opportunity risk is often taken advantage of, but exists daily in our lives.
What would you say to others thinking about joining IRM as a member?
Don’t hesitate I took my time. Get into it. Immerse yourself and take the opportunity to broaden your horizons
How has your role developed and what are your career ambitions? Has being linked to the IRM helped?
My intention is deepen my career in risk, whichever path that may lead to, as experience has taught me, be open to opportunities and listen. Displaying and having the IRM qualification provides a cache around your experience and abilities in the risk management environment, it sets you apart from those who do not!
Top tips:
Consider carefully what you want to achieve/end up. Be relentless, but listen carefully to debate and consider its relevance, never disregard an opinion without giving it due consideration. Risk management exists in every industry – one is right for you.
