Head of Credit Risk & Real Assets Investment Risk, Aviva

CRO

Salary not provided

+ Discretionary bonus opportunity + Up to £1,200 of free Aviva shares per year through our Matching Share Plan and share in the success of Aviva with our Save As You Earn scheme

Senior and Expert level

London

Insurance, wealth and retirement business

Be an early applicant

Insurance, wealth and retirement business

1001+ employees

B2CInsuranceFinancial Services

Be an early applicant

Salary not provided

+ Discretionary bonus opportunity + Up to £1,200 of free Aviva shares per year through our Matching Share Plan and share in the success of Aviva with our Save As You Earn scheme

Senior and Expert level

London

1001+ employees

B2CInsuranceFinancial Services

Company mission

To be with people when it really matters, throughout their lives.

Job

Company

Role

Who you are

Extensive experience managing credit and investment risk across large, complex investment portfolios, ideally within asset management, banking or institutional investment environments
Strong understanding of private markets investing illiquid assets and associated risk management frameworks
Deep expertise in credit analysis, credit rating methodologies and the ability to provide effective independent challenge within a second line risk function
Proven leadership experience, with the ability to develop high-performing teams and build strong stakeholder relationships with senior decision makers
Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the confidence to navigate complexity and deliver clear, practical solutions
Excited but not sure you tick every box? Even if you don’t, we would still encourage you to apply. We also consider all forms of flexible working, including part time and job shares

What the job involves

We are recruiting for a Head of Credit Risk & Private Markets Investment Risk to join our Chief Risk Officer function. This is a highly visible leadership opportunity for an experienced risk professional with deep expertise in credit risk, private markets and investment risk oversight
Reporting into the Global Director of Investment & Credit Risk, you will lead the team responsible for providing independent second line oversight across Aviva Investors’ global credit and private markets activities
In an industry built on trust, our Risk & Compliance team is essential to ensuring we uphold the highest standards of integrity, transparency and governance. As part of this team, you’ll help manage risk in a fast-changing regulatory landscape, safeguard client assets and contribute to ethical, responsible investing
You will be accountable for the development, implementation and ongoing management of the Investment & Credit Risk Framework, ensuring oversight remains aligned with business strategy, regulatory requirements and Aviva Investors’ risk appetite
Leading a team of experienced risk professionals, you will provide independent challenge across a diverse range of public and private market investments, including real estate, infrastructure, private corporate debt, structured credit, venture capital and liquid credit portfolios
You will work closely with senior stakeholders across investments, risk and executive leadership teams globally, influencing investment decisions, shaping risk strategy and driving continuous improvement across frameworks, methodologies and reporting

Application process

End Date: September 15, 2026

Salary benchmarks

Our take

With 18 million international customers, Aviva is the largest provider of insurance and leading life and pension funds in the UK. With a history that dates back to the founding of Hand in Hand Fire & Life Insurance Society in 1696, Aviva’s current form is thanks to a merger between Norwich Union and CGU plc in the year 2000.

Over the noughties, Aviva grew its market out to Europe and established a high-profile foothold in America thanks to the most expensive advertising campaign of the time that included celebrities Alice Cooper and Bruce Willis. Into the 2010s, the insurance broker was forced to restructure and close a large number of its non-core businesses in a bid to increase its shareholder returns and streamline its focus. In 2012 it sold its US wing to Athene Holding to further this goal.

Now stripped back after selling off subsidiaries in Indonesia, Italy, and many other countries, Aviva is refocusing on pensions. In the wake of a Pensions Dashboard Programme delay in the UK, Aviva partnered with the likes of Scottish Widows, Legal & General and Standard Life to participate in the programme as a leader in its field. This exemplifies Aviva’s renewed focus on the fintech sector, all whilst serving as a national analyst during the cost-of-living crisis, thanks to its annual Age of Ambiguity study.

Steph

Company Specialist at Welcome to the Jungle

Insights

Led by a woman

2% employee growth in 12 months

Glassdoor (3.9)

Trustpilot (4.3)

Company

Company HQ

City of London, London, UK

Leadership

Amanda Blanc

(Group CEO)

Currently Group Board Non-Executive Director at BP. Previously Chairman of the Welsh Rugby Union, Senior Advisor at Trov, CEO at Zurich Insurance Company.

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