Head of First Line Risk

Head of First Line Risk

Melbourne or Sydney | Permanent, Full‑time
 

Heartland Bank Australia has an exciting leadership opportunity for a Head of First Line Risk to join our Legal & First Line Risk function. This is a critical senior leadership role, providing integrated oversight of credit risk, financial crime, and operational resilience across the bank.
 

Is this your next role?

As Head of First Line Risk, you will lead Heartland Bank Australia’s first line risk management capability, ensuring risk is identified, assessed and managed at the point of activity — not after the fact.
 

Reporting to the Chief Legal & First Line Risk Officer, you will shape and embed a strong risk culture across four specialist teams: Retail Credit, Agribusiness Credit, Financial Crimes, and Risk Continuity & Resilience. You will partner closely with executive leadership, second line risk, and regulators to ensure first line risk practices are proactive, well‑governed and aligned with the bank’s risk appetite and strategic objectives.

This role carries significant regulatory and operational accountability across APRA prudential standards, AML/CTF obligations, credit governance and business continuity.
 

Does this sound like you?

You are an experienced senior risk leader who brings credibility, judgement and influence across complex regulatory environments. You are comfortable balancing sound risk management with commercial outcomes and enjoy leading multiple specialist teams through change, growth and increasing regulatory expectations.

You’re known for building high‑performing teams, fostering a culture of accountability and transparency, and translating complex risk issues into clear, practical guidance for executives and boards.
 

Key responsibilities:

• Leading the bank’s first line risk management framework across credit, financial crime and operational resilience

• Providing strategic risk advice to the Executive Leadership Team and Board on emerging risks and portfolio trends

• Overseeing retail and agribusiness credit teams, including credit policy governance and portfolio monitoring

• Leading first line ownership of AML/CTF obligations, customer due diligence and financial crime risk management

• Driving the Risk & Control Self‑Assessment (RCSA) process and control testing programs

• Governing business continuity and operational resilience frameworks in line with APRA CPS 232

• Leading and developing four specialist risk team managers

• Ensuring timely escalation, reporting and remediation of risk incidents, breaches and audit findings

• Representing first line risk in senior governance forums and regulatory engagements

• Supporting Board, Executive and regulatory reporting, including ICAAP and risk appetite processes

You’re a pro with:

• Senior leadership experience across credit risk, financial crime and/or operational risk in a regulated financial services environment

• Deep understanding of APRA prudential standards and Australia’s AML/CTF regime

• Leading specialist risk teams and building capability across multiple disciplines

• Influencing senior leaders and boards with clear, evidence‑based risk insights

• Embedding risk culture within business‑led environments

Ideally, you will also bring:

• Experience working in or with ADIs

• Strong governance, policy and regulatory engagement experience

• Proven ability to balance risk, compliance and commercial objectives

• A practical, solutions‑focused leadership style
   

A bit about us and what we do

At Heartland Bank Australia, we provide Australians with specialist banking products that are the best or only of their kind. We do this digitally so our customers can spend more time on the things that matter most.

We’ve been supporting Australian customers since 1971 and are part of the Heartland Group, with more than 145 years’ experience in financial services. Heartland is listed on the NZX and ASX (HGH).
 

Can you see yourself here?
Our values guide how we work every day: we do the right thing, work as one team, are always evolving and have big ambition. We offer flexibility, genuine development opportunities and a supportive culture where people can do their best work.
 

Diversity & inclusion

At Heartland, we celebrate difference and are committed to creating an inclusive workplace where everyone feels they belong. We’re an equal opportunity employer and encourage applications from all backgrounds. Please let us know if you need any adjustments or support during the recruitment process.
 

Keen to learn more?

Visit heartlandbank.com.au or follow us on LinkedIn to learn more about Heartland.
 

Please note you must be eligible to work in Australia.