Chief Risk Officer (CRO)

About Freedom 

Freedom Digital Bank France will form part of Freedom Holding Corp., a diversified international financial services group publicly listed on the Nasdaq Capital Market under the ticker FRHC. The Group operates across Europe, the United States and Central Asia, with activities spanning banking, brokerage, investment services, insurance, payments and digital consumer services. 

About the role 

We are looking for an experienced Chief Risk Officer to establish and lead the risk-management function of Freedom Digital Bank France. 

The CRO will provide independent oversight of credit, liquidity, market, operational, technology, cybersecurity, outsourcing, concentration and other material risks. The role will establish the bank’s risk appetite and ensure that its growth remains aligned with its capital position, strategic objectives and regulatory obligations. 

As a member of the founding executive team, the CRO will contribute to the bank’s regulatory authorisation, establishment and launch in France. The successful candidate will develop the risk-management framework required for authorisation and ongoing supervision. 

Key responsibilities:

• Establish and lead the independent risk management function of Freedom Digital Bank France.
• Develop and implement the enterprise risk management framework (ERM).
• Define the bank’s risk taxonomy, risk appetite framework, risk limits and risk monitoring arrangements.
• Identify, assess, monitor and report material risks across the bank.
• Oversee credit risk, liquidity risk, market risk, operational risk, technology risk, cybersecurity risk, outsourcing risk and concentration risk.
• Develop risk policies, procedures, methodologies and controls.
• Prepare risk reporting for senior management, Board committees and the Board.
• Lead the development of ICAAP, ILAAP, stress testing and scenario analysis frameworks, where applicable.
• Contribute to recovery planning, capital planning and liquidity planning.
• Assess risks associated with new products, digital customer journeys, systems, partnerships and third-party providers.
• Ensure risk management practices meet applicable French and EU regulatory requirements.
• Monitor emerging risks and recommend appropriate risk mitigation measures.
• Work closely with Compliance, Finance, Technology, Product and Operations while maintaining the independence of the risk function.
• Support the preparation of risk documentation, financial projections and governance materials required for the regulatory authorisation process.
• Engage with regulators and support supervisory reviews and risk-related information requests.

Requirements

• 10+ years of risk management experience within digital banking, banking, fintech or another regulated financial institution.
• Previous experience as a Chief Risk Officer (CRO), Head of Risk, Deputy CRO or in an equivalent senior risk leadership position.
• Strong knowledge of enterprise risk management (ERM) and financial-sector risk frameworks.
• Experience within a regulated European bank or financial institution.
• Strong understanding of CRR/CRD, EBA Guidelines, ICAAP, ILAAP, recovery planning, stress testing and risk appetite frameworks.
• Knowledge of French supervisory expectations covering credit risk, liquidity risk, market risk, operational risk, technology risk, outsourcing risk and concentration risk.
• Understanding of cybersecurity risk, ICT risk, model risk, data risk and third-party risk within a digital banking environment.
• Experience engaging with the ACPR, ECB, EBA or other European supervisory authorities is strongly preferred.
• Experience supporting a banking authorisation, market entry, bank launch or major transformation in France or another EU jurisdiction is strongly preferred.
• Strong analytical, strategic and leadership skills.
• Ability to communicate complex risk matters clearly to senior management and the Board.
• Full professional fluency in French and English is mandatory.

Benefits

• Employment contract in accordance with French labor law;
• Relocation package for the employee and family members;
• 50% coverage of the annual health insurance cost for the employee and eligible family members;
• 25 days of annual leave, public holidays, and all statutory leave entitlements;
• On-site work in a modern, well-located office.