Chief Risk Officer

Responsibilities

• Own the end-to-end enterprise risk management programme for the Smarkets Board of Trade (DCM), including policies, controls, monitoring, and stress testing.
• Establish risk assessment processes covering market volatility, technology failures, cyber threats, and third-party dependencies.
• Lead Core Principle 20 (System Safeguards) by embedding cyber resilience and business continuity planning into daily operations.
• Oversee stress testing and backtesting related to market and technology risk, maintaining a risk register for escalation to the CEO and regulators.
• Develop risk mitigation strategies and monitor indicators across all business units and jurisdictions.
• Partner with the CISO and Compliance teams to ensure regulatory and operational risk is embedded across the organization.
• Report risk exposures and mitigation plans to the CEO, board, and designated risk committees.

Requirements

• 7+ years of senior experience in risk management, ideally within derivatives markets, exchanges, or financial infrastructure.
• 4+ years of hands-on experience owning enterprise or operational risk within a US-regulated DCM, DCO, or comparable market infrastructure.
• Deep understanding of CFTC risk and system safeguards expectations, including Core Principle 20.
• Proficiency with established risk assessment frameworks such as COSO ERM or ISO 31000.
• Proven experience with board-level governance, risk strategy, and direct engagement with regulators.
• Strong ability to analyze technology risk, counterparty exposures, and internal control weaknesses.

Preferred Qualifications

• CFA or FRM certification.
• Experience engaging with self-regulatory organizations (SROs) such as the NFA.
• Prior experience as a CFTC staff member or examiner.
• Familiarity with event contracts, prediction markets, or novel futures products.

Benefits

• Competitive salary package and stock options.
• Up to a 6% pension match.
• £1,000 annual training budget for books, courses, and conferences.
• Comprehensive private health insurance and enhanced parental leave.
• Daily freshly prepared meals in our rooftop kitchen.

About the Company

Smarkets is a prediction market exchange for sports and political trading that has handled over $50 billion in volume since 2010. We are upending the industry by offering the best value for traders through superior technology and a fair, transparent customer experience.