Lead IT Risk Manager

Role Overview

• Own and evolve the IT Risk and Business Continuity Management Framework within the second line, keeping it scalable as the business grows.
• Provide independent second-line oversight and challenge to the first-line IT GRC team on the design and effectiveness of IT controls.
• Lead IT risk identification, assessment, and mitigation across cyber, technology resilience, third-party, and data security, linking back to the Risk Appetite Framework.
• Mature the ISMS by guiding policies, standards, and procedures with the relevant process owners.
• Define baseline controls and run continuous ISMS maturity assessments against ISO/IEC 27001:2022 and related standards.
• Oversee third-party IT risk, internal technology exposures, and business continuity assessments.
• Drive second-line assurance reviews and deep-dives across critical IT risk domains, reporting findings and tracking remediation to closure.
• Support internal and external audits, including IT General Controls (ITGC) and Application Controls.
• Run preliminary internal IT audits to prepare engineering, product, and business teams for official engagements.
• Lead Upvest's DORA obligations, including ICT risk management, incident classification, and third-party ICT risk oversight.
• Track the regulatory landscape (BaFin, EBA, ESMA, ECB) and translate requirements into actionable risk guidance.
• Act as the primary second-line contact for IT risk, reporting posture and material risk events to senior stakeholders, the C-suite, and the Risk Committee.

Requirements

• Education: University degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, Information Security, or an equivalent academic/professional background.
• Experience: Minimum of 5+ years of progressive professional experience in IT Governance, Risk, Compliance, and Security (IT GRC / IT Security) within a regulated financial institution, bank, fintech, or fast-scaling B2B platform environment.
• Technical Depth: Deep operational understanding of IT governance standards (e.g., ISO 27001), regulatory risk requirements (BaFin BAIT/MaRisk), and modern resilience standards like DORA.
• Communication Skills: Exceptional verbal and written articulation skills in English, with a proven ability to engage credibly with a multilingual international stakeholder base, technical engineering leads, and C-level executives.
• Mindset: A strong product engineering and security-focused mindset, combined with commercial pragmatism and the ability to operate confidently under ambiguity.

Benefits

• Best-in-class AI tools: Every Upvenger has €20,000 per year to spend on the best AI tools available — so you're always working with the most powerful models and tooling on the market.
• Impact-driven work: We’re building the infrastructure that will power the future of investing in Europe. It’s complex, ambitious, and meaningful. You’ll work with modern technologies and create something entirely new. No legacy systems, no limits.
• Wellbeing: Recharge with 30 days of annual leave and maintain a healthy lifestyle with sports benefits. Access confidential professional coaching and enjoy the flexibility to work remotely abroad for up to 183 days a year. Recharge with UpRest, a one-month fully paid sabbatical after every 4 years of working at Upvest.
• Development: Growth is in our DNA. Each Upvenger has access to a personal development budget and the freedom to decide how to use it.
• Flexible work environment: Work from any of our hubs in Berlin, London or Tallinn hybrid or remotely across Europe, depending on the role. We give you the choice and budget to work where you’re most comfortable and productive, either at home or in the office. You choose.
• Compensation and equity: We believe that all Upvengers contribute to our success and deserve a competitive, above-market salary and a participation in our employee equity program.
• Team celebrations: Participate in company-wide events, such as UpFest, dinners, offsites and our Holiday party, to connect with colleagues and celebrate our achievements.
• Inclusion: We’re committed to a culture where everyone belongs and thrives. Our Employee Resources Groups foster inclusion and connection, like Upfem for our female Upvengers, or UpVergent supporting neurodivergent Upvengers and allies.