Andy Ranson - Head of Operational Risk & Financial Crime - Compliance
The biggest attraction of my current role was to the opportunity to learn a new risk discipline (Financial Crime). In conjunction with this, heading up both Financial Crime and Operational Risk gave me the opportunity to build out the frameworks for the business. Investigating financial crime concerns has to be one of the most enjoyable aspects.
What did you do before joining CTB?
Prior to joining Castle Trust Bank I worked at Metro Bank where I performed a number of roles across my 7-year tenure. I joined metro bank working as an Assistant Manager in one of their branches and progressed into other risk orientated roles such as an Internal Auditor, a Regional Operations Manager and an Operational Risk Manager. This gave me a broad level of experience in risk roles across all three lines of defence.
What attracted you to working for CTB?
It was clear following the job description and my 1st interview that CTB had ambitious growth aspirations which was really exciting. The role I applied for also gave me the scope to learn and develop new skills and shape the future of the Omni business.
What roles have you had since joining CTB?
Since joining CTB I worked as the Head of Business Risk and Governance within the Omni business and was lucky to get the opportunity to transfer into the Castle Trust Banks 2nd line Compliance function heading up Operational risk and Financial Crime.
What attracted you to the role that you are in today?
The biggest attraction of my current role was the opportunity to learn a new risk discipline (Financial Crime). In conjunction with this heading up both the financial crime and operational risk areas gave me the opportunity to build out the frameworks for the bank.
What (and why) do you enjoy most about the role that you do?
I think the part of my role I enjoy the most would be investigating financial crime concerns identified by colleagues across the bank. It’s really interesting piecing together information from various sources in order to draw a conclusion from a case.
What have you found challenging about your current role?
I think like most roles within a growing bank there is always so many aspects of policy and procedure you would like to improve and drive forward. I would say the biggest challenge is being able to prioritise and accept you can only influence/improve so many initiatives at once.
What training and development opportunities have you / are you receiving?
I was really lucky to have CTB agree to continue to support an apprenticeship programme I was part of when joining the bank. The apprenticeship was in retail and digital banking and the successful completion enabled me to obtain a master’s degree from Cranfield university along with a level 7 chartered bankers’ status.
What are your future career aspirations?
I would like to continue to progress my career in risk management over the coming years to a point where I can hold a more senior role within a 2nd line risk function perhaps as a CRO or MLRO.
How would you describe the culture here at CTB?
I would describe the culture as collaborative and fast paced within an environment where there are vast opportunities for you as an individual to learn theory and skills and competencies from experienced colleagues across the bank.
What makes CTB a unique place to work?
I think the collaborative nature of colleagues all across the bank who all are clearly aligned to achieving the companies goals.