Chris Morley
- Name
- Chris Morley
- Age
- 26
- Role
- Risk and Governance Manager
- Company
- Royal & Sun Alliance (R&SA)
- Degree/University
- Business studies, University of Sheffield
Why did you choose the insurance industry?
The sheer variety of work on offer was the main appeal. So far I've worked in sales, underwriting, operations, strategy and risk - all in a relatively short space of time.
I also think the insurance industry offers great opportunities for talent to shine - if you have the drive to succeed you can really make it happen.
What have you done in your career so far?
I've worked in Birmingham as a small business underwriter, in London as a Personal Accident London market underwriter and as a business co-ordinator in Halifax.
I've really enjoyed the variety of my roles so far in my career, and working on the front line of the industry was superb. But I'm also very happy to have arrived where I am now - seeing how a big company works from the inside is a real eye-opener.
What do you do in a typical working day?
Now I work as a Risk and Governance Manager, looking after the group risk and operational planning processes, including the coordination of global input, making sure that key stakeholders have appropriate oversight of whats going on in their business.
The role of risk is pivotal to the insurance sector and the way in which we manage all our risks has a direct bearing on our balance sheet. The insurance, operational, market and credit risks are paramount to the functioning of the industry as a whole.
My role is varied and no two days are the same. I'm responsible for working with my colleagues to ensure we have the planning, processes and communications to manage our risks in the most effective way - to make sure we have strategic and operational alignment on a regional, national and international level.
Some of the different activities I'm involved with include:
- helping to ensure that colleagues are fully aware of and able to meet their planning and governance obligations
- identifying where we might be working outside our risk processes and helping to remedy these situations
- regular monitoring and reporting on alignment and compliance with governance requirements.
What training have you received?
I've completed my ACII qualification and have also taken courses in areas such as project management, influencing skills, budgeting, various forms of underwriting and coaching skills.
What do you enjoy most about your job?
I love the variety of my job and the fact that I'm working in an important area at the heart of a major organisation.
I enjoy working with colleagues from across the different parts of our group, particularly on an international level. It's a real challenge to gather and analyse data from different territories. Each country is slightly different culturally, so your approach needs to be tailored accordingly. You have to be completely adaptable to get things done on time.
