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Tell us about CCO at Barclays

Barclays CCO partners with businesses across the bank to help them manage their risk and controls environment. By doing that, we can manage how we sustain and strengthen the bank as it grows. We are true partners, with a highly respected and trusted advisory role. We believe that if we implement controls and manage risk in the right way, we enable the business to go faster in a safe manner. This will interest proactive, forward-thinking people who are considering joining us.

What has been your greatest achievement?

In 2016, like most other banks, we were under intense scrutiny; it became vital for us to rethink and remodel our controls function. And so, at great speed and with the full backing of senior management, we consolidated all controls into one function, CCO, to drive consistency. We generated a new framework to ensure accountability within the organisation: it’s consistent across the bank and helps everybody to understand risks and how controls can mitigate these risks. Establishing this single, consistent Controls function has been our greatest achievement. Because of our work, there is so much more confidence in the bank, and we have a much stronger relationship with the regulators. This really sets us apart from our competitors.

CCO gives you the variety that comes from working across all parts of the bank. As inquisitive people, we enjoy seeing all aspects of the operation, and for many of us this opens up a wide range of career possibilities.

What do you value most in CCO colleagues?

CCO people are energetic and resilient, with natural curiosity and the drive to see things through to the very end. We have the communication skills to be able to put complex information into plain language. And, of course, we can interpret vast amounts of data and make them really relevant to the business. Good teamwork is also crucial – we are one team, supporting each other and immersed in our shared values. Diversity and Inclusion is important: almost half of our workforce is female, and 60% of our leaders are women. Even so, we know we are on a journey and we have so much more to learn. And learning is very much part of our culture.

What’s the most compelling thing you could say to someone thinking of applying to join CCO?

CCO gives you the variety that comes from working across all parts of the bank. As inquisitive people, we enjoy seeing all aspects of the operation, and for many of us this opens up a wide range of career possibilities. As a team, we’re non-hierarchical, very open and we share information in a way others would not. This is a refreshingly different place to work, with a different perspective and a great deal of trust.

Many people might not have considered Controls as a career option. What would you say to encourage them?

Some might think that Controls is a highly specialised area for which you need experience. I disagree – if you have an aptitude for learning, natural curiosity and work well in a team, you can learn as you go. Many of us, including me, have learned on the job.