The pathway
How you actually get there, here
How you become one varies far more by country than what one does. This is the UK route. Most people take one of these ways in; the right one depends on where you're starting from.
- 1
Operational Risk Analyst (L1)
1-2 yearsSkills to master
- Accurate data entry, basic control testing, structured documentation, foundational understanding of risk concepts.
You're ready to move on when
- Consistently delivers high-quality work with minimal supervision.
- Proactively identifies opportunities for process improvement.
- Demonstrates a keen interest in understanding the 'why' behind risk processes.
- Receives positive feedback from manager on initiative and learning aptitude.
- 2
Junior Internal Auditor
2-3 yearsSkills to master
- Control testing, evidence gathering, report writing, understanding of audit methodologies, stakeholder interviewing.
You're ready to move on when
- Strong grasp of control design and operating effectiveness.
- Ability to identify control weaknesses and articulate their impact.
- Experience in drafting audit findings and recommendations.
- Good understanding of business processes from an assurance perspective.
- 3
Process Improvement Specialist (Operations)
2-4 yearsSkills to master
- Process mapping, identifying inefficiencies, root cause analysis, project management fundamentals, stakeholder management.
You're ready to move on when
- Proven ability to analyse and optimise operational workflows.
- Experience in implementing process changes and measuring their impact.
- Strong analytical skills to identify process bottlenecks and failure points.
- A natural curiosity about how things work and how they can go wrong.