Director, Risk Management (LOD1)

At Early Warning, we have powered and protected the U.S. financial system for over thirty years with cutting-edge solutions like Zelle® , Paze℠ , and so much more. As a trusted name in payments, we partner with thousands of institutions to increase access to financial services and protect transactions for hundreds of millions of consumers and small businesses.

Positions located in Scottsdale, San Francisco, Chicago, or New York follow a hybrid work model to allow for a more collaborative working environment.

Candidates responding to this posting must independently possess the eligibility to work in the United States, for any employer, at the date of hire. This position is ineligible for employment Visa sponsorship.

Overview

The Director, Risk Management is responsible for the management and coordination of a centralized first-line of defense (LOD1) risk and internal control program for Early Warning’s Enterprise Technology business lines. This role is designed to ensure risk programs and controls are implemented consistently and operate effectively across these business lines as it relates to all risk types including strategic, operational, compliance and financial. The role will align with the company’s Enterprise Risk Management leadership around the structure of the 3LOD (three lines of defense) program to ensure consistency in the implementation and operationalization across the enterprise.

Essential Functions

• Support the business line’s centralized LOD1 function, including strategic vision and implementation plans, acting as business-line liaison to Enterprise Risk Management, Operational Risk Management, and Compliance in support of the company’s 3LOD program.
• Work with Compliance and other Risk functions to understand and monitor applicable regulations and requirements, assess business impact, and drive appropriate projects and processes to address needed changes.
• Partner with Enterprise Risk Management in the execution of Risk and Control Self Assessments.
• Partner with Business Continuity Management on business participation in BC/DR tests, and own and maintain required process and technical recovery plans.
• Assist the business-line in the management of third-party relationships, including both performance and risk management.
• Assist the business-line in the design and build of process maps in alignment with Early Warning’s Process Classification Framework. Own and maintain business-lines’ process inventory and internal control environment inventory. Design, maintain, and report metrics (KPIs and KRIs) demonstrating control effectiveness.
• Identify and self-report issues through the ERM Self-Identified Issue Process; individually and together with other LOD1 business-line members.
• Ensure risk remediation plans exist and are sufficient; track remediation plans to completion and ensure remediation is on‑time and sustainable; ensure action plans and remediation of issues by risk owners.
• Support business-line Risk Acceptance Forms (RAF) process, when applicable.
• Drive periodic executive‑level reporting regarding business risk management activities, working closely with business-line leadership.
• Develop, in alignment with ERM’s frameworks, a first‑LOD risk management governance process across the business lines to support decision making and escalation regarding risks that may not be consistent with the business’ risk tolerance.
• Deliver education and awareness of risk ownership essentials.
• Continually monitor and update assessments of the control environment, keeping abreast of significant control issues, trends, and developments. Perform internal control effectiveness test plans and procedures.
• Lead a team of risk professionals in a matrixed organization.
• Support the company’s commitment to risk management and protecting the integrity and confidentiality of systems and data.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in business administration, Finance, Accounting, Computer Information Systems, or another related field of specialty.
• Typically, a minimum of 12 years of progressive experience in the financial services industry or within a three‑lines of defense program.
• Demonstrated success leading risk functions in a 3LOD environment.
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively in a complex, highly regulated environment.
• Excellent problem‑solving with effective change‑management skills.
• Working knowledge of regulatory requirements specific to the business lines.
• Excellent communication, organization, and interpersonal skills, with demonstrated ability to collaborate and build trust in business partners.
• Effective influence‑management skills.
• Background and drug screen.

For CDO Focus Area

• Knowledge and experience with model risk management and first line support for Chief Data Office.
• Demonstrated success developing and implementing effective risk solutions for data management.

The above job description is not intended to be an all‑inclusive list of duties and standards of the position.