Director, Business Unit Risk Oversight - Certos

At Early Warning, we've 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.

This job description outlines a senior leadership position focused on operational risk management (ORM). The primary responsibility is to lead a team in assessing and ensuring the effectiveness of the company's risk and control environment, to ensure operational risks are understood, owned, and managed to risk appetite.

Responsible for leading a high‑performing team in providing risk management and technical expertise in assessing the overall effectiveness of the company's risk and control environment and ensuring adherence to Operational Risk Management (ORM) Program requirements. This position provides independent oversight and challenge over the operational risks arising from EWS's business activities across multiple levels.

• Acts as an operational risk subject‑matter expert.
• Leads a high‑performance team by providing exceptional leadership, ongoing coaching, and performance management.
• Builds and maintains relationships with business partners while adhering to the highest ethical standards required for independent risk oversight.
• Challenges and guides senior business management and functional leaders in compliance, technology risk, and legal on operational risk matters.
• Supervises team members performing operational risk oversight activities, including review, challenge, and validation of issues, risk and control assessments, control reviews, and product and other general risk assessments.
• Leverages data analytics and technological capabilities to inform data‑driven and fact‑based risk analysis to identify emerging risks, process and control improvements, or areas for increased training through the analysis of results.
• Develops communications (written and presented) to support findings.
• Reports on operational risk profile related to aligned coverage area(s).
• Participates and provides input in regulatory exams and inquiries.
• Provides operational risk training and guidance.

• Education and/or experience typically obtained through completion of a bachelor's degree in risk management, Computer Science, Information Systems, Business Administration, Finance, Accounting or related field.
• Minimum of 12+ years of operational risk management experience, preferably in financial services or other highly regulated industries.
• Strong understanding of operational risk programs (i.e., RCSA, Risk Events, Issue Management, Key Indicators) and risk domains (e.g., product and service delivery, process management, business disruption, third‑party, fraud, and data).
• Possesses sound judgment, curiosity, and strong attention to detail and efficiency.
• Team‑oriented with strong interpersonal skills.
• Proven leader with at least 5 years in a leadership role with direct people responsibility or equivalent project leadership experience.
• Excellent presentation and communication skills to synthesize and present risk issues clearly and persuasively and respond effectively to senior stakeholders.
• Ability to drive sustainable change, influence and uphold standards.
• Background and drug screen.

• Master's degree in a relevant field.
• Prior financial institution experience.
• Prior experience in independent risk management conducting risk oversight.
• Risk management, internal control, or internal audit certification(s).
• Additional related education and/or experience preferred.

Working conditions consist of a normal office environment. Work is primarily…