VP – Data Security Onsite – Dallas, TX

Position: VP – Data Security (Permanent – Onsite – Dallas, TX)
An opportunity has come through our network for a Vice President of Data Governance & IT Controls at a leading financial services institution. This permanent, onsite position is based in Dallas, Texas, requiring candidates to be located in (or willing to relocate to) the DFW Metroplex and work onsite 5 days per week. This executive role is absolutely pivotal, as you’ll be responsible for overseeing the monitoring, testing, and validation of all data-related IT controls, ensuring data is managed with the utmost security, accuracy, and compliance with rigorous regulatory and internal standards.

The successful candidate will lead strategic efforts to evaluate and strengthen the firm’s data governance framework, with a sharp focus on critical areas like data integrity, access controls, data classification, data lineage, and comprehensive data lifecycle management. This is a full-time, direct-hire opportunity; candidates seeking C2C/C2H employment will not be accommodated.

What You’ll Be Doing:
Shaping Data Governance and IT Controls

As the VP – Data Security, you’ll be at the forefront of protecting one of a financial institution’s most vital assets: its data. Your responsibilities will combine strategic leadership with deep technical oversight, ensuring a robust and compliant data environment across the enterprise.

• Lead Comprehensive Data Governance Control Testing:
You’ll spearhead the development and execution of a comprehensive data governance control testing program. This includes meticulous testing of controls related to data access, ensuring only authorized personnel and systems interact with sensitive information. You’ll also rigorously test data quality controls to guarantee accuracy and reliability, data retention controls to adhere to policy, and data protection controls (like encryption and masking) to safeguard sensitive information.

Your leadership ensures these controls are effective and meet the highest standards.

• Oversee Monitoring and Validation of IT Controls:
You will provide critical oversight for the monitoring and validation of IT controls specifically related to data platforms, data warehouses, and cloud-based data environments. This involves implementing robust monitoring systems, analyzing control performance metrics, identifying deviations, and ensuring that all data-related IT controls function as intended across diverse technological landscapes.

• Collaborate on Policy Implementation and Testing:
You’ll foster strong relationships and collaborate extensively with data stewards, compliance teams, and internal/external audit teams. This partnership is crucial for ensuring that data governance policies are not only effectively implemented but also rigorously tested. Your collaboration bridges the gap between policy definition and operational reality, confirming adherence to data management principles.

• Ensure Alignment with Regulatory Requirements:
You will hold ultimate responsibility for ensuring strict alignment with complex regulatory requirements governing data in the financial services industry. This includes deep familiarity and compliance with standards such as SOX (Sarbanes-Oxley Act), GLBA (Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act), GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation), and SEC (Securities and Exchange Commission) guidelines. Your vigilance is critical in mitigating legal and financial risks.

• Maintain Documentation and Audit Evidence:
You will meticulously maintain comprehensive documentation and evidence of all control testing activities. This involves creating detailed records of test plans, test cases, results, identified issues, and remediation efforts. This rigorous documentation is essential for supporting both internal and external audits, demonstrating a robust control environment and transparent compliance practices.

• Provide Executive-Level Reporting on Data Control Effectiveness:
You’ll be responsible for preparing and confidently presenting insightful executive-level reports on data control effectiveness, overall risk posture, and remediation progress. These reports will translate complex technical and compliance information into clear, actionable…