Associate - Compliance and Ops Risk Test Sr Specialist

Job summary:
As an Associate - Compliance and Operations Risk Test Senior Specialist, your deep understanding of risk management and control evaluation will be instrumental in identifying and mitigating risks, thereby enhancing compliance and operational risk management. Your expertise in test execution with precision and accountability will ensure the seamless delivery of quality outcomes, ensuring alignment with the firm's highest risks. You will be responsible for assessing the control environment, identifying gaps, and driving remediation efforts to mitigate risk. Your analytical thinking and problem-solving skills will be crucial in breaking down complex business objectives into manageable tasks and activities. Your role will be integral in ensuring a cohesive and efficient testing framework, contributing to the seamless delivery of quality outcomes.

Job Responsibilities:

• Understand and evaluate the assigned function's control environment with proven experience in assessing the adequacy, effectiveness and design of controls to ensure alignment with SOX, other regulatory frameworks & with the firm's risk priorities.
• Execute the testing processes with precision and accountability to assess the control environment, identify gaps and prepare robust documentation including process documents, process flows, and overview documents that support testing conclusions.
• Collaborate with Process/Control Owner, cross functional teams on testing schedule, obtain walkthrough of the process, document process changes, evidence gathering, analysis of potential issues and facilitate timely reporting.
• Play key role in issue validation, action plan quality and closure discipline by partnering with control owners to ensure remediation aligns with risk acceptance and compliance expectations.
• Lead walkthrough and other meetings with business owners fostering collaboration across engagements with minimal oversight.
• Read and interpret policies/standards/procedures to ensure accurate implementation of compliance requirements while continuously improving control evaluation methodologies and interpreting control ratings & metrics to strengthen the firm's compliance and operational risk management framework.
• Propose and implement improvements to current testing methods, contributing to the overall efficiency and effectiveness of the firm's risk management.

Required Qualifications, Capabilities and Skills:

• Bachelor's degree in business, finance, or related field or equivalent work experience. Minimum of 4 years of work experience in controls testing, audit, operational risk management within a risk & control environment.
• Domain Knowledge: Knowledge of banking products and the ability to interpret financial statements is required. Product Knowledge: Product Control / Balance Sheet Substantiation / Month End Closure process (journal entries, accruals, financial close procedures) / Treasury (liquidity management, capital management, Basel capital, securities operations, front & middle office operations, asset liability management) / Reconciliation Process (account reconciliation, position matching, break resolution etc. ) / Valuation Controls (Independent price verification / Fair value adjustments etc.), Regulatory Reporting / Financial Reporting (Daily financial reporting / External disclosures / Off Balance Sheet review) / Control Testing (SOX testing / Risk Assessments / Key control reviews / Issue identification / Remediation tracking etc.)
• Demonstrated proficiency in advanced analytical thinking and problem solving skills particularly in regard to analyzing large data sets to identify exceptions or patterns and evaluating various aspects of a situation to identify key information.
• Proven ability to build strong partnerships with key stakeholders and collaborate with business & functional experts to recognize risks and gaps.
• Excellent organizational and time management skills - ability to remain flexible and productive through shifting priorities and deadlines.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills with an ability to influence business leaders in a meaningful and actionable manner.
• Demonstrated expertise in MS Office applications, with advanced skills in Excel, Word, and PowerPoint highly recommended.

Preferred Qualifications, Capabilities and Skills:

• Professional qualifications like CA, CPA, MBA Finance, CIA is preferred.
• Audit & control testing background / experience.
• Comfortable using Intelligent solutions like Alteryx, Tableau to support testing activities or metrics reporting.
• Ability to innovate, challenge the status quo and identify automation opportunities.