Director, Business Operations and Risk Management

Fairstone Financial; Montreal; On-site; CAD 150,000 - 230,000; Full time

Job summary

Fairstone Financial seeks a Director, Business Operations & Risk Management to lead Card Services operations, risk management, and strategic execution. You will partner with senior leaders to drive governance, planning, and performance reporting across Product, Technology, Finance, Risk, and Compliance.

The role focuses on first-line risk management, regulatory readiness, and cross-functional coordination to ensure execution discipline and alignment with enterprise objectives.

Qualifications

• University degree in Business, Commerce, Risk Management, Economics, or a related discipline.
• 10+ years of progressive leadership experience in financial services, banking.

Responsibilities

• Lead the Business Operations function for Card Services.
• Drive annual strategic planning, operating plans, scorecards, business reviews, and executive reporting.
• Establish governance routines that improve execution discipline and organizational alignment.
• Lead preparation of executive presentations, monthly business reviews, board materials, strategic updates, and performance reporting.
• Monitor business performance and key metrics, identify trends, risks, and opportunities, and recommend corrective actions.
• Partner with CCSO and leadership team in business planning, prioritization, investment decisions, and organizational effectiveness initiatives.

Skills

Leadership

Risk mgmt

Governance

Strategic planning

Cross-functional

Education

University degree in Business/Commerce/Risk Management/Economics

Job description

Who we are:

Fairstone Bank and its family of brands are united in delivering innovative, accessible and reliable financial solutions that enable Canadians to reach their goals. Over the years, our brand family has grown. In 2024, Home Trust Company, Home Bank and Oaken Financial became part of the Fairstone Bank family of brands, alongside Fairstone, EdenPark and Fig.

Together, we are the leading alternative lending bank in Canada. With a diverse suite of products-residential and commercial mortgages, consumer deposits and GICs, credit cards, retail and automobile financing, personal loans and digital lending-we offer financial solutions tailored to all Canadians, including newcomers, small-business owners, smart investors and savvy consumers.

About the role:

The Director, Business Operations & Risk Management is a strategic leadership role responsible for driving business execution, governance, operating effectiveness, and first-line risk management across Card Services, including Credit Cards, Walmart Rewards Mastercard, Retail Financing, and future growth initiatives.

As a trusted advisor to the Chief Card Services Officer, this leader serves as the integration point across business strategy, transformation, governance, risk management, operational performance, technology delivery, executive reporting, and regulatory readiness. The role ensures the organization operates with strong execution discipline, effective risk management practices, and alignment to enterprise objectives.

The position acts as the primary Business Risk Manager (BRM) for Card Services and a business risk analyst will report into the Director. While acting as BRM, the director will also be leading business operations activities that support strategic planning, executive committee management, remediation oversight, business performance reporting, and cross-functional coordination across Technology, Operations, Finance, Risk, Legal, Compliance, and external partners.

What you'll do:

Business Operations & Strategic Execution (30%)

• Lead the Business Operations function for Card Services.
• Drive annual strategic planning, operating plans, scorecards, business reviews, and executive reporting.
• Establish and maintain governance routines that improve execution discipline and organizational alignment.
• Lead preparation of executive presentations, monthly business reviews, board materials, strategic updates, and performance reporting.
• Monitor business performance and key metrics, identify trends, risks, and opportunities, and recommend corrective actions.
• Support the CCSO and leadership team in business planning, prioritization, investment decisions, and organizational effectiveness initiatives.

Governance, Executive Committees & Transformation (10%)

• Lead governance structures supporting the Card Services Growth & Execution Committee and other business forums.
• Coordinate cross-functional decision making across Product, Marketing, Portfolio, Retail Financing, Technology, Operations, Risk, Finance, and Compliance teams.
• Act as a catalyst for continuous process improvement, simplification, and operational effectiveness.

Risk Management & BRM Leadership (40%)

• Serve as the designated first-line Business Risk Manager for Card Services.
• Partner with Risk Management, Compliance, Legal, Operational Risk, Audit, and Control functions to ensure effective risk identification, assessment, monitoring, mitigation, and reporting.
• Embed enterprise risk management frameworks, policies, and governance requirements across Card Services.
• Lead risk assessments, operational risk reviews, control evaluations, remediation activities, and issue management processes.
• Ensure business initiatives maintain alignment risk appetite and insure all proper requested documentation is validated and executed.
• Oversee regulatory examination readiness, internal audits, and external reviews.
• Monitor emerging business, operational, regulatory, compliance, and conduct risks.
• Provide independent and objective risk management advice to business leaders while supporting sound business decision making.
• Ensure effective execution of BRM responsibilities outlined within enterprise policies, guidelines, and risk frameworks.

Controls, Remediation & Operational Readiness (20%)

• Lead oversight of remediation plans arising from audits, compliance reviews, operational incidents, regulatory findings, and risk assessments.
• Track, challenge, and elevate corrective actions to ensure timely resolution.
• Ensure operational controls remain effective and aligned with business growth and evolving regulatory expectations.
• Support incident management, root-cause analysis, and lessons-learned processes.
• responsible governance, operational excellence, continuous improvement, and proactive risk management.

What we’re looking for:

• University degree in Business, Commerce, Risk Management, Economics, or a related discipline.
• 10+ years of progressive leadership experience in financial services, banking, l