Associate, Lines of Defense – Early Career Development Program

Sallie Mae; Sterling (VA); Hybrid; USD 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Bonus incentives

Generous PTO and holidays

401k with employer match

Medical/dental/vision coverage

Tuition reimbursement

Career development opportunities

Mentorship and leadership exposure

Job summary

Sallie Mae invites ambitious students to join the Associate Lines of Defense Early Career Development Program. You will rotate through key Lines of Defense functions—Business Controls, Enterprise Risk Management, Compliance, and Internal Audit—developing business acumen, risk awareness, and professional judgment.

Throughout the 24-month program, you will work on meaningful projects that impact customers, performance, and governance.

Qualifications

• Pursuing or holding a Bachelor's or Master's degree in Business, Economics, Finance, Accounting, Management, Data Science, Risk Management, or a related field.
• Experience with SQL, Python, SAS or similar programming languages through coursework or internships.
• Exposure to Power BI or similar data visualization tools is a plus.
• Strong analytical, written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to collaborate across teams and demonstrate initiative.

Responsibilities

• Complete three 8-month rotations across Lines of Defense groups to strengthen risk, controls and governance understanding.
• Evaluate practices and controls, identify gaps, and support remediation and improvement efforts.
• Summarize findings and present insights to leadership with clear, actionable recommendations.
• Develop technical, analytical, and consulting skills through hands-on project work.
• Engage with mentors, participate in development opportunities, and network across the organization.

Skills

SQL

Python

SAS

Analytical thinking

Communication

Collaboration

Education

Bachelor's or Master's degree (relevant)

Tools

Power BI

Job description

When you join Sallie Mae, you become a champion for all students.

We're on a mission to power confidence as students begin their unique journey. To help them plan their higher education, successfully finish, and prepare for life after school. To help them Start smart. Learn big.

Students need guidance navigating this important time in their life. They need someone who acknowledges that their education path is unique. They need a partner willing to evolve and not only meet but surpass their expectations. We’re changing. Because students need a better way.

We’re looking for people who are excited to drive this transformation. To break barriers and think of new ways to adapt, help, and create better experiences for students—and for each other.

This is where diverse backgrounds, beliefs, and perspectives matter. It’s where you’re empowered to bring your authentic self to work.

Feeling your best allows you to do your best. Our benefits take care of the whole you—from physical and mental to financial and professional. You’ll get opportunities to further your education and career, support for you and your family (including your pets!), paid time off to volunteer for the things that matter to you, and more.

We’re obsessed with impact and making a real difference. For us, that means putting relationships first, asking “why not?” when tackling challenges, and continuously learning new skills.

Come do more than join something, change something. For students, for future generations, for the future of education.

What You’ll Contribute

Launch Your Career as a Future Analytics Leader

The Associate Lines of Defense Early Career Development Program is a selective 24-month development program designed to build the next generation of risk, compliance, controls, and audit talent at Sallie Mae. Through rotational experiences across key Lines of Defense functions, you'll develop the unique combination of business acumen, analytical thinking, risk awareness, and professional judgment needed to identify emerging risks, strengthen controls, support regulatory readiness, and influence sound business decisions.

As a member of the program, you'll work on meaningful projects that directly impact our customers, business performance, risk management practices, and strategic priorities. You'll gain exposure to multiple areas of the organization, participate in structured development opportunities, and build relationships with leaders and mentors who are invested in your success.

This program is designed for individuals who are curious, analytical, detail-oriented, and eager to learn how strong governance, risk management, compliance, and assurance practices support a healthy financial services organization. By the end of the experience, you'll have a strong foundation in the business, a practical understanding of the Lines of Defense model, and the skills needed to accelerate your career within Sallie Mae.

This opportunity is intended for students who will complete their Bachelor's or Master's degree between December 2026 and June 2027 and are available to begin full-time employment in June 2027 as part of our Early Career Development Program.

What You’ll Do

Complete three 8-month rotational assignments across key Lines of Defense groups. Each rotation is designed to strengthen your understanding of the business, develop your risk and controls mindset, and build the analytical and communication skills needed to help teams identify issues, evaluate processes, and drive meaningful improvements.

Business Controls

• Evaluate business practices, processes, and controls to identify potential risk areas and improvement opportunities
• Support issue identification, root cause analysis, remediation planning, and control enhancement efforts
• Partner with business teams to strengthen accountability, process discipline, and risk awareness
• Document observations, recommendations, and progress in a clear, action-oriented manner

Enterprise Risk Management

• Support analysis of key business processes, emerging risks, and control environments
• Contribute to assessments that identify gaps, trends, and opportunities to reduce risk exposure
• Assist with risk reporting, governance materials, and leadership-ready insights
• Learn how enterprise risk practices inform strategic decisions and support responsible growth

Compliance

• Research regulatory expectations and help assess how they apply to business processes
• Support compliance monitoring, testing, issue tracking, and reporting activities
• Translate complex information into clear insights that help inform leadership decision-making
• Build awareness of consumer finance, operational compliance, and regulatory risk considerations

Internal Audit

• Assist with planning and executing audit procedures, including walkthroughs, testing, and documentation
• Analyze evidence, identify themes, and summarize findings in a clear and professional manner
• Support reporting that helps leadership understand risks, control gaps, and recommended actions
• Develop professional skepticism, attention to detail, and sound judgment through hands-on audit work

Throughout the Program, You Will

• Solve meaningful business problems through risk-based, analytical, and process-oriented thinking
• Develop technical, analytical, communication, and consulting skills through hands-on experience
• Communicate findings and recommendations through presentations, reporting, and concise business writing
• Partner with stakeholders across multiple functions and business areas
• Participate in mentorship, networking, and leadership development opportunities
• Gain exposure to senior leaders and strategic business initiatives
• Join a cohort of high-performing early-career professionals committed to learning, growth, and collaboration

What You Have - Required Qualifications

Education

• Expected graduation between December 2026 and June 2027 with a Bachelor's or Master's degree in a relevant discipline such as Business, Economics, Finance, Accounting, Management, Data Science, Risk Management, Compliance, or a related field

Technical Skills

• Experience with SQL, Python, SAS, or similar programming languages through coursework, internships, research, or work experience
• Exposure to Power BI or other data visualization tools is a plus

Analytical Skills

• Strong analytical mindset with the ability to evaluate information, identify trends, and solve complex or ambiguous business problems
• Ability to develop hypotheses, organize work, interpret results, and translate findings into actionable recommendations

Communication Skills

• Ability to communicate complex information clearly and professionally to a range of audiences
• Strong written, verbal, presentation, and documentation skills

Collaboration & Leadership Potential

• Demonstrated initiative, adaptability, and willingness to learn
• Ability to collaborate effectively across teams, build strong working relationships, and contribute in a fast-paced, team-oriented environment
• Strong interpersonal skills and interest in developing leadership capability

Attention to Detail

• Commitment to accuracy, quality, documentation, and delivering high-value work

Growth Mindset

• Curiosity, resilience, professionalism, and enthusiasm for continuous learning
• Interest in building a career in risk management, compliance, controls, internal audit, governance, business analysis, or related fields

Preferred Experience

• Internship, co-op, research, leadership, or work experience involving finance, business analysis, compliance, audit, risk management, controls, data analysis, or related disciplines
• Exposure to analytical tools, reporting, process improvement, or documentation practices is a plus

Why Join Sallie Mae

At Sallie Mae, you'll do more than learn about risk and controls—you'll help strengthen the practices that support our customers, business performance, and long-term success. Through hands-on work, mentorship, leadership exposure, and rotational experiences, you'll build the foundation to become a future leader in risk, compliance, controls, audit, or governance.

Launch your career. Build your expertise. Become a future Lines of Defense leader.

Feeling Your Best Helps You Do Your Best

Our benefits take care of the whole you—so you can build your work around your life (not the other way around!).

• Competitive base salaries
• Bonus incentives
• Generous PTO, Floating Holidays and 12 Federal Holidays observed
• Support for financial-well-being and retirement 401k with employer match
• Comprehensive medical, dental, vision, hospital indemnity, critical illness, pet insurance and more
• Employer paid short-term/long-term disability and basic life insurance
• Flexible hybrid working arrangements.
• Paid parental leave and adoption reimbursement programs
• Free access to on-site staffed fitness centers (in Delaware) and gym subsidy (for locations outside Delaware)
• Confidential counseling support (EAP), Health Advocacy services and Wellness program with financial incentives
• Tuition Reimbursement and Family Scholarship Programs
• Career development and training opportunities

Sallie Mae is proud to be an equal opportunity (EEO) employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, age, genetic information, gender identity, disability, Veteran status or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local law. Click here to view the U.S. Pay Transparency Policy, here for federal job applicant notices, and here to view the California Employee Privacy Notice.

Reasonable accommodations are available for applicants with disabilities in all phases of the application and employment process. To request an accommodation please call [phone] and choose option 9. All information you provide will be kept confidential and will be used only to the extent required to provide needed reasonable accommodations.