Chief Compliance Officer

Waterhouse-Kern Associates; Maryland; On-site; USD 180,000 - 320,000; Full time

Job summary

Waterhouse-Kern Associates is partnering with a USA-based banking entity to appoint a Chief Compliance Officer. This executive role leads enterprise-wide compliance, privacy, and ethics programs across the bank, interfacing with regulators and senior management.

The successful candidate will have 15+ years in banking compliance, with at least 5 years in senior leadership, and deep CRA, consumer protection, and privacy regulation expertise.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Finance, Law, or related field.
• 15 years of progressive compliance experience in banking or financial services.
• 5 years in a senior compliance leadership role, preferably at a regional or community bank.
• Deep knowledge of CRA regulations and performance evaluation standards.
• Experience managing regulatory examinations and responding to regulatory findings.
• Proven track record of building and leading compliance programs in a banking environment.
• Strong understanding of federal and state consumer protection regulations and privacy laws.

Responsibilities

• Lead enterprise-wide compliance program and ensure adherence to federal and state banking regulations, consumer protection laws, and internal policies.
• Serve as primary liaison with regulatory agencies on compliance matters (excluding BSA/AML).
• Oversee regulatory examination processes, including preparation, response coordination, and remediation of findings.
• Oversee CRA and Fair Lending monitoring, including analysis of lending patterns and community development activities.
• Provide compliance guidance and risk assessments for new products, services, and business initiatives.
• Partner with business units to embed compliance considerations into strategic planning and operations.
• Review and approve marketing materials and customer communications for regulatory compliance and privacy considerations.

Skills

Compliance leadership

Regulatory risk management

CRA regulations expertise

Privacy regulation knowledge

Policy development

Stakeholder management

Strong communication

Education

BA/BS in related field

Tools

Compliance management systems

CRA/Fair Lending tracking software

Data analytics tools

Job description

Waterhouse-Kern Associates is proud to be partnering with a banking entity based in USA to find them a new Chief Compliance Officer.

About the job

Responsibilities

The Chief Compliance Officer is a senior leadership position responsible for leading the enterprise-wide compliance program, ensuring adherence to all applicable federal and state banking regulations, consumer protection laws, and internal policies. This role provides strategic direction and oversight of compliance risk management activities across all business lines and operational units. The Chief Compliance Officer also serves as the Bank's Privacy Officer, CRA Compliance Officer, Reg O Officer and is a key member of the Ethics Office. The Chief Compliance Officer partners closely with business leaders, risk management, legal, information security, and audit functions to foster a strong culture of compliance, privacy protection, and ethical conduct throughout the organization.

Note: Bank Secrecy Act/Anti-Money Laundering (BSA/AML) responsibilities are managed separately and do not fall under this role.

Essential Functions Include

• Develop, implement, and maintain a comprehensive enterprise compliance management system that identifies, assesses, monitors, and mitigates compliance risks
• Establish and maintain compliance policies, procedures, and internal controls aligned with regulatory requirements and industry best practices
• Oversee the compliance risk assessment process and ensure appropriate risk mitigation strategies are in place
• Monitor and interpret regulatory developments and assess their impact on bank operations, products, and services
• Serve as primary liaison with regulatory agencies on compliance-related matters (excluding BSA/AML)
• Manage regulatory examination processes, including preparation, response coordination, and remediation of findings
• Oversee timely and accurate regulatory reporting and filings including quarterly monitoring reports, annual HMDA and CRA filings
• Ensure compliance with consumer protection regulations including UDAAP, TILA, TISA, RESPA, ECOA, FCRA, Fair Lending, and other applicable consumer laws
• Design and oversee compliance monitoring and testing programs to validate adherence to policies and regulatory requirements
• Direct complaint management processes and ensure appropriate investigation and resolution
• Serve as a CRA Compliance Officer and provide strategic leadership and oversight of the Bank's CRA program to ensure compliance with CRA regulations and achievement of performance goals
• Serve as the Bank's designated Privacy Officer with overall responsibility for the privacy program
• Serve as a key member of the Bank's Ethics Office, supporting the Ethics Officer in promoting ethical conduct and organizational integrity
• Provide compliance guidance and risk assessments for new products, services, and business initiatives
• Partner with business units to embed compliance considerations into strategic planning and operational processes
• Review and approve marketing materials and customer communications for regulatory compliance and privacy considerations
• Oversee third-party vendor compliance and privacy risk management processes
• Conduct CRA and Fair Lending performance monitoring, including analysis of lending patterns, community development activities, and service delivery
• Provide regular reporting to the Chief Risk Officer, senior management, management committees, Board committees on the following:
• Compliance risks, program effectiveness, and regulatory developments
• CRA performance, including lending analysis, community development activities, and progress toward strategic plan objectives
• Privacy program including privacy incidents, regulatory developments, and program enhancements
• Serve as a trusted advisor to senior management and the Board on compliance matters
• Foster a culture of compliance awareness, privacy protection, and ethical conduct throughout the Bank

Requirements

• Bachelor’s Degree in Arts/Sciences (BA/BS) Business, Finance, Law, or related field
• 15 years of progressive compliance experience in banking or financial services
• 5 years in a senior compliance leadership role, preferably at a regional or community bank
• Demonstrated expertise in CRA regulations, including developing and implementing CRA strategic plans, examination procedures and performance evaluation standards
• Experience managing regulatory examinations and responding to regulatory findings
• Proven track record of building and leading compliance programs in a banking environment
• Deep knowledge of federal and state consumer protection regulations, banking laws, and regulatory expectations
• Strong understanding of privacy regulations including GLBA, CCPA/CPRA, and other applicable state and federal privacy laws, including incident response and breach notification procedures
• Strong leadership and team management capabilities
• Excellent analytical and risk assessment skills, including ability to analyze lending data, demographic trends, and privacy risks
• Superior written and verbal communication skills, including ability to explain complex regulatory concepts to diverse audiences
• Strategic thinking with ability to balance compliance requirements with business objectives and community needs
• Strong interpersonal skills and ability to influence across all organizational levels
• High integrity and ethical standards with demonstrated commitment to ethical decision-making

Preferences

• Advanced Degree in business or compliance discipline related
• Certified Regulatory Compliance Manager (CRCM)
• Certified Community Bank Compliance Officer (CCBCO)
• Ability to work effectively under pressure and manage multiple priorities
• Proficiency with compliance management systems, CRA/Fair Lending tracking software, and data analytics tools
• Sound judgment in handling sensitive and confidential information