First Line Risk Manager

Citizens Bank; Johnston (RI); On-site; USD 84,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

Citizens Bank is seeking a First Line Risk Manager to lead risk and control activities across products and services in Johnston, RI. You will execute control monitoring, testing programs, maintain risk inventories, perform risk assessments, manage remediation, and support the overall first‑line control environment.

This role partners with Commercial Banking stakeholders, focusing on governance, regulatory compliance, and reporting.

Qualifications

• 4-6 years Risk Management Experience
• Experience supporting and/or leading risk projects across multiple business lines offering a wide variety of financial services products and services.
• Understanding of the regulatory environment and how the risks of the products and services the bank offers are viewed by the Second Line of Defense and regulators.
• Ability to constructively work both independently and in collaborative environments involving all levels of management and employees
• Ability to use data and metrics to back up assumptions, recommendations and drive actions
• Experience in business domains such as risk management and banking operations
• Effective project management and analytical skills
• Strong interpersonal and team building skills
• Ability to build and expand trusting relationships and partnerships
• Education: Bachelor's Degree required

Responsibilities

• Control Monitoring, testing & execution across assigned products, processes, and services.
• Develop and maintain control assessment schedules and testing plans aligned to established risk assessment methodologies.
• Perform testing of key controls and evaluate control design and operating effectiveness.
• Document testing results, observations, root causes, and recommendations for remediation.
• Maintain testing inventories and ensure assessment activities are completed within established service level agreements.
• Support control assessment disposition activities and provide recommendations regarding control design and effectiveness.
• Partner with business stakeholders to remain informed of operational changes, emerging risks, and control environment impacts.
• Provide risk and control guidance to business partners during implementation of process changes and remediation efforts.
• Support internal audits, compliance reviews, examinations, and control assurance activities through delivery of documentation and evidence.
• Assist with risk reporting, metrics, and management presentations.
• Author, track, validate, and report on risk and control issues through remediation and closure.
• Support root cause analysis activities and challenge remediation plans to ensure sustainable corrective actions.
• Execute monthly governance and risk control updates within GRC platforms.
• Monitor issue trends and identify emerging control concerns requiring escalation.
• Maintain understanding of regulatory, statutory, and internal policy requirements.
• Execute assigned User Entitlement Reviews and other first‑line governance activities.
• Support loss event management, EUDA reviews, and other operational risk program activities as assigned.
• Escalate material control concerns and emerging risks to senior risk leadership.

Skills

Risk management

Data analysis

Stakeholder management

Project management

Communication

Collaboration

Interpersonal skills

Team building

Education

Bachelor's Degree

Job description

Description

As a part of our team, you’re made ready for a fulfilling career with exciting new challenges and opportunities to stretch yourself!

As the First Line Risk Manager, you will serve as the primary execution lead for risk and control activities across assigned products, processes, and services. You will be responsible for executing control monitoring and testing programs, maintaining risk and control inventories, performing risk assessments, managing issues through remediation, and supporting the overall effectiveness of the first‑line control environment.

This role serves as the operational backbone of the risk organization, partnering closely with business stakeholders and Senior Risk Managers to ensure risks are identified, controls are effectively monitored, issues are remediated, and governance requirements are met. The Risk Manager will maintain a deep understanding of business processes and control frameworks while providing actionable insight into control effectiveness and operational risk exposure.

Success in this role requires strong analytical skills, attention to detail, effective stakeholder management, and the ability to translate risk requirements into practical business solutions while maintaining a robust control environment.

This role does not manage direct reports.

Incumbent performs standard and routine assignments independently to conclusion; unusual problems which may require exceptions to procedures or processes are referred to the supervisor.

Primary responsibilities include

These responsibilities are performed in partnership with Commercial Banking business stakeholders and support functions.

• 40% – Control Monitoring, Testing & Control Execution
• Execute risk‑based control monitoring and testing activities across assigned products, processes, and services.
• Develop and maintain control assessment schedules and testing plans aligned to established risk assessment methodologies.
• Perform testing of key controls and evaluate control design and operating effectiveness.
• Execute continuous monitoring activities utilizing key risk indicators, key control indicators, data analytics, and automated monitoring techniques.
• Document testing results, observations, root causes, and recommendations for remediation.
• Maintain testing inventories and ensure assessment activities are completed within established service level agreements.
• Support control assessment disposition activities and provide recommendations regarding control design and effectiveness.

20% – Business Risk Partnership & Governance Support

• Partner with business stakeholders to remain informed of operational changes, emerging risks, and control environment impacts.
• Provide risk and control guidance to business partners during implementation of process changes and remediation efforts.
• Support internal audits, compliance reviews, examinations, and control assurance activities through delivery of documentation and evidence.
• Assist with risk reporting, metrics, and management presentations.

15% – Issue Management & Remediation

• Author, track, validate, and report on risk and control issues through remediation and closure.
• Support root cause analysis activities and challenge remediation plans to ensure sustainable corrective actions.
• Execute monthly governance and risk control updates within GRC platforms.
• Monitor issue trends and identify emerging control concerns requiring escalation.

5% – Regulatory Compliance & Specialized Risk Activities

• Maintain understanding of regulatory, statutory, and internal policy requirements.
• Execute assigned User Entitlement Reviews and other first‑line governance activities.
• Support loss event management, EUDA reviews, and other operational risk program activities as assigned.
• Escalate material control concerns and emerging risks to senior risk leadership.

Qualifications, Education, Certifications and/or Other Professional Credentials

• 4-6 years Risk Management Experience
• Demonstrated experience supporting and/or leading risk projects across multiple business lines offering a wide variety of financial services products and services.
• Understanding of the regulatory environment and how the risks of the products and services the bank offers are viewed by the Second Line of Defense and regulators.
• Ability to constructively work both independently and in collaborative environments involving all levels of management and employees
• Ability to use data and metrics to back up assumptions, recommendations and drive actions
• Experience in business domains such as risk management and banking operations
• Effective project management and analytical skills
• Strong interpersonal and team building skills
• Ability to build and expand trusting relationships and partnerships
• Education: Bachelor's Degree required

Hours & Work Schedule

• Hours per Week: 40
• Work Schedule: Monday-Friday
• Locations: Johnston, RI; or Westwood, MA

Pay Transparency

The salary range for this position is $84,000- $110,000 per year, plus an opportunity to earn an annual discretionary bonus. Actual pay is based on various factors including but not limited to the budget, work location, and relevant skills and experience.

We offer competitive pay, comprehensive medical, dental and vision coverage, retirement benefits, maternity/paternity leave, flexible work arrangements, education reimbursement, wellness programs and more.

Note, Citizens’ paid time off policy exceeds the mandatory, paid sick or paid time‑away policy of every local and state jurisdiction in the United States. For an overview of our benefits, visit https://jobs.citizensbank.com/benefits

Some job boards have started using jobseeker‑reported data to estimate salary ranges for roles. If you apply and qualify for this role, a recruiter will discuss accurate pay guidance.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Citizens, its parent, subsidiaries, and related companies (Citizens) provide equal employment and advancement opportunities to all colleagues and applicants for employment without regard to age, ancestry, color, citizenship, physical or mental disability, perceived disability or history or record of a disability, ethnicity, gender, gender identity or expression, genetic information, genetic characteristic, marital or domestic partner status, victim of domestic violence, family status/parenthood, medical condition, military or veteran status, national origin, pregnancy/childbirth/lactation, colleague’s or a dependent’s reproductive health decision making, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, or any other category protected by federal, state and/or local laws. At Citizens, we are committed to fostering an inclusive culture that enables all colleagues to bring their best selves to work every day and everyone is expected to be treated with respect and professionalism. Employment decisions are based solely on merit, qualifications, performance and capability.