First Line Risk Manager

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

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, vision coverage

Retirement benefits

Education reimbursement

Wellness programs

Flexible work arrangements

Job summary

Citizens in Johnston, RI is seeking a First Line Risk Manager to lead risk and control activities across products and services. You will execute testing programs, maintain risk inventories, perform assessments, and drive remediation while supporting governance.

This role partners with Commercial Banking stakeholders, requires 4-6 years in risk management, and a Bachelor's degree. Location options include Johnston, RI or Westwood, MA; 40 hours/week with strong analytics and collaboration.

Qualifications

• 4-6 years risk management experience
• Experience leading risk projects across multiple business lines in financial services
• Understanding of regulatory environment and Second Line of Defense view
• Ability to work independently and in teams with management levels
• Ability to use data and metrics to back up actions and drive decisions
• Experience in risk management and banking operations
• Strong project management and analytical skills
• Interpersonal and team-building capabilities
• Ability to build trusting relationships and partnerships
• Education: Bachelor's Degree required

Responsibilities

• Control monitoring, testing and control execution across assigned products, processes and services.
• Develop and maintain control assessment schedules and testing plans.
• Perform testing of key controls and evaluate design and operating effectiveness.
• Execute continuous monitoring using KRIs, KCIs, data analytics and automation.
• Document testing results, observations, root causes and remediation recommendations.
• Maintain testing inventories and ensure SLAs are met.
• Support control assessment disposition and provide remediation guidance.
• Partner with business stakeholders for risk governance and change management.
• Support internal audits, compliance reviews and control assurance activities.
• Assist with risk reporting, metrics and management presentations.

Skills

Risk management

Analytical skills

Stakeholder management

Data analytics

Project management

Communication

Team collaboration

Education

Bachelor's Degree

Tools

GRC platforms

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

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.

Why Work for Us

At Citizens, you'll find a customer-centric culture built around helping our customers and giving back to our local communities. When you join our team, you are part of a supportive and collaborative workforce, with access to training and tools to accelerate your potential and maximize your career growth

Background Check

Any offer of employment is conditioned upon the candidate successfully passing a background check, which may include initial credit, motor vehicle record, public record, prior employment verification, and criminal background checks. Results of the background check are individually reviewed based upon legal requirements imposed by our regulators and with consideration of the nature and gravity of the background history and the job offered. Any offer of employment will include further information.