Governance & Controls Specialist

Bank N.A.; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 110,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

Bank N.A. in Chicago seeks a Senior Risk Manager to lead accountability for regulatory programs across Tier 1 risks and help design governance, controls, and evidence-based mitigations.

You will coordinate across first and second lines of defense and support strategic initiatives with internal and external stakeholders. This role requires building risk-aware cultures, performing risk assessments, and guiding remediation efforts while ensuring alignment with the Bank's Risk Management Framework

Responsibilities

• Contributes to the design of governance and control requirements for products, processes and channels.
• Supports the execution of risk management programs and frameworks.
• Develops and implements risk mitigation strategies.
• Acts as a subject matter expert in internal control systems.

Job description

Application Deadline:

11/13/2026

Address:

320 S Canal Street

Job Family Group:

Business Management

Contributes to the business' accountability for the delivery of regulatory programs across applicable Tier 1 Risk Types. Contributes to the design of governance and control requirements for products, processes, and channels. Supports the design, development, automation, and coordination of evidence based controls across Credit & Counterparty, Non Financial, Liquidity & Funding, Market, Strategic, Reputation, and Environmental & Social Risks. Supports effective and efficient compliance with regulatory obligations in alignment with the Bank's Risk Management Framework and approved Risk Appetite.

Supports multiple, similar business units with corresponding number of regulators.

Assists with the implementation of risk management programs/ frameworks while identifying and minimizing negative impacts to the business.

Develops and implements risk mitigation strategies.

Acts as a subject matter expert in the evaluation, development and implementation of an internal control system.

Supports the execution of strategic initiatives in collaboration with internal and external stakeholders.

Builds effective relationships with internal/external stakeholders.

Ensures alignment between stakeholders.

Breaks down strategic problems, and analyzes data and information to provide insights and recommendations.

Monitors and tracks performance, and addresses any issues.

Builds change management plans of varying scope and type; leads or participates in a variety of change management activities including readiness assessments, planning, stakeholder management, execution, evaluation and sustainment of initiatives.

Monitoring to ensure that 1st line jobs are following defined processes and procedures.

Develops, documents and maintains business/group procedures updating and obtaining approvals as regulations or the operating environment changes and communicates changes to the business/group & relevant stakeholder groups.

Supports the development of measurable sustainment strategies including assessing and recommending mitigations for industry/ segment-specific risks and prioritizing opportunities presented by internal and external stakeholders.

Tracks exception/exemption requests and corresponding approvals.

Builds awareness, knowledge, and skills and, as necessary, provides communication, practical tools and ongoing support including making presentations, to promote a culture of risk identification and management.

Supports the design, development, coordination of implementation, automation and continuous improvement of 1LOD LOB risk management programs, including supporting the establishment and maintenance of LOB specific policies standards, business processes and controls across all applicable financial and non-financial risks.

Works with assigned business/group leaders to interpret, apply and operationalize relevant regulatory frameworks across the LOB/jurisdiction and designs, develops, coordinates and continually improves the LOBs risk management programs and supporting activities to ensure the business operates within the approved risk appetite and optimizes risk return while meeting BMO's regulatory compliance obligations and consistent with the Bank's Risk Management Framework

Conducts or supports self-assessments to demonstrate control effectiveness and adherence, coordinating 1LOD risk remediation efforts, responding to regulatory requirements, implementing policies, and managing risk measurement and reporting.

Develops and maintains an understanding of the business/group strategies and objectives, products and services, internal and external stakeholders and business processes as well as the underlying infrastructure to identify and manage implications and risk exposures for the business/group.

Identifies, investigates, analyzes & mitigates program risks, taking into account jurisdictional issues, and raises any issues or concerns to senior leaders and other stakeholders.

Contributes to a strong risk culture through collaboration with 1LOD, and engagement with Second Line of Defence (2LOD), Corporate Audit (3LOD), to ensure risks related to products, services, and processes are identified, assessed, measured and managed within the approved risk appetite, and reported on an ongoing basis.

Analyzes the impact and effectiveness of the program through periodic reviews.

Recommends adjustments to the overall program, policy or processes within the business/group in accordance with the Risk Appetite Statement, Governance and Corporate Policy.

Supports the business/group through internal/external audits or regulatory examinations and assists in development of action plans to resolve any identified issues.

Provides support to the development and delivery of training and awareness programs within the business/group to increase awareness of and compliance to risk management requirements.

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