Operational Risk Manager

Bank of Hawaii; Honolulu (HI); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Bank of Hawaii is seeking an experienced Individual Contributor to lead operational risk management, partnering with business unit leaders to assess risks, strengthen controls, and embed risk considerations into strategic initiatives and process improvements.

This role serves as a trusted advisor, delivering risk reporting, governance, and guidance on controls, compliance programs, and regulatory examinations while maintaining a strong control environment.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in business, finance, accounting, risk management or related field.
• Minimum 12 years in operational risk management or related financial services functions.
• Proficient with Microsoft Office applications.
• Advanced knowledge in business acumen, governance, and risk management.
• Intermediate knowledge in financial modeling and risk governance.

Responsibilities

• Leads identification, assessment, and monitoring of operational risks across units.
• Designs and oversees first-line monitoring, QA reviews, and control testing.
• Ensures procedures align with policies and regulatory requirements.
• Oversees issue and exception management with root-cause analysis.
• Develops risk reporting and dashboards for leadership and governance forums.
• Serves as advisor to leadership, risk partners, audit, and stakeholders.

Skills

Operational risk

Risk governance

Control testing

Regulatory compliance

Stakeholder influence

Education

Bachelor's degree

Tools

Microsoft Office

Excel

Job description

Job Description

As an Individual Contributor, this role is responsible for leading operational risk management activities and influencing the development of a strong and sustainable control environment. This position partners with business unit leaders to assess emerging risks, strengthen operational controls, and integrate risk management considerations into strategic initiatives, process improvements, and organizational transformation efforts. The role serves as a key advisor to leadership and risk partners, providing insight and guidance that supports operational integrity, regulatory compliance, and effective governance.

Responsibilities

• Risk Identification and Assessment: Leads the identification, assessment, and ongoing monitoring of operational risks across assigned business units or functions. Conducts risk and control self-assessments, evaluates process vulnerabilities and control effectiveness, and maintains a current view of the operational risk profile to inform business decisions and risk mitigation priorities.
• Control Environment and Monitoring: Designs, implements, and oversees first-line monitoring routines, quality assurance reviews, control testing, and other risk management activities. Evaluates the design and effectiveness of embedded controls, identifies gaps, and drives enhancements that reduce residual risk and strengthen operational resilience.
• Policy, Procedure, and Compliance Governance: Ensures operational procedures are documented, maintained, and aligned with enterprise policies, regulatory requirements, and industry standards. Partners with business units to promote procedural consistency, support the standardization of practices, and reinforce compliance with applicable laws, regulations, and Bank requirements.
• Issue and Exception Management: Oversees the identification, escalation, tracking, and remediation of control gaps, exceptions, errors, and operational incidents. Performs root cause analyses, evaluates the adequacy of corrective action plans, and validates that remediation efforts are timely, effective, and sustainable.
• Risk Reporting and Governance: Develops and presents operational risk reporting, dashboards, and analyses to leadership and applicable governance forums. Provides data-driven insights regarding risk trends, emerging concerns, control effectiveness, and the overall health of the control environment to support informed decision-making and appropriate risk acceptance.
• Strategic Partnership and Advisory: Serves as a key advisor to business leaders, second-line risk and compliance partners, audit, and other stakeholders on complex operational risk and control matters. Provides risk-based guidance for strategic initiatives, process improvements, automation, system modernization, and organizational changes, and supports responses to audit and regulatory examination requests.
• Performs other responsibilities and duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in business administration, finance, accounting, risk management, or a related field. Equivalent work experience or certification(s) may be considered in lieu of degree.
• Minimum 12 years of experience in operational risk management, internal controls, audit, compliance, banking operations, or related financial services functions, including experience with risk and control self-assessments, control testing, issue remediation, project management, and process improvement.
• Proficient with Microsoft Office applications.
• Advanced knowledge and skill proficiency in business acumen, continuous improvement, corporate governance, customer experience, decision making & judgement, financial risk management, laws & regulations, operational risk management, regulatory compliance, risk management, and strategic thinking.
• Intermediate knowledge and skill proficiency in financial modeling, model risk management, and risk governance.
• Demonstrates excellent verbal and written communication skills, strong analytical abilities, attention to detail, and intellectual curiosity. Able to manage multiple priorities, build effective relationships, influence stakeholders, exercise discretion with sensitive information, and adapt to changing business needs in both independent and collaborative environments.

As a Bank of Hawaii employee, you ensure (or assist with ensuring) compliance with applicable laws, regulations, regulatory requirements and Bank policies and procedures, including but not limited to those related to Fair Banking, Anti-Money Laundering laws and regulations, Bank Secrecy Act and USA PATRIOT Act.

Delivering exceptional customer experiences is at the heart of what we do at Bank of Hawaii. We listen, understand and deliver what our customers need to help them build a better tomorrow.

We are an EEO/AA employer, including disability and veterans. For Bank of Hawaii's full EEO statement, please visit https://www.boh.com/careers.