Principal Risk Analyst (Hybrid)

First American; Santa Ana (CA); On-site; USD 98,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

First American is seeking a Principal Risk Analyst to act as a senior risk expert and strategic partner in strengthening enterprise risk and control environments. The role demands deep risk management expertise, strong analytical skills, and the ability to influence stakeholders across the organization.

This hybrid position requires in-office attendance three days per week (Mon, Tue, Thu). The candidate should have extensive experience in ERM, risk reporting, and governance, with a track record

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Business, Accounting, Finance, Risk Management, or related field.
• 8+ years of relevant experience in financial services, enterprise risk management, audit, compliance, or related disciplines.
• Advanced knowledge of ERM practices including risk identification, assessment, controls, and governance.
• Experience with COSO ERM, ISO 31000, or similar frameworks.
• Experience leading enterprise risk reporting and synthesizing complex information for senior management.

Responsibilities

• Serve as a senior subject matter expert on enterprise and operational risk, providing guidance on risks, controls and mitigation.
• Own the end-to-end ERM reporting cycle, including Risk Appetite metrics and top risk scorecards.
• Lead collection, validation, and analysis of enterprise risk data and trends.
• Translate risk information into executive-ready dashboards and reporting for governance committees.
• Lead complex risk assessments and process reviews to strengthen the control environment.
• Partner with business leaders and risk owners to provide second-line review and challenge.
• Monitor significant risk issues and remediation activities and escalate material concerns.

Skills

Executive communication

ERM reporting

Data analysis

Risk management

Stakeholder influence

Education

Bachelor's degree in Business/Finance

Tools

Power BI

Power Query

AuditBoard

ServiceNow

Job description

Who We Are

Join a team that puts its People First! Since 1889, First American (NYSE: FAF) has held an unwavering belief in its people. They are passionate about what they do, and we are equally passionate about fostering an environment where all feel welcome, supported, and empowered to be innovative and reach their full potential. Our inclusive, people‑first culture has earned our company numerous accolades, including being named to the Fortune 100 Best Companies to Work For® list for eleven consecutive years. We have also earned awards as a best place to work for women, diversity and LGBTQ+ employees, and have been included on more than 50 regional best places to work lists. First American will always strive to be a great place to work, for all. For more information, please visit www.careers.firstam.com.

What We Do

First American is seeking a Principal Risk Analyst to serve as a senior risk expert and strategic partner in strengthening our enterprise risk and control environment. An ideal candidate has deep risk management expertise, strong analytical and problem‑solving skills, and the ability to navigate complex business and regulatory challenges. This highly visible role will lead to complex risk assessments, identify emerging risks and control gaps, perform root cause analysis, and develop actionable recommendations that influence business decisions and strengthen operational effectiveness. We’re looking for someone who can work independently, provide thoughtful challenges, influence stakeholders across the organization, and help shape and mature risk management practices while driving meaningful, sustainable improvements.

• This is a hybrid position requiring in‑office attendance three days per week: Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday.

WHAT YOU'LL DO

• Serve as a senior subject matter expert and strategic advisor on enterprise and operational risk, providing guidance on complex and emerging risks, controls, and mitigation strategies.
• Own the end‑to‑end ERM reporting cycle, including Risk Appetite metrics, Top Risk scorecards, breach reporting, and other executive and governance reporting.
• Lead the collection, validation, and analysis of enterprise risk data, identifying trends, emerging risks, changes in exposure, and matters requiring management attention.
• Translate complex risk information into actionable insights through executive‑ready dashboards, scorecards, presentations, and reporting for senior management and governance committees.
• Lead complex risk assessments and process reviews to evaluate risks, controls, dependencies, accountabilities, and opportunities to strengthen the control environment.
• Partner with business leaders and risk owners while providing effective second‑line review and challenge of risk assessments, mitigation strategies, issues, and management action plans.
• Monitor significant risk issues and remediation activities, challenge progress and supporting evidence, and escalated material concerns to ERM leadership.
• Drive enhancements to ERM methodologies, processes, analytics, governance GRC technology, and tools, including opportunities for standardization and automation.
• Independently lead complex, high‑priority initiatives requiring significant judgment, cross‑functional coordination, and management of competing priorities.
• Provide ERM expertise, guidance, knowledge sharing, and functional support to business partners and less experienced team members.

WHAT YOU'LL BRING

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Accounting, Finance, Risk Management, or a related field, or equivalent education and experience.
• 8+ years of relevant experience in financial services, enterprise risk management, audit, compliance, business analysis, or related disciplines, including 3+ years of direct risk management experience.
• Advanced knowledge of ERM practices, including risk identification and assessment, controls, KRIs, risk appetite, mitigation, monitoring, issue management, and governance.
• Experience applying recognized risk frameworks such as COSO ERM, ISO 31000, or similar frameworks.
• Demonstrated experience leading enterprise risk reporting and synthesizing complex information across multiple business units for senior management and governance audiences.
• Strong analytical and problem‑solving skills with the ability to evaluate complex and interconnected risks and develop fact‑based recommendations.
• Demonstrated ability to provide effective review and challenge, exercise independent judgment, influence stakeholders, and appropriately escalated significant risk matters.
• Strong data analysis and visualization skills with the ability to translate quantitative and qualitative information into meaningful risk insights.
• Ability to independently lead complex assignments, manage competing priorities, and drive improvements across processes and programs.
• Strong executive communication, presentation, facilitation, and relationship‑management skills with the ability to influence across our business and functional areas.
• Excellent organizational skills, attention to detail, and commitment to data integrity and quality.

IDEALLY, YOU'LL ALSO HAVE EXPERIENCE WITH

• Title insurance, mortgage, settlement services, banking, insurance, or another regulated financial services industry.
• Risk Appetite frameworks, Top Risk reporting, KRIs, thresholds, breach management, and executive or governance‑level risk reporting.
• Working within a second‑line risk function and providing independent review and challenge to business leaders and risk owners.
• Leading complex risk assessments, process reviews, workshops, and remediation activities with management‑level stakeholders.
• Designing or enhancing ERM methodologies, governance practices, reporting processes, procedures, and supporting tools.
• Automating or standardizing risk reporting, data collection, analytics, and other ERM processes.
• Power BI, Power Query, or similar data analysis and visualization tools.
• GRC platforms such as AuditBoard, ServiceNow, or similar systems, including implementation, configuration, or enhancement.
• Professional certifications in risk management, audit, compliance, controls, or financial services.

Pay Range

Pay Range: $97,700.00 - $130,300.00 Annually This hiring range is a reasonable estimate of the base pay range for this position at the time of posting. Pay is based on a number of factors which may include job‑related knowledge, skills, experience, business requirements and geographic location.

First American will consider for employment all qualified applicants, including those with arrest or conviction records, in a manner consistent with the requirements of applicable state and local laws (e.g., the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance for Employers and the California Fair Chance Act). First American intends to conduct a review of an applicant’s criminal history in connection with a conditional offer. First American reasonably believes that a criminal history may have a direct, adverse and negative relationship with the following material job duties for this position potentially resulting in the withdrawal of the conditional offer of employment: handling of confidential, proprietary or trade secret information belonging to First American or its customers, administrating or facilitating financial transactions, and the ability to meet customer‑imposed criminal history requirements.

What We Offer

• Based on eligibility, First American offers a comprehensive benefits package including medical, dental, vision, 401k, PTO/paid sick leave and other great benefits like an employee stock purchase plan.

First American is an equal opportunity employer in every sense of the term.

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