Principal Risk Specialist, Card Controls Program Operations

Capital One; McLean (VA); On-site; USD 109,900 - 137,900; Full time

Job summary

Capital One in McLean, Virginia is seeking a Principal Risk Specialist for Card Controls Program Operations. This role drives design effectiveness testing and strengthens the control environment across card risk.

The position requires collaboration with cross-functional teams, adherence to enterprise standards, and delivery of clear testing artifacts to support continuous improvement and accountability.

Qualifications

• High School Diploma, GED, or equivalent certification.
• At least 2 years in Control Testing or Internal Audit.
• Bachelor’s degree preferred; 3+ years in financial services, compliance or risk management.

Responsibilities

• Support end-to-end testing of controls.
• Plan and execute test processes by established deadlines with minimal supervision.
• Assess operational and design effectiveness of US Card automated, hybrid, and manual controls in adherence to enterprise standards and internal requirements.
• Create and maintain testing support documentation such as work papers, rationale, testing reports, and write-ups of findings for reporting.
• Perform code reviews for automated/hybrid controls.
• Identify internal control weaknesses and recommend remediation to strengthen the control environment.
• Conduct quality assurance reviews of completed test workbooks and results.
• Partner cross-functionally with program customers and assessors to provide strategic and tactical thought partnership that drives delivery.
• Build relationships and collaborate with key stakeholders.
• Advance the Well Managed agenda within Card, promoting sustainability, simplification, automation, transparency, and control ecosystem strengthening.
• Support process documentation creation and revision, including version control.

Skills

Control Testing

Internal Audit

Regulatory Compliance

Risk Management

Automated Controls Testing

Education

Bachelor’s Degree

High School Diploma or GED

Job description

Overview

Principal Risk Specialist, Card Controls Program Operations – The Card Risk organization leads core areas spanning Strategy, Operations, Technology, Analytics, and Risk Management. This role is part of the Process Excellence Team, driving a multi‑year Well Managed journey to strengthen the control ecosystem, enable ownership and accountability through transparency, amplify simplification and automation, and promote sustainability across Card business areas.

As a key member of the Well Managed Program, the Principal Risk Specialist will execute Design Effectiveness controls testing for Card in alignment with the Enterprise Control Standard and the Process Management and Controls Framework, ensuring comprehensive evaluation of control activities and directly impacting the company’s bottom line.

Responsibilities

• Support end‑to‑end testing of controls.
• Plan and execute test processes by established deadlines with minimal supervision.
• Assess operational and design effectiveness of US Card automated, hybrid, and manual controls in adherence to enterprise standards and internal requirements.
• Create and maintain testing support documentation such as work papers, rationale, testing reports, and write‑ups of findings for reporting.
• Perform code reviews for automated/hybrid controls.
• Identify internal control weaknesses and recommend remediation to strengthen the control environment.
• Conduct quality assurance reviews of completed test workbooks and results.
• Partner cross‑functionally with program customers and assessors to provide strategic and tactical thought partnership that drives delivery.
• Build relationships and collaborate with key stakeholders.
• Advance the Well Managed agenda within Card, promoting sustainability, simplification, automation, transparency, and control ecosystem strengthening.
• Support process documentation creation and revision, including version control.

Qualifications

Basic

• High School Diploma, GED, or equivalent certification.
• At least 2 years of experience in Control Testing or Internal Audit.

Preferred

• Bachelor’s Degree.
• 3+ years of experience in the financial services industry.
• 3+ years of regulatory compliance or credit experience.
• 3+ years of Risk Management experience.
• 3+ years of automated controls testing experience.

Salary & Benefits

McLean, VA: $120,800 – $137,900 for Principal Risk Specialist.

Richmond, VA: $109,900 – $125,400 for Principal Risk Specialist.

This role is also eligible for performance‑based incentive compensation, which may include cash bonuses and/or long‑term incentives.

EEO Statement

Capital One is an equal opportunity employer (EOE, including disability/vet) committed to non‑discrimination in compliance with applicable federal, state, and local laws.