Risk Manager

Betterment; New York (NY); Hybrid; USD 140,000 - 155,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401(k) match

Medical/dental/vision

Paid time off

Job summary

Betterment is seeking a Risk Manager to join our Risk Management team in NYC. You will own a portfolio of risk processes, perform risk assessments, and advise management to strengthen our risk posture as the business grows.

You will leverage AI and automation to build context quickly, analyze data, and communicate risk clearly. The role sits on a team that partners with Engineering, Security, Compliance, Legal, and Operations.

Qualifications

• 4+ years of experience in financial services with exposure to operational risk areas.
• Ability to build context quickly in unfamiliar risk areas, supported by AI tools.
• Proficiency using AI and automation tools to identify, document, and communicate risk management activities.
• Strong, concise written and verbal communication, including the ability to deliver effective challenge while preserving partnership.
• Good judgment in ambiguous situations with limited information, while always doing what is best for our customers.
• Comfort working with data (e.g., SQL, spreadsheets) to test controls and support conclusions.
• CISA certification is a plus, but no license is required.

Responsibilities

• Own a portfolio of risk processes from end to end.
• Proactively monitor risks related to third-party vendors.
• Follow up on open issues to drive remediation.
• Provide effective challenge feedback to product managers on new products and features.
• Operate and monitor the results of control testing and monitoring processes.
• Run SQL queries and reports using AI tools for efficiency.
• Document complex business processes.
• Provide evidence to auditors and examiners.
• Collaborate with Engineering, Security, Compliance, Legal and Operations to communicate risk.

Skills

Operational risk experience

SQL

Data analysis

AI tools literacy

Effective communication

Education

CISA certification

Tools

SQL

Job description

About Betterment

Betterment is a leading, technology-driven financial services company that offers investing, savings and retirement solutions for retail investors and investment advisors as well as financial wellness solutions, including a 401(k) for small and medium-sized businesses. Our team is passionate about our mission, to empower people to build wealth with confidence and ease. We’re headquartered in NYC and offer hybrid NY-based positions (four days/ week in-office, with no required office days during the summer and winter holidays).

About The Role

This role sits on our Risk Management team — a small second line-of-defense (2LOD) function responsible for enterprise risk management (ERM) and effective challenge across operational risks such as third‑party risk, fraud and identity theft, operational errors, and business continuity. The team partners closely with Engineering and with other risk disciplines including Security, Compliance, Legal, and Operations.

As a Risk Manager, you will own a portfolio of risk processes, perform risk assessments, and consult with management to keep our risk posture strong as the business grows. You will use AI and automation tools throughout your work to build context quickly, analyze data, and communicate risk clearly.

This role is based out of our NYC office. Below is the base salary range for this position. Actual salaries may vary depending on factors including but not limited to location, experience, and performance. The range listed is just one component of Betterment’s total compensation package for employees.

Compensation

• New York City: $140,000-$155,000

This job may also be eligible for variable compensation in the form of a company incentive bonus.

A Day in the Life

• Own a portfolio of risk processes end to end, where success comes from a high degree of ownership over outcomes.
• Proactively monitor risks related to third‑party vendors.
• Follow up on open issues to drive management attention and timely remediation.
• Provide effective challenge feedback to product managers on new products and features.
• Operate and monitor the results of control testing and monitoring processes.
• Run SQL queries and reports, using AI tools for efficiency and automation.
• Document complex business processes.
• Provide evidence to auditors and examiners.
• Partner across the second line and with Engineering, Security, Compliance, Legal, and Operations to assess and communicate risk in a way that earns buy‑in.

What We’re Looking For

• 4+ years of experience in financial services with exposure to one or more operational risk areas — for example, third‑party risk, fraud, incident management, identity theft, records retention, audit fieldwork and reporting, and/or governance.
• Intellectual curiosity and the ability to build context quickly in unfamiliar risk areas, supported by the team and by AI tools.
• Proficiency using AI and automation tools to identify, document, and communicate risk management activities.
• Strong, concise written and verbal communication, including the ability to deliver effective challenge while preserving partnership.
• Good judgment in ambiguous situations with limited information, while always doing what is best for our customers.
• Comfort working with data (e.g., SQL, spreadsheets) to test controls and support conclusions.
• Professional certifications such as the CISA are a plus, but no license is required.

Values

• We change lives — be a part of a community of innovators working to transform financial outcomes for real people. Your work will make an impact, always laddering up to our mission; to empower people to build wealth with confidence and ease.
• We set audacious goals — we set them for the company, our customers, and ourselves, and we won’t stop until we reach them. We don’t just show up; we give our all, then celebrate our wins.
• We value all perspectives — when we collaborate, we’re at our best. We believe diverse perspectives lead to better outcomes and strive to uphold our supportive and inclusive community.
• We simplify financial services — we’re financial services pioneers, always finding new ways to improve, optimize, and enhance. Constant improvement is in our DNA.

Benefits

• We offer a competitive suite of benefits, including medical, dental, and vision coverage; life and AD&D insurance; short- and long-term disability; infertility support and WPATH-aligned transgender health benefits; an Employee Assistance Program (EAP); transit benefits and FSA and HSA options.
• Ownership: Equity for all employees, including new hire and refresher grants.
• Time: Flexible paid time off, paid parental leave, and a fully paid four-week sabbatical in your sixth year.
• Growth: Company-paid professional coaching for all employees.
• Wealth: Day‑one 401(k) match plus matching on qualified student loan payments.

Betterment is dedicated to providing accommodations to candidates upon request. If you need accommodations at any point throughout the interview process, please reach out to your recruiter.

Betterment is an equal opportunity employer and complies with all applicable federal, state, and local fair employment practices laws. We strictly prohibit and do not tolerate discrimination against employees, applicants, or any other covered persons because of race, color, religion, creed, national origin or ancestry, ethnicity, sex, gender (including gender nonconformity and status as a transgender or transsexual individual), sexual orientation, marital status, age, physical or mental disability, citizenship, past, current or prospective service in the uniformed services, predisposing genetic characteristic, domestic violence victim status, arrest records, or any other characteristic protected under applicable federal, state or local law.