SVP, Technology - Governance

Synchrony; Stamford, Northern (CT, KY); Hybrid; USD 235,000 - 390,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Annual Incentive Plan

Annual Equity

Flexible work options

Job summary

Synchrony is seeking an SVP, Technology Governance Leader in Stamford, CT. This role leads the first line of defense governance for Technology, shaping risk-based controls and end-to-end governance strategies to prevent losses from control failures.

You will drive regulatory interactions, oversee issues governance, and guide SOX/PCI/software governance programs while partnering with second and third lines of defense to maintain robust control environments. Hybrid work is supported.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree with 15+ years relevant management experience.
• 10+ years’ experience leading governance teams and creating a risk culture.
• Minimum 5 years’ experience interacting with external financial regulatory agencies.
• Strong working knowledge of collections, customer service, and fraud compliance requirements.

Responsibilities

• Leads and develops professionals responsible for first line of defense governance activities within Technology.
• Executes an effective risk-based governance structure for Technology including preventative and detective controls.
• Oversees Tech Issues Governance and produces monthly/quarterly reporting for Tech SLT and regulatory updates.
• Drives improvements in Issues Management processes across Technology, including aggregation, reporting, and root cause analysis.
• Responsible for driving the process, risk and governance of operational resiliency.
• Lead Technology Risk Strategy & Program Delivery globally (SOX, PCI, Software Governance).
• Builds relationships with Regulators and interfaces on regulatory exams.
• Monitors regulatory landscape for compliance with FFIEC guidelines.
• Oversees annual testing, audit, exam and 3rd party reviews; ensures readiness and MAPs/MRAs execution.
• Partners with 2nd and 3rd lines of defense to ensure a strong control environment.

Skills

Governance leadership

Regulatory engagement

Risk management

Controls strategy

Exam readiness

Education

Bachelor's Degree

MBA (preferred)

Job description

Role Summary/Purpose:

The SVP, Technology Governance Leader will report to the EVP, Chief Technology Officer, and is accountable for the overall process governance strategy for all sub-functions across Technology. This SVP role provides thought leadership and expertise to a team responsible for critical first line of defense governance functions including centralized leadership for process and policy governance, reporting, process risk assessments, surveillance standardization, exam, audit and testing readiness.

Additionally, the SVP will evolve Technology’s end to end control strategies, framework, and solutions driving stronger preventative controls, simplification and automation that directly control and limit losses due to internal control failures

Essential Responsibilities:

• Leads and develops professionals responsible for first line of defense governance activities within Technology
• Executes an effective risk-based governance structure for Technology including establishing or strengthening preventative and detective controls to drive risk mitigation throughout the function which facilitate a strong risk management culture
• Oversees the Tech Issues Governance process and produces monthly and quarterly issue management reporting for Tech SLT and regulatory updates
• Drives improvements in Issues Management processes across Technology, ensuring aggregation, reporting, trending, and escalation to the SLT. Drives root cause analysis processes to support leaders across Technology.
• Responsible for driving the process, risk and governance of operational resiliency.
• Responsible for Technology Risk Strategy & Program Delivery globally, providing leadership and direction to governance activities such as SOX, PCI, Software Governance and Controllership
• Builds relationships with Regulators and interfaces on regulatory exams and managing supervisory activities, in partnership with Supervisory Affairs
• Monitors the regulatory landscape to ensure compliance with regulatory and FFIEC guidelines
• Promotes external benchmarking in areas of risk assessment, surveillance, and remediation to ensure Technology maintains a sustainable governance program
• Leads change control efforts across Technology
• Oversees annual testing, audit, exam and other 3rd party reviews across Technology, ensuring the function maintains a high level of exam/audit readiness and is prepared to effectively execute management action plans (“MAPs”), matters requiring attention (“MRAs”) and lead efforts to ensure that MRAs and findings are not repeated
• Partners with 2nd and 3rd lines of defense to ensure sufficient control environment
• Supports other projects and responsibilities as assigned.

Qualifications/Requirements:

• Bachelor’s Degree with 15+ years relevant management experience
• 10+ years’ experience leading governance teams and creating a risk culture
• Minimum 5 years’ experience interacting with external financial regulatory agencies
• Strong working knowledge of collections, customer service, and fraud compliance requirements
• Prior experience identifying process risks and defining key controls
• Deep knowledge of external regulatory and compliance requirements specifically related to Technology, Collections, Operations and/or Fraud
• Governance leadership across Technology and/or Operations org previously
• Ability and flexibility to travel for business as required

Desired Characteristics:

• MBA or equivalent advanced degree
• Strategic thinker with keen business acuity and decision-making skills
• Experience creating and leading organizational change
• Proven ability to accomplish goals with highly complex, time sensitive deliverables
• Proven experience creating and driving customer processes
• Problem solver with experience defining, shaping, and influencing strategy
• Ability to influence across the business at all levels in the organization
• Excellent people leadership skills and a proven track record of developing high potential talent
• Skilled communicator at all levels inside and outside an organization
• Strong operational knowledge of operating metrics and processes and the ability to drive value by balancing efficiency and effectiveness measures
• Ability to demonstrate innovation and creative approaches to business priorities

Grade/Level: 16

The salary range for this position is 235,000.00 - 390,000.00 USD Annual. This position is also eligible for an Annual Incentive Plan target of 30% of salary and an Annual Equity target of 30% of salary.

Actual compensation offered within the posted salary range will be based upon work experience, skill level or knowledge.

Salaries are adjusted according to market in CA, NY Metro and Seattle.

Our Way of Working

We’re proud to offer you flexibility. At Synchrony, our way of working allows you to have the option to work from home near one of our Hubs or come into one of our offices.You will be required to commute to your nearestHub (either virtual or physical) for in-person engagement activities such as regularbusiness or team meetings, training and culture events.

*Field Sales and some Commercial team roles may have varied location requirements based upon partner obligations or preferences.

Eligibility Requirements:

• You must be 18 years or older
• You must have a high school diploma or equivalent
• You must be willing to take a drug test, submit to a background investigation and submit fingerprints as part of the onboarding process
• You must be able to satisfy the requirements of Section 19 of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act.
• New hires (Level 4-7) must have 9 months of continuous service with the company before they are eligible to post on other roles. Once this new hire time in position requirement is met, the associate will have a minimum 6 months’ time in position before they can post for future non-exempt roles. Employees, level 8 or greater, must have at least 18 months’ time in position before they can post. All internal employees must consistently meet performance expectations and have approval from your manager to post (or the approval of your manager and HR if you don’t meet the time in position or performance expectations).

Legal authorization to work in the U.S. is required. We will not sponsor individuals for employment visas, now or in the future, for this job opening.All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or veteran status.

Our Commitment:

When you join us, you’ll be part of an inclusive culture where your individual skills, experience, and voice are not only heard – but valued. Together, we’re building a future where we can all belong, connect, and turn ideals into action. More than 50% of our workforce is engaged in our Employee Resource Groups (ERGs), where community and passion intersect to offer a safe space to learn and grow.

This starts when you choose to apply for a role at Synchrony. We ensure all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or veteran status. We’re proud to have an award-winning culture for all.

Reasonable Accommodation Notice:

• Federal law requires employers to provide reasonable accommodation to qualified individuals with disabilities. Please tell us if you require a reasonable accommodation to apply for a job or to perform your job. Examples of reasonable accommodation include making a change to the application process or work procedures, providing documents in an alternate format, using a sign language interpreter, or using specialized equipment.
• If you need special accommodations, please call our Career Support Line so that we can discuss your specific situation. We can be reached at 1-866-301-5627. Representatives are available from 8am – 5pm Monday to Friday, Central Standard Time

Job Family Group:

Information Technology