Risk Management Business Partner

Who are we?

At Finastra, we’re a global leader in financial services software, dedicated to expanding access to financial services and shaping what’s next for the industry. Our technology powers mission‐critical solutions across Lending, Payments and Universal Banking, supporting over 7,000 customers, including 80% of the world’s top 50 banks, in more than 110 countries.

Role summary

The Risk Management Business Partner is accountable for end-to-end risk management, regulatory compliance, and internal audit for Finastra’s Universal Banking Business Unit. Reporting to the Chief Risk and Compliance Officer (CRCO) with a dotted line into the BU, the role acts as a strategic partner to senior leaders, providing expert advice, oversight of risk identification and mitigation, and effective engagement with regulators and other external examiners.

Role context

Finastra is recruiting for a Risk Management Business Partner who will be responsible for all aspects of Risk Management, Regulatory Compliance, and Internal Audit for our Universal Banking Business Unit (BU).

This is an important leadership role which will report directly to Finastra’s Chief Risk and Compliance Officer (CRCO) with a dotted line into the Business Unit and will act as a strategic partner to the BU, providing expert advice on risk and regulatory matters.

This role will partner and collaborate with stakeholders across Finastra – including IT, Information Security, Enterprise Risk Management, Compliance, and Audit – as well as stakeholders within the Universal Banking BU.

This role will be the single point of accountability with complete oversight for risk identification and mitigation within the BU, and will develop and maintain key relationships with external regulatory bodies, including the Fed, the FDIC and the OCC.

Finastra is a rapidly growing private equity owned company that has evolved through a combination of organic growth and acquisitions. This rapid growth demands accountability and coordination to ensure sound risk management practices are strategic, top of mind, and focused on execution of a strong plan. The role holder will be expected to have a breadth of experience and expertise across Risk, Compliance and Audit capabilities.

Key responsibilities:

• Develop and implement a strategic, long-term risk management strategy and plan for Universal Banking.
• Identify, evaluate, and report on BU risks, practices and progress to senior leadership, governance committees and, as required, to external stakeholders.
• Provide subject-matter expertise on risk management standards and best practices to meet Finastra’s and Universal Banking’s regulatory and compliance obligations.
• Design and implement approaches, standards and processes to ensure that the BU’s risk management program complies with applicable laws, regulations, and contractual requirements.
• Work with senior leaders within the BU to assess and communicate acceptable levels of risk.
• Act as a champion for risk and compliance and foster a risk-aware culture and proactive risk management practices and behaviours.
• Provide ongoing monitoring, tracking, and reporting of issues and remediation activities to senior leadership and governance committees.
• Monitor regulatory guidance for changes to requirements and interact with Internal Audit colleagues and other examiners such as clients and regulators, as required.
• Monitor the industry and external environment for emerging risks and advise relevant stakeholders on appropriate courses of action.
• Conduct audits for compliance with policies, standards, key controls, and regulatory requirements – including testing, analysing evidence, and identifying issues.
• Prepare work papers to adequately document audit work performed and to support conclusions reached.
• Validate exceptions including quantifying risks, investigating root causes, and working with owners to establish action plans.

Experience:

• Extensive experience developing or leading Enterprise Risk Management, Information Security, Audit, Compliance, Business Resilience, and/or IT Governance functions.
• Experience in a financial institution or a risk advisory firm providing advice to the financial services sector, or a financial services regulator.
• Knowledge and experience with laws, regulations, guidelines, and frameworks within the financial services industry such as COSO, NIST, ISO 27001 and 27002, COBIT, GLBA, SOX.
• Regulatory savvy, having operated in a highly regulated environment and worked with compliance and audit to ensure a holistic risk management approach.
• Comfortable working in a matrix organisational structure alongside functional colleagues and business stakeholders.

Skills & capabilities:

• Excellent organisation, presentation, project management, and written and oral communication skills to effectively communicate across a broad range of constituencies, including senior leadership and external regulators.
• Self-driven, with a passion for developing and driving risk practices that produce best-in-class and value-add results in dynamic, evolving and sometimes ambiguous circumstances.
• Innovative thinker with the ability to look beyond past practices for the best path forward.
• Ability to build a deep understanding of Finastra’s business imperatives and strong relationships across all functions.
• Become a respected advisor who collaborates widely to develop risk strategies and influence risk-based decision-making to enable the achievement of long-term business strategy.

Other information:

• Bachelor’s Degree in business, computer science, finance, or a related field (graduate degree preferred).
• Professional certifications, such as CISSP, CISM, CISA.

We are proud to offer a range of incentives to our employees worldwide. These benefits are available to everyone, regardless of grade, and reflect the values we uphold:

· Flexibility: Enjoy unlimited vacation, based on your location and business priorities. Hybrid working arrangements, and inclusive policies such as paid time off for voting, bereavement, and sick leave.

· Well-being: Access Confidential one-on-one therapy through our Employee Assistance Program, find support from our network of Wellbeing Champions and Gather Groups, and a calendar of monthly events and initiatives designed to help you thrive - Inside and Outside of work.

· Medical, life & disability insurance, retirement plan, lifestyle and other benefits*

· Sustainability: Benefit from paid time off for volunteering and donation matching.

· DEI: Participate in multiple DE&I groups for open involvement (e.g., Count Me In, Culture@Finastra, Proud@Finastra, Disabilities@Finastra, Women@Finastra).

· Career Development: Access online learning and accredited courses through our Skills & Career Navigator tool.

· Recognition: Be part of our global recognition program, Finastra Celebrates, and contribute to regular employee surveys to help shape Finastra and foster a culture where everyone is engaged and empowered to perform at their best.

*Specific benefits may vary by location.

At Finastra, each individual is unique, bringing their own ideas, thoughts, cultural beliefs, backgrounds, and experiences together. We learn from one another, embrace and celebrate our differences, and create an environment where everyone feels safe to be themselves.

Be unique, be exceptional, and help us make a difference at Finastra!