Role Summary/Purpose
The AVP, Compliance Risk Assessment is responsible for managing the ongoing Compliance Risk Assessment (CRA) process for Synchrony including planning, execution, reporting of the results, and continuous enhancement of the program. The AVP role performs quality assurance (QA) and data analytics, produces management reporting (including dashboards), and ensures CRA outputs feed the Enterprise Risk Assessment (ERA) and broader Compliance Program requirements.
The AVP role also supports coordination of the material risks incorporated into the Enterprise Risk Assessment, leads and supports expanding processes, including monitoring and reporting Compliance Risk Appetite Statement (RAS) limits and escalation triggers, maintaining data quality for the Legal Requirements inventory (CTC/CTQs), supporting change management testing for CRA/eGRC enhancements, and responding to requests from regulators, Risk Testing, and Internal Audit. The AVP partners closely with Compliance SMEs and other risk pillars to promote consistency, transparency, and enterprise-wide usability of compliance risk information.
Essential Responsibilities
- Lead end-to-end execution of CRAs, including planning, scheduling, training, system updates, SME coordination, and delivery of results.
- Conduct and/or manage QA reviews of CRAs to ensure adherence to standards and consistency across assessments.
- Enhance CRA methodology, documentation, governance routines, and tools to promote an enterprise-wide approach.
- Maintain CRA program documentation, procedures, job aids, and training materials, including required annual/biannual updates.
- Analyze inputs (e.g., issues, complaints, testing results) and assess impacts to CRA ratings, themes, and reporting.
- Serve as the Compliance point of contact for quarterly ERA activities for material (Tier 1) compliance risks.
- Coordinate contributors, aggregate compliance risk insights, and ensure accurate representation of compliance risk posture.
- Monitor and report compliance RAS limits, breaches, and escalation triggers, including operating controls and governance routines.
- Prepare and deliver recurring leadership updates on trends, drivers, and remediation status.
- Maintain the Legal Requirements inventory (CTC/CTQs), including workflow processing, data quality reviews, and recurring maintenance forums.
- Partner with stakeholders to improve inventory accuracy, standardization (e.g., product naming), and usability across compliance programs and reporting.
- Maintain and enhance CRA reporting (e.g., Tableau dashboards) and executive/leadership summaries.
- Support eGRC updates, including pre- and post-production testing for CRA functionality changes and enhancements.
- Use data analytics to identify themes, emerging risks, process gaps, and improvement opportunities.
- Review assurance results (e.g., Internal Audit, Risk Testing) and evaluate impacts to compliance risk assessments and risk reporting.
- Support responses to documentation requests from regulators, Internal Audit, and other governance stakeholders.
- Build partnerships across Compliance, Risk, 1LOD, and other stakeholders to drive standards adoption, reporting alignment, and process improvements.
- Lead or support special projects as assigned, including new process introductions and enhancements.
- Perform other duties and/or special projects as assigned.
Qualifications/Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree and 3+ years of experience in governance, risk, and controls within a financial institution; or in lieu of a degree, 5–7+ years of relevant financial services experience in governance, risk, and controls.
- Working knowledge of regulatory expectations for compliance programs and general familiarity with U.S. laws (and, where applicable, Canadian laws) relevant to Synchrony.
- Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to produce clear governance documentation and leadership-ready reporting.
- Experience using risk/compliance tools and reporting solutions (e.g., eGRC, SharePoint/Teamsites, Tableau, or similar platforms).
- Ability and flexibility to travel for business as required
Desired Characteristics
- Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel, PowerPoint, and Word; familiarity with workflow/automation tools (e.g., Power Apps) preferred.
- Ability to influence across a matrixed organization and build strong cross-functional relationships as a trusted business partner.
- Strong analytical, risk management, and problem-solving skills with attention to detail.
- Project and process management skills, including the ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines.
- Experience developing and maintaining dashboards and management reporting (Tableau preferred).
- Understanding of regulatory guidance and industry best practices applicable to banking operations and consumer compliance.
- Certification preferred: Certified Regulatory Compliance Manager (CRCM).
Grade/Level: 11
The salary