Compliance and Ops Risk Test Specialist

This role is instrumental in identifying and mitigating risk by assessing the control environment, identifying gaps, and supporting remediation. You will execute testing with precision and accountability, producing clear documentation that supports conclusions. You will collaborate with process and control owners and cross-functional teams to complete walkthroughs, gather evidence, and report results in a timely manner.

Job summary:

As a Compliance and Operations Risk Test Specialist within compliance and operational risk testing, you will assess the control environment to identify gaps and support remediation to mitigate risk. You will execute testing with precision and accountability to deliver high-quality outcomes aligned to the firm’s highest risks. You will apply analytical thinking and problem-solving skills to break down complex objectives into manageable tasks and activities. You will contribute to a cohesive and efficient testing framework through strong documentation, collaboration, and continuous improvement of testing methods.

Job responsibilities:

• Understand and evaluate the assigned function’s control environment, with proven experience assessing the adequacy, effectiveness, and design of controls to ensure alignment with SOX, other regulatory frameworks, and the firm’s risk priorities.
• Execute testing processes with precision and accountability to assess the control environment, identify gaps, and prepare robust documentation including process documents, process flows, and overview documents that support testing conclusions.
• Collaborate with process and control owners and cross-functional teams on the testing schedule; obtain walkthroughs of processes; document process changes; gather evidence; analyze potential issues; and facilitate timely reporting.
• Partner with control owners to support issue validation, action plan quality, and closure discipline, ensuring remediation aligns with risk acceptance and compliance expectations.
• Lead walkthroughs and other meetings with business owners, fostering collaboration across engagements with minimal oversight.
• Read and interpret policies, standards, and procedures to support accurate implementation of compliance requirements, and continuously improve control evaluation methodologies, including interpretation of control ratings and metrics.
• Propose and implement improvements to current testing methods, contributing to the efficiency and effectiveness of risk management.

Required qualifications, capabilities, and skills:

• Bachelor’s degree in business, finance, or a related field, or equivalent work experience; minimum of 2 years of experience in controls testing, audit, or operational risk management within a risk and control environment.
• Domain knowledge of banking products and the ability to interpret financial statements; experience across one or more of the following: product control, balance sheet substantiation, month-end close processes (journal entries, accruals, financial close procedures), treasury (liquidity management, capital management, Basel capital, securities operations, front and middle office operations, asset liability management), reconciliation processes (account reconciliation, position matching, break resolution), valuation controls (independent price verification, fair value adjustments), regulatory reporting, financial reporting (daily financial reporting, external disclosures, off-balance-sheet review), and control testing (SOX testing, risk assessments, key control reviews, issue identification, remediation tracking).
• Demonstrated proficiency in advanced analytical thinking and problem-solving, including analyzing large data sets to identify exceptions or patterns and evaluating key information.
• Proven ability to build strong partnerships with key stakeholders and collaborate with business and functional experts to recognize risks and gaps.
• Excellent organizational and time management skills, with the ability to remain flexible and productive through shifting priorities and deadlines.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to influence business leaders in a meaningful and actionable manner.
• Demonstrated expertise in Microsoft Office applications, with advanced skills in Excel, Word, and PowerPoint.

Preferred qualifications, capabilities, and skills:

• Professional qualifications such as Chartered Accountant (CA), Certified Public Accountant (CPA), Master of Business Administration (MBA) in Finance, or Certified Internal Auditor (CIA).
• Audit and control testing background and experience.
• Comfortable using intelligent solutions such as Alteryx and Tableau to support testing activities or metrics reporting.
• Ability to innovate, challenge the status quo, and identify automation opportunities.