[Hiring] Senior Manager Operational Risk & Controls @BECU

Role Description

As the Senior Manager, Operational Risk & Controls, you will shape and lead a true first-line risk management function within MDX (Member & Digital Experience), transforming how risk, controls, and compliance are designed, owned, and executed. Your work will directly strengthen regulatory readiness, operational resilience, and confidence in business decision-making.

What You’ll Do:

• First Line Risk Leadership: Serve as the primary First Line of Defense Operational Risk leader for MDX, providing clear governance, oversight, monitoring, and reporting across all business activities.
• Function Build & Maturity: Establish and lead the Operational Risk & Controls function, designing frameworks, standards, and practices that align with enterprise risk programs and support future scale.
• People Leadership & Development: Lead, coach, and develop a team of risk and control professionals through clear objectives, ongoing feedback, and meaningful growth opportunities.
• Risk Assessment & Oversight: Drive consistent execution of risk assessments, including RCSAs, incident management, issue management, and process-level risk oversight.
• Control Design & Inventory: Oversee control writing, control design, and maintenance of the Process Risk & Control Inventory (PRCI), ensuring accuracy, completeness, and alignment to enterprise standards.
• PRCI Ownership & Testing: Ensure business-owned PRCIs are effectively designed, mapped to risks and processes, and tested in accordance with enterprise and regulatory expectations.
• Control Automation & Optimization: Partner with Technology and Enterprise Risk to design, implement, and mature manual, semi-automated, and fully automated controls.
• Control Health & Performance: Lead control health evaluations, performance monitoring, rationalization efforts, and ongoing improvement of control effectiveness.
• Issue & Remediation Management: Oversee issue identification, remediation planning, and execution for control gaps, audit findings, and regulatory issues.
• Regulatory & Audit Readiness: Own audit and exam preparedness, support regulatory interactions, and manage findings through resolution.
• Risk Reporting & Insights: Assist in the development and delivery of dashboards, metrics, and reporting that provide senior leadership with transparent insights into emerging risks, control health, and operational performance.
• Strategic Risk Partnership: Integrate risk considerations into strategic planning, change management, and new product or process initiatives.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Partner with Operations, Marketing, Digital, Data, Product, Technology, and Enterprise Risk to embed risk awareness and enable operational excellence.
• Risk Culture & Education: Act as both a builder and teacher by upskilling the organization, fostering accountability, transparency, and a strong risk-aware culture.
• Emerging Risk Identification: Identify systemic and emerging risks, ensuring timely escalation and visibility aligned with organizational risk appetite.

Qualifications

• Minimum Qualifications:
• Bachelor’s degree in business, finance, risk management, operations, or equivalent work experience.
• 5-7 years of experience in operational risk management, internal controls, First Line of Defense oversight, or audit roles.
• 3 years of people leader experience.
• Previous experience working in financial services or credit unions.
• Desired Qualifications:
• Advanced degree, MBA, or relevant professional certification such as CRISC, CRCM, CISA, PMP, or Six Sigma.
• Demonstrated experience designing, executing, and/or automating operational controls.
• Advanced understanding of risk frameworks, including RCSA, incident management, issue management, and controls testing.
• Familiarity with PRCI frameworks and enterprise control management systems.
• Experience partnering with technology teams to design and implement control automation solutions.
• Previous experience identifying complex processes, identifying risks, and delivering clear, actionable recommendations.
• Excellent communication and influencing skills with the ability to engage and challenge stakeholders at all levels.
• Demonstrated people leadership capabilities, including team management and cross-functional leadership.
• Strategic thinking, sound judgment, and a risk mindset that balances innovation with effective risk mitigation.
• Willingness to travel occasionally as required and ability to comply with organizational risk management, information security, and confidentiality policies.

Benefits

• 401(k) Company Match (up to 3%)
• 4% annual contribution to your 401(k) by BECU
• Medical, Dental and Vision (family contributions as well)
• PTO Program + Exchange Program
• Tuition Reimbursement Program
• BECU Cares volunteer time off + donation match

Company Description

BECU is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, or any other protected status.