At Early Warning, we’ve powered and protected the U.S. financial system for over thirty years with cutting-edge solutions like Zelle®, Paze℠, and so much more. As a trusted name in payments, we partner with thousands of institutions to increase access to financial services and protect transactions for hundreds of millions of consumers and small businesses.
Positions located in Scottsdale, San Francisco, Chicago, or New York follow a hybrid work model to allow for a more collaborative working environment.
Candidates responding to this posting must independently possess the eligibility to work in the United States, for any employer, at the date of hire. This position is ineligible for employment Visa sponsorship.
Overall Purpose
The Senior Director, Risk Management is responsible for the development, implementation and coordination of a centralized first-line of defense (LOD1) risk and internal control program for one or more Early Warning business lines. This role is designed to ensure risk programs and controls are implemented consistently and operating effectively across business lines as it relates to all risk types including strategic, operational, compliance and financial, and to drive that consistency in risk management practices throughout the business. The role will be required to align with Enterprise Risk Management leadership around the structure of the Three Lines of Defense (3LOD) Program.
Essential Functions
Build, lead and drive the business line’s centralized LOD1 function, including strategic vision and implementation plans, acting as business-line liaison to Enterprise Risk Management, Operational Risk Management, and Compliance in support of the company’s 3LOD program.
Drive a culture of risk management and risk management ownership through the business and enterprise, assisting business leaders in assuming appropriate risk management accountabilities and responsibilities.
Work with Compliance and other Risk functions to understand and monitor applicable regulations and requirements, assess business impact and drive appropriate projects and processes to address needed changes.
Lead first line risk management activities such as the execution of Risk and Control Self Assessments.
Partner with Business Continuity Management on business’ participation in BC/DR tests, and own and maintain required process and technical recovery plans.
Oversee and monitor the business-lines’ third-party relationships, including both performance and risk management.
Lead the business-line in the design and build of process maps in alignment with Early Warning’s Process Classification Framework. Own and maintain business-lines’ process inventory and internal control environment inventory.
Understand the aggregate and cascading risks in the business; design, maintain, and report metrics (KPIs and KRIs) demonstrating control effectiveness.
Identify and self-report issues through the ERM Self-Identified Issue Process, individually and together with other LOD1 business-line members
Direct the first line’s testing and monitoring of controls by risk owners; ensure risk remediation plans exist and are sufficient for all gaps and issues; track remediation plans to completion and ensure remediation is on-time and sustainable;
Develop and drive periodic executive level reporting regarding business risk management activities, working closely with business-line leadership Develop, in alignment with ERM, a 1st LOD risk management governance framework across the business lines to support decision making and escalation regarding risks that may not be consistent with the business’ risk tolerance
Deliver education and awareness of risk ownership essentials.
Continually monitor and update assessments of the control environment, keeping abreast of significant control issues, trends and developments.
Lead a team of risk professionals and provide leadership to first line risk leaders in other business lines
Support the company’s commitment risk management and protecting the integrity and confidentiality of systems and data.
Minimum Qualifications
Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Finance, Accounting or other related field of specialty.
Typically, a minimum of (15) or more years of financial services industry experience; minimum of seven (7) or more years of experience within a three-lines of defense program.
Demonstrated experience working in multiple risk disciplines including but not limited to technology, security, product, regulatory and compliance, third party, reputation, competitive, or other risk categories.
Demonstrated success leading risk functions in a 3LOD environment.
Strong influencing skills and the ability to lead in a matrixed environment.
Demonstrated ability to work effectively in a complex, highly regulated environment.
Excellent problem solver with effective change management skills
Working knowledge of regulatory requirements specific to the business-lines.
Excellent communication, organization and interpersonal skills, with demonstrated ability to collaborate and build trust in business partners.
Experience interacting with executive management
Background and drug screen
The above job description is not intended to be an all-inclusive list of duties and standards of the position. Incumbents will follow instructions and perform other related duties as assigned by their supervisor.
Physical Requirements
Working conditions consist of a normal office environment. Work is primarily sedentary and requires extensive use of a computer and involves sitting for periods of approximately four hours. Work may require occasional standing, walking, kneeling and reaching. Must be able to lift 10 pounds occasionally and/or negligible amount of force frequently. Requires visual acuity and dexterity to view, prepare, and manipulate documents and office equipment including personal computers. Requires the ability to communicate with internal and/or external customers.
Employee must be able to perform essential functions and physical requirements of position with or without reasonable accommodation.
The above job description is not intended to be an all-inclusive list of duties and standards of the position. Incumbents will follow instructions and perform other related duties as assigned by their supervisor.
The base pay scale for this position in:
New York, NY/ San Francisco, CA in USD per year is: $226,000 - $282,000.
Additionally, candidates are eligible for a discretionary incentive plan and benefits.
This pay scale is subject to change and is not necessarily reflective of actual compensation that may be earned, nor a promise of any specific pay for any specific candidate, which is always dependent on legitimate factors considered at the time of job offer. Early Warning Services takes into consideration a variety of factors when determining a competitive salary offer, including, but not limited to, the job scope, market rates and geographic location of a position, candidate’s education, experience, training, and specialized skills or certification(s) in relation to the job requirements and compared with internal equity (peers). The business actively supports and reviews wage equity to ensure that pay decisions are not based on gender, race, national origin, or any other protected classes.
Some of the Ways We Prioritize Your Health and Happiness
Healthcare Coverage – Competitive medical (PPO/HDHP), dental, and vision plans as well as company contributions to your Health Savings Account (HSA) or pre-tax savings through flexible spending accounts (FSA) for commuting, health & dependent care expenses.
401(k) Retirement Plan – Featuring a 100% Company Safe Harbor Match on your first 6% deferral immediately upon eligibility.
Paid Time Off – Flexible Time Off for Exempt (salaried) employees, as well as generous PTO for Non-Exempt (hourly) employees, plus 11 paid company holidays and a paid volunteer day.
12 weeks of Paid Parental Leave
Maven Family Planning – provides support through your Parenting journey including egg freezing, fertility, adoption, surrogacy, pregnancy, postpartum, early pediatrics, and returning to work.
And SO much more! We continue to enhance our program, so be sure to check our Benefits page here for the latest. Our team can share more during the interview process!
Early Warning Services, LLC (“Early Warning”) considers for employment, hires, retains and promotes qualified candidates on the basis of ability, potential, and valid qualifications without regard to race, religious creed, religion, color, sex, sexual orientation, genetic information, gender, gender identity, gender expression, age, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, protected veteran or disability status or any factor prohibited by law, and as such affirms in policy and practice to support and promote equal employment opportunity and affirmative action, in accordance with all applicable federal, state, and municipal laws. The company also prohibits discrimination on other bases such as medical condition, marital status or any other factor that is irrelevant to the performance of our employees.
Early Warning Services LLC is a proud participant in E-Verify, a federal program to help ensure a legal and authorized workforce. As part of our hiring process, we electronically verify the employment eligibility of all new hires through E-Verify. For more information on your rights and responsibilities under E-Verify please visit Home | E-Verify.
Skills Required
- Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Finance, Accounting, or a related field
- 15 or more years of financial services industry experience
- Seven or more years of experience within a three-lines-of-defense program
- Experience across multiple risk disciplines, including technology, security, product, regulatory and compliance, third-party, reputation, or competitive risk
- Demonstrated success leading risk functions in a three-lines-of-defense environment
- Strong influencing skills and ability to lead in a matrixed environment
- Ability to work effectively in a complex, highly regulated environment
- Problem-solving and change management skills
- Working knowledge of regulatory requirements specific to the business lines
- Excellent communication, organization, and interpersonal skills, with the ability to collaborate and build trust with business partners
- Experience interacting with executive management
- Successful completion of a background and drug screen
Early Warning Compensation & Benefits Highlights
The following summarizes recurring compensation and benefits themes identified from responses generated by popular LLMs to common candidate questions about Early Warning and has not been reviewed or approved by Early Warning.
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Retirement Support — A 401(k) with a 100% company match on the first 6% of pay and automatic enrollment strengthens long‑term savings. This robust employer match is a notable pillar of the total‑rewards package.
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Leave & Time Off Breadth — Flexible/unlimited PTO for exempt staff, tiered accruals for non‑exempt employees, 11 paid holidays, a paid volunteer day, and generous civic/military leaves indicate wide coverage. These provisions offer substantial flexibility for time away from work.
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Parental & Family Support — Twelve weeks of 100% paid parental leave are provided, complemented by company‑covered Maven support for family planning and caregiving. These benefits expand support for birth, adoption, and ongoing family needs.
Early Warning Insights
What We Do
For almost 3 decades, our identity, authentication and payment solutions have empowered financial institutions to make decisions, make payments & prevent fraud. Early Warning has been a leader in technology that helps protect and advance the financial system. We serve a diverse network of approximately 2,500 financial institutions, government entities and payment companies. Our product solutions enable real-time funds availability for a variety of payment types through our payments network.
