Senior Risk Manager

This is a Buffalo, NY based position requiring onsite work four days a week, with the flexibility to work from home one day a week.

Senior Risk Manager – Enterprise Operations

The Senior Risk Manager is a key member of the Technology & Enterprise Operations First Line Risk team, serving as the primary risk advisor to Institutional Services & Wealth Management (ISWM) Shared Services and Commercial Lending Operations. In this role, you will build trusted partnerships with business leaders, Front Office Risk Officers, and cross-functional stakeholders to proactively identify, assess, and manage operational, regulatory, and emerging risks. The successful candidate will champion a culture of continuous risk advisement, embedding risk-informed decision making into business processes, strategic initiatives, and day-to-day operations rather than relying on reactive risk management practices.

The successful candidate will lead and execute multiple risk initiatives, drive effective governance and reporting practices, enhance risk frameworks and controls, and ensure alignment with the Bank's risk appetite and regulatory expectations. This position is responsible for influencing risk-informed decision making, promoting operational resilience, and strengthening sustainable risk management practices across the organization.

Primary Responsibilities

• Serve as the primary risk advisor to assigned Enterprise Operations business lines, providing strategic guidance on operational, compliance, regulatory, and emerging risks.

• Build trusted partnerships with Operations leadership, frontline Risk Officers, and cross-functional stakeholders to strengthen risk awareness and decision-making.

• Promote a culture of proactive risk advisement, embedding risk considerations into business processes, initiatives, and strategic planning activities.

• Lead risk assessments and evaluate controls to identify opportunities to mitigate risk, enhance governance, and improve operational effectiveness.

• Drive multiple risk initiatives and remediation efforts, ensuring timely execution and sustainable outcomes.

• Develop and maintain meaningful risk reporting, metrics, and Key Risk Indicators (KRIs) that provide actionable insights to senior management.

• Partner with business and risk teams to ensure compliance with applicable regulatory requirements, policies, and enterprise risk management standards.

• Prepare and present risk-related reporting and recommendations to senior leadership and governance committees.

• Identify opportunities to streamline processes, strengthen controls, and improve efficiency across risk management activities.

• Support audit, regulatory, and issue management activities, ensuring timely resolution of findings and adherence to internal control standards.

• Provide leadership, coaching, and guidance to risk professionals and project teams as applicable.

• Promote an environment that supports belonging and reflects the M&T Bank brand.
   

Scope of Responsibilities

This position provides risk leadership and oversight across designated Enterprise Operations business domains, including Institutional Services & Wealth Management (ISWM) Shared Services and Commercial Lending Operations. The role partners extensively with senior business leaders, frontline Risk Officers, Compliance, Audit, and other Risk Management functions to ensure effective risk governance, operational resilience, and strategic alignment with enterprise risk objectives.

Supervisory/Managerial Responsibilities

• Lead and develop a team of four or more risk professionals.

• Responsible for establishing the strategic direction of the function and building organizational capabilities to support a growing risk advisory model, with potential expansion of the team as business needs evolve.
   

Education and Experience Required

• Bachelor's degree and a minimum of nine years of experience in Risk Management, Operations, Audit, Compliance, or a related discipline.

• Demonstrated experience providing risk advisory support to business leaders and cross-functional teams in a highly regulated environment.

• Experience leading complex initiatives and influencing stakeholders across multiple business functions.

• Strong understanding of risk management frameworks, governance practices, regulatory expectations, and internal controls.

• Exceptional verbal and written communication skills with the ability to effectively engage audiences at all organizational levels.

• Proven ability to build trusted relationships, drive consensus, and achieve results in a complex environment.

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