Senior Director, Operational Risk Management

As a Sr. Director of Operational Risk Management (“ORM”), you’ll impact the lives of everyday people and help them go from surviving to thriving with innovative digital personal finance solutions. You will oversee the risk management function across the personal lending and mortgage lending businesses. In this role, you will:

● Report directly to the President of Lending to design, implement, and sustain a comprehensive First Line of Defense Program across multiple risk disciplines. This role is a key contributor to the future growth of the business, by directing all “first line” risk management activities.

● Lead a team of 10-15 risk management professionals to design and implement improved risk management capabilities, in alignment with the Enterprise Compliance & Risk Management Framework, through ongoing reviews of policies, procedures, systems, and processes in areas such as: (i) digital/lead acquisition (ii) loan originations and quality control; (iii) loan servicing oversight; (iv) loan sale transfers; and, (v) complaints management, among others.

● Partner and collaborate with the leaders of marketing, sales, operations, servicing and capital markets functions and other shared services (i.e. Legal, Compliance, HR, Technology, etc.), in order to ensure a strong culture of risk management.

Join Achieve, change the future
At Achieve, we’re changing millions of lives. From the single parent trying to catch up on bills to the entrepreneur needing a loan for the next phase of growth, you’ll get to be a part of their journey to a better financial future. We’re proud to have over 2,700 employees in mostly hybrid and 100% remote roles across the United States with hubs in Arizona, California, and Texas. We are strategically growing our teams with more remote, work-from-home opportunities every day to better serve our members. A career at Achieve is more than a job—it’s a place where you can make a true impact, have a sense of belonging, establish a fulfilling career, and put your well-being first.

What you’ll do: 

• Direct the development and implementation of operational risk management policies and procedures for all areas of the business, including marketing, loan origination operations, sales, and servicing.
• Maintain a comprehensive understanding of existing and emerging personal lending and mortgage lending regulatory requirements, operational processes, inherent risks, and internal policies & practices to provide advice to stakeholders.
• Partner with appropriate stakeholders to help drive planning and oversight of regulatory change management, in collaboration with Compliance.
• Drive state expansion efforts through collaboration with key stakeholders, including the state licensing team. Ensure our operations in all states meet regulatory requirements, including loan product features, consumer websites, marketing materials, sales scripts, underwriting criteria, closing activities and servicing.
• Oversee and manage timely reporting of state mortgage call reports, quarterly and annual data to state regulators, licensing renewals and annual HMDA reporting.
• Own business responses to federal and state exams and internal and external audits. Coordinate with Compliance, Legal and other stakeholders to ensure adequacy and promptness of responses.
• Operate skillfully with reporting software, including Tableau, our Loan Origination System, and a variety of third-party software systems. Work with our reporting and analytics teams to ensure compliant, comprehensive reporting on key ORM metrics and adherence to SLAs.
• Oversee key third-party vendor relationships through monitoring the risk exposure of the business in relation to software and services used for operational processing, quality control, and risk management.
• Communicate and collaborate frequently with a variety of colleagues and stakeholders across compliance, capital markets, legal, reporting, operations, and executive management.
• Anticipate business needs and proactively identify opportunities to improve and strengthen the risk control environment through actionable insights.
• Manage a small team through oversight, training, coaching, mentoring, conducting performance reviews, etc.
• Chair First Line of Defense monthly risk forum to keep senior leaders informed on the state of compliance across the lending businesses.

What you’ll bring:

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience
• Experience in hiring, building and leading a team
• 15+ years mortgage lending, financial services compliance, risk management or audit experience with increasing levels of responsibility
• Extensive background across many operational aspects of mortgage lending operations, such as underwriting, closing, loan sales and servicing.
• 10 + years experience operating within a Compliance Management System, Operational Risk Management Program, or similar and leading one or more program elements
• Prior experience interacting with external regulators and third party audit providers
• Strong interpersonal, communication and influencing skill, including the ability to indirectly influence others outside your department
• Able to communicate effectively, collaborate with others, solve problems creatively and demonstrate high integrity
• Strong analytical and critical thinking skills, with attention to detail and accuracy. Ability to identify root causes, develop tactical and strategic solutions and effectively prioritize work efforts
• Collaborative, able to influence, negotiate and solve problems with business partners and expert teams across the organizational lines
• Strong project management skills, with a proven ability to coordinate across departments and functions
• Self-starter, willing to take ownership and drive initiatives to resolution while reporting appropriately on progress made and escalating when difficulties are encountered
• 12+ years of experience working with applicable laws, rules, and regulations, how they apply to products and services; ability to identify potential gaps or deficiencies related to the regulatory requirements, assess the level of risk and design solutions to resolve the identified gaps
• Strict attention to detail; ability to produce quality work products without mistakes and discrepancies; Ability to review work products produced by others to ensure accuracy
• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, matrixed work environment
• Strong computer skills, specifically Microsoft Office products
• Advanced secondary degree or professional certification (e.g., CRCM, CAMS, CFE, IACCP)

Achieve well-being with:

• Hybrid and work-from-home opportunities
• 401 (k) with employer match
• Medical, dental, and vision with HSA and FSA
• Competitive vacation and sick time off, as well as dedicated volunteer days
• Access to wellness support through Employee Assistance Program, Virgin Pulse, Ginger Health Coaching, and fitness discounts
• Up to $5,250 paid back to you on eligible education expenses
• Pet insurance for your furry family members
• Financial support in times of hardship with our Achieve Care Fund
• A safe place to connect with other employees through our six employee resource groups

Meet Achieve
Achieve is a leading digital personal finance company. We help everyday people move from struggling to thriving by providing innovative, personalized financial solutions. By leveraging proprietary data and analytics, our solutions are tailored for each step of our member's financial journey to include personal loans, home equity loans, debt consolidation, financial tools and education. Every day, we get to help our members move their finances forward with care, compassion, and an empathetic touch. We put people first and treat them like humans, not account numbers.