Senior Director, Risk Transformation and Operations

Join a Challenger

Being a traditional bank just isn’t our thing. We are big believers in innovating the banking experience because we believe Canadians deserve better options, and we challenge ourselves and our teams to creatively transform what’s possible in banking. Our team is made up of inquisitive and agile minds that find smarter ways of doing things. If you’re not afraid of taking on big challenges and redefining the future, you belong with us. You’ll get to work with people who will encourage you to reach new heights. We like to keep things fun, ask questions and learn together.

We are a big (and growing!) family. Overall we serve more than 670,000 people across Canada through Equitable Bank, Canada's Challenger Bank™, and have been around for more than 50 years. Equitable Bank's wholly-owned subsidiary, Concentra Bank, supports credit unions across Canada that serve more than six million members. Together we have over $125 billion in combined assets under management and administration, with a clear mandate to drive change in Canadian banking to enrich people's lives. Our customers have named our EQ Bank digital platform (eqbank.ca) one of the top banks in Canada on the Forbes World's Best Banks list since 2021. 

The Work

The Senior Director, Risk Transformation and Operations is responsible for providing program leadership oversight of the teams that develop and deliver strategies, programs and routines related to Risk Management’s business operations and transformation efforts, including but not limited to, delivery (and relevant execution) of Risk Enhancement Plan commitments, AIRB application/readiness, and Risk Project and Operations office management. The Risk Transformation and Operations Office provides vital functions across the risk group including Enterprise Risk Management Committee operations, process design/improvements, risk planning and forecasting, and a central regulatory liaison for EQB as an organization. The Senior Director will play a pivotal role in working with business units, Risk, Finance, and Technology to establish, maintain and continuously improve risk management capabilities. The role requires strategic thought leadership, proven program delivery capabilities, transformational change management experience, risk management expertise (preferably across the credit risk, operational risk, and AML/Fraud risk stripes), practical operations management, and an executive-level perspective.

• Delivery of Risk Transformation Initiatives / Risk Project Office Management
• Senior Leader capable of overseeing multiple complex risk management transformation initiatives across governance, structuring, initiation, planning, budgeting, resourcing, execution, program management, issues/risk management, and reporting.
• Provide governance oversight and program management leadership of all commitments in the Risk Enhancement Plan.
• Provide risk governance oversight for the Enterprise Data and Analytics Platform Program; assist in identifying and resolving cross risk program dependencies, risks, and issues.
• Provide oversight of planning and execution of EQB’s AIRB Application and Readiness Assessment; assist in identifying and resolving cross risk program dependencies, risks, and issues.
• Collaborate with Finance, Planning, and Delivery & Productivity (D&P) to continue to improve program/project planning, delivery, and change management processes.
• Work directly with sponsors and stakeholders in the project management process as required; lead development of work plans and key milestones; monitor and report progress and generally ensure successful completion (on time, on budget).
• Provide effective challenge to the project/program delivery teams to create robust, efficient, sustainable solutions and controlled processes, working collaboratively to help plan for business-as-usual maintenance of solutions developed, ensuring effective change management principles are employed across the project portfolio.
• Supervise full-time and contract project management and Risk Project Office resources.  
• Update Risk Enhancement Steering Committee, including the development of all associated materials, across all material risk transformation initiatives.

• Enterprise Risk Committee Operations
• Organize agendas, content, and documentation/materials preparation for the Enterprise Risk Management Committee (ERMC) and Board of Directors (RCC) materials as required.
• Engage and update the CRO, CEO, and Management Committee as required across the range of mandate deliverables, especially regarding the risk transformation initiatives.
• Co-ordinate the development and review of the quarterly CRO’s Core Risk Reporting, and other associated agenda and materials for the ERMC and RCC.
• Monitor and report on enterprise-wide emerging risks and issues to Senior Management and the Board.
• Drive the agenda, content, and materials preparation for the Risk Transformation steering committee.

• Risk Management’s Planning, Forecasting, and Reporting
• Work closely with Finance to ensure Risk Management’s expense planning, forecasting, and planning processes are accurate, timely, transparent, and appropriate report on Change the Bank vs. Run the Bank perspectives, including FTE and contract resource reporting, as well as Capex vs. Opex considerations.
• Drive a focus on, and line of sight to, key efficiency and expense metrics for the Corporate Risk Management functions.
• Coordinate with D&P regarding Change the Bank reporting metrics and dashboards.

• Change Management
• Enhance operational excellence by strategically designing future state operating models, re-engineering / optimizing existing risk management processes, and designing new processes supported by system automation (where possible).
• Lead change management initiatives that ensure risk functional capabilities are embedded and utilized within EQB.

• Regulatory Liaison
• Work with the Compliance Group to develop, implement and maintain regulatory liaison processes and portals for a sustainable and consistent interaction model related to EQB’s dealing with all Regulators as applicable. 
• Help co-ordinate communication between the Bank and Regulators, including an efficient and effective point of contact to ensure completeness and visibility for outstanding written correspondence.
• Work with Compliance and Operational Risk to ensure Regulatory Issues are identified, logged and monitored through to resolution.

• Undergraduate degree in commerce, economics, business administration or mathematics, or equivalent work experience.  MBA designation would be highly desirable.
• Minimum of 15 years of experience in a financial institution in a project/program leadership capacity and at least 10 years’ experience in risk management roles or roles that have risk management responsibilities/interconnectedness.
• Broad and deep experience in various risk management functions, including credit, operational risk, or AML/Fraud/Compliance.
• Relevant experience with capital and liquidity related regulatory frameworks published by The Basel Committee on Banking Supervision (eg. Basel III) and OSFI (eg. Capital Adequacy Requirements).
• A proven thought leader, with significant experience in managing transformational change projects or management consulting experience in the banking or financial services industry.
• Demonstrated ability to drive blended teams of management consultants, experienced technology designers, data strategists, and implementation specialists to deliver according to plan (scope, quality and time).
• Has built high-performing teams. Recruits, trains, and mentors talent to drive employee retention and engagement. Provides inspirational leadership to increase team energy, enthusiasm and productivity.
• A demonstrated track record of dealing with regulators in the financial industry.
• Experience interacting with a Senior Executive Teams and Board of Directors.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills (oral and written), strong analytical capability and the ability to comprehend complex business and regulatory situations.
• Exceptional interpersonal and organizational skills.
• Strong facilitation, conflict resolution and stakeholder management skills.

What we offer [For full-time permanent roles]

💰 Competitive discretionary bonus 

✨ Market leading RRSP match program

🩺  Medical, dental, vision, life, and disability benefits

📝  Employee Share Purchase Plan

👶🏽 Maternity/Parental top-up while you care for your little one

🏝 Generous vacation policy and personal days 

🖥  Virtual events to connect with your fellow colleagues

🎓  Annual professional development allowance and a comprehensive Career Development program

💛  A fulfilling opportunity to join one of the top FinTechs and help create a new kind of banking experience

The incumbent will be working hybrid and in office time will be spent working from Equitable Bank’s additional office space located at 351 King Street East, Toronto, ON.

Equitable Bank is deeply committed to inclusion. Our organization is stronger and our employees thrive when we honour and celebrate everyone’s diverse experiences and perspectives. In tandem with that commitment, we support and encourage our staff to grow not just in their career path, but personally as well. 

We commit to providing a barrier-free recruitment process and work environment for all applicants. Please let us know of any accommodations needed so that you can bring your best self to the application process and beyond. All candidates considered for hire must successfully pass a criminal background check and credit check to qualify for hire. While we appreciate your interest in applying, an Equitable recruiter will only contact leading candidates whose skills and qualifications closely match the requirements of the position.

We can’t wait to get to know you!