Business Unit Risk Officer

Job Description

At WSFS Bank, we empower our Associates to grow their careers, guide our customers to secure their financial futures, and actively support our Communities so they can fully thrive. Careers with WSFS Bank offer an inclusive and supportive culture, competitive salaries, advancement opportunities, and more. We are the region's locally headquartered bank and wealth management company. We are honored to consistently be named a Top Workplace by our Associates, who make a difference every day for the people, businesses, and Communities we serve. We Stand For Service® is more than part of our name, it’s our mission and our purpose.

The Business Unit Risk Officer will be a dedicated risk leader embedded within the Technology and Operations Division. This role is responsible for promoting a strong risk culture and ensuring risk management practices are effectively integrated throughout the Technology and Operations division. This role will serve as a subject matter expert within the Technology and Operations division as well as a point person to the Risk Division (ERM, Compliance, etc.) and Internal Audit; ensuring timely identification, assessment, escalation, and remediation of all applicable categories of risk (Credit, Interest Rate, Liquidity, Price/Market, Operational, Compliance, Strategic, Reputational, Technology, and InfoSec/Cyber risk), and emerging risks as required by applicable Risk Division policies/programs. The incumbent will own the risk management responsibilities and deliverables, on behalf of the Technology and Operations division, and collaborate with senior leadership to ensure timely and accurate completion of these deliverables. This role is essential for advancing risk-informed decision-making, ensuring business initiatives align with the organization’s risk appetite, fulfilling regulatory and internal expectations.

Job Responsibilities:

• Act as the Technology and Operations division primary contact for all risk matters and ensure alignment between front-line activities and risk management expectations.
• Build and successfully manage relationships with key stakeholders and senior leadership within the Technology and Operations division to maintain knowledge and awareness of departmental operations, risk management developments, and new/changes to processes, products, services, and initiatives.
• Periodically meet with the Technology and Operations division Executive Leadership (ELT) and senior leaders to complete and review risk monitoring activities (quarterly risk assessments) and other risk management deliverables as needed.
• Identify and escalate business risk related issues and ensure issues self-identified by others in the Technology and Operations division are timely, properly escalated and reported through the appropriate Technology and Operations division channels (e.g. self-identification process, ERM, management committees, SOX 302 certifications, etc.)  
• Identify and escalate control failures, breaches or suspicious activity in accordance with established procedures.
• Recommend updates to business policies, procedures and/or practices, consistent with established or identified risk protocols.
• Support timely remediation and track corrective action plans to closure.
• Develop and manage Key Risk Indicators (KRIs) against established thresholds/risk limits to ensure compliance with risk appetite on a quarterly basis. Investigate threshold breaches and create a formal action plan to remediate breaches.
• Own Risk and Control Self-Assessment (RCSA) process by creating and validating process flow(s) that document the process, identifies controls, and control gaps. Partner with applicable stakeholder(s) to address issues or recommendations based on RCSA output.
• Proactively identify opportunities to strengthen risk controls and improve operational processes.
• Identify and escalate instances of emerging risks to the Technology and Operations division leadership and ERM partners for consideration and discussion.
• Participate in the annual review/evaluation of risk appetite(s) applicable to the Technology and Operations division.
• Collaborate with senior leadership to ensure the risk appetite(s) accurately reflects the organization’s willingness to take on specific risk(s).
• Report monthly Operational Risk Event activity by reviewing general ledger activity provided and engage stakeholders throughout the Technology and Operations division.
• Document associated lessons learned around circumstances and root cause(s) to ensure events are properly understood and remediated. Provide updates on ongoing remediation efforts.
• Review action plans and remediation evidence for business issues (Audit, Regulatory, Compliance, Operational, or self-identified issues) for adequacy prior to business submission as complete for validation testing.
• Serve as a visible risk leader within the Technology and Operations division, ensuring fellow Associates understand their risk responsibilities and they are completed timely (including Third Party Risk Management, Model Risk Management, etc. deliverables).
• Promote a culture of risk awareness and compliance within the Technology and Operations division including ERM and Operational Risk Management (ORM) policies/programs, processes, and best practices.
• Serve as a formal member of and actively engage in Risk Council meetings with fellow Business Unit Risk Officers and Risk partners.
• Responsible for presentation of KRIs, risk assessment summary, and associated action plans for remediation to the Management Risk Committee (MRC).

Minimum Qualifications:

• Must have a bachelor’s degree, preferably in Information Systems, Computer Science, Engineering, Operations, Risk, or related field. MBA, graduate degree in business, or professional certification a plus.
• Must have a minimum of 7-10 years in risk management within technology and/or operations (first or second line), or adjacent domains (IT audit, cyber risk, operational risk).
• Must have analytical skills and an eye for detail.
• Must have strong oral and written communication skills.
• Must have a strong understanding of technology and operations processes (e.g., service management/ITIL, SDLC/DevSecOps, change/release, cloud, BCP/DR).
• Knowledge and awareness of Technology and Operations functions, key processes, systems, and products and services.
• Knowledge of Technology and Operations risk management functions and strategies in a financial services environment.
• Must stay up to date and knowledgeable on ERM and ORM Policy/Program, practices, and current and emerging Division internal and external risks to the organization.
• Knowledge of relevant laws and regulations impacting Technology and Operations.
• Knowledge of financial services, banking products and operations, key processes, controls, and exposure.
• Knowledge and experience working within the three lines of defense risk management framework.
• Ability to think critically/independently and communicate effectively.
• Ability to work with others effectively and collaboratively at all levels in the organization.
• Knowledge and awareness of Technology and Operations functions, key processes, systems, products and services
• Knowledge of risk management functions and strategies in a financial services environment.
• Must stay up to date and knowledgeable on ERM and Operational Risk Management (ORM) Policy/Program, practices, and current and emerging internal and external risks to the organization.
• Knowledge of relevant laws and regulations impacting the Technology and Operations division or industry (e.g., consumer lending, financial crime, AML/BSA).
• Knowledge of banking products and operations, key processes, controls, and exposure.
• Ability to think critically/independently and communicate effectively.
• Ability to work with others effectively and collaboratively at all levels in the organization.

Salary Range:

Individual base pay may vary on additional factors such as the candidate’s experience, job-related skills, relevant education, geographic location, and other specific business and organizational needs.

In addition to base salary, WSFS Financial Corporation (WSFS) and its subsidiaries may offer eligible Associates discretionary and formula-based incentive and retention awards. WSFS provides a competitive benefits package, which includes medical, dental, and vision coverage; a 401(k) plan; life, accident, and disability insurance; flexible spending accounts (FSAs) and health savings accounts (HSAs); and wellness programs. Additional benefits may include paid parental leave, military leave, vacation and other paid time off, sick leave in accordance with applicable state laws, and paid holidays. Benefit offerings are subject to eligibility requirements, legal limitations, and may vary based on an Associate’s location and employment status. For more information about Associate benefits, please visit https://www.wsfsbank.com/about/careers/

WSFS Bank is inclusive and supportive of individual needs. If you have a physical or other impairment that might require an accommodation, including technical assistance with the WSFS Bank Careers website or submission process, please contact us via email at [email protected].

WSFS is an equal opportunity employer. We do not discriminate based upon race, religion, color, national origin, gender (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, status as a protected veteran, status as an individual with a disability, or other applicable legally protected characteristics.