VP, Manager, Country Risk

VP, Manager, Country Risk $155k - $185k

El Monte, CA (Hybrid - 3 days a week onsite)

Direct Hire

Job ID 24-09325

Solugenix is looking for a VP, Manager, Country Risk. This is a direct hire opportunity in El Monte, CA (Hybrid).

The Country Risk Manager is responsible for executing the Country Risk Program (CRP) for the bank's country risk. This role ensures that all country risk program elements are delivered on time and meet required internal and regulatory standards. This will include leading the implementation and ongoing enhancement of the country risk program and its reporting, effective review and challenge of front-line units and control functions. This position will collaborate with department leaders and stakeholders to further enhance risk management processes and develop new strategies to mitigate country-specific risks.

The Country Risk Manager will have a crucial role in helping the bank to:

• Mature and scale the bank's country risk management program while applying industry best practices applicable to country risk management at a large financial institution.
• Oversee the day-to-day program in alignment with the bank's country risk management framework and ensure the related risk assessment processes and reports address required insights to actively monitor country risk .

Qualifications:

Education: Bachelor's or master's degree in finance, Economics, Risk Management, or a related field preferred.

Experience:

• Must have country risk assessment experience.
• Minimum of 7 years of direct, related experience in Market or Credit Risk Management within a large financial institution or a regulatory body.
• Commensurate experience in managing country risk within a large financial institution.
• In-depth knowledge of country risk factors, including political, economic, and social dynamics.
• Proven track record in conducting country risk assessments and developing mitigation strategies.
• Experience monitoring geopolitical events and assessing their impact on international operations and exposure calculations.
• Familiarity with country-specific regulatory requirements and compliance standards.
• Experience working with international, cross-border teams.
• Experience with the practical implementation of regulations within a country risk management framework.
• Prior managerial or supervisory experience preferred.

Skills/Ability:

• Solution-driven, highly motivated, and able to work independently.
• Demonstrate intellectual curiosity and a focus on continued learning and skill development.
• Comfortable with change and adjusting to dynamically changing demands and requirements.
• Excellent analytical skills with strong attention to detail and accuracy.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, including experience working directly with technical and non-technical stakeholders.
• Strong leadership abilities with a demonstrated capacity to drive change and decision-making.
• Familiarity with GRC (Governance, Risk, and Compliance) technology platforms and knowledge of GRC frameworks and standards (e.g., ISO 31000, COSO).
• Understanding of banking processes and operational risk management programs.
• Ability to design and generate scheduled and ad hoc reports using reporting tools.

Responsibilities:

• Manage the country risk program day to day, including making approved changes to processes and workflows. Oversee implementation tasks such as testing, requirements gathering, and solution design.
• Support developing and maintaining Country Risk Program (CRP) policies, standards, and procedures, ensuring regulatory and operational risk requirements are appropriately addressed.
• Monitor the regulatory environment to identify changes applicable to bank coverage areas. Advise on applicable changes, direct appropriate areas to implement or amend policies, standards, procedures, and processes to address regulatory requirements, challenge implementation plans as needed and maintain a comprehensive regulatory inventory.
• Conduct country risk compliance and operational risk reviews and assessments. Oversee monitoring and testing activities including working closely with first line teams on controls-related testing.
• Identify, aggregate, report, escalate, inspect, and challenge remediation plans, performing thematic analysis on business-owned issues and control enhancements. Ensure that Credit and Operational Risk-owned issues and control enhancements are identified and addressed appropriately and timely.
• Contribute to the development of risk mitigation plans, execute monitoring, testing, and risk assessments, and communicate results to stakeholders.
• Review and challenge business processes, new products, risk identification, control inventory, and Risk and Control Self-Assessments. Review and challenge internal and external operational loss events, including developing remediation plans to strengthen controls.
• Ensure metrics are designed to measure key risks and control performance. Monitor and report on metric performance and breach remediation. Design and maintain intuitive, accurate, and action-oriented dashboards that deliver valuable insights for data-driven decision-making.
• Manage and provide guidance, acting as the second line of defense to create effective challenges for the first line. Foster a culture of continuous learning and skill development across the first-line teams and ensure the adequacy of country risk training and awareness across the organization.
• Define and manage country risk limits, ensuring they align with the bank's risk appetite.
• Monitor exposures against these limits and take appropriate action when limits are approached or exceeded.

Annual Base Salary Range for CA, CO, IL, NJ, NY, WA, and DC: $155,000 to $185,000. Actual compensation offered may vary depending on factors including but not limited to, position offered, location, education, training, and/or experience.

Solugenix will consider qualified applicants with a criminal history pursuant to the California Fair Chance Act and Ordinance. Applicants do not need to disclose their criminal history or participate in a background check until a conditional job offer is made to you. After making a conditional offer and running a background check, if we are concerned about conviction that is directly related to the job, applicants will be given the chance to explain the circumstances surrounding the conviction, provide mitigating evidence, or challenge the accuracy of the background report.

About The Client

Our client is one of the largest commercial banks in Southern California.

About Solugenix

Solugenix is a leader in IT services, delivering cutting-edge technology solutions, exceptional talent, and managed services to global enterprises. With extensive expertise in highly regulated and complex industries, we are a trusted partner for integrating advanced technologies with streamlined processes. Our solutions drive growth, foster innovation, and ensure compliance—providing clients with reliability and a strong competitive edge.

Recognized as a 2024 Top Workplace, Solugenix is proud of its inclusive culture and unwavering commitment to excellence. Our recent expansion, with new offices in the Dominican Republic, Jakarta, and the Philippines, underscores our growing global presence and ability to offer world-class technology solutions. Partnering with Solugenix means more than just business—it means having a dedicated our financial client focused on your success in today's fast-evolving digital world.