Head of Regulatory

Our vision for the future is based on the idea that transforming financial lives starts by giving our people the freedom to transform their own. We have a flexible work environment, and fluid career paths. We not only encourage but celebrate internal mobility. We also recognize the importance of purpose, well-being, and work-life balance. Within Empower and our communities, we work hard to create a welcoming and inclusive environment, and our associates dedicate thousands of hours to volunteering for causes that matter most to them.

Chart your own path and grow your career while helping more customers achieve financial freedom. Empower Yourself.

The Head of Regulatory leads a team of compliance professionals and is responsible for the regulatory interactions program, including managing regulatory engagement protocols, regulatory events tracking, communications, and reporting related to regulatory matters.  The firm’s regulators include the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, FINRA, state banking regulators, state insurance regulators and state securities regulators. This strategic leader also leads the team responsible for second line-of-defense testing and regulatory risk assessments.  The Head of Regulatory partners closely with the Legal Department and colleagues in the Compliance Department to assess regulatory risk and respond to regulatory inquiries.

What you will do

• Define and execute Empower’s regulatory relations strategy, engaging with the firm’s regulators including the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, FINRA, state banking regulators, state insurance regulators and state securities regulators.

• Lead the regulatory liaison function to effectively manage examinations, field inquiries, proactively formulate regulatory outreach, identify and address emerging regulatory risks, coordinate throughout the firm, and manage internal stakeholder meetings and communications. 

• Responsible for the second line-of-defense Compliance testing function to create and execute detailed testing to assess compliance with regulations and firm policies.

• Oversee the development and sustainability of an evolving risk-based approach to optimize testing coverage and review of emerging risks.

• Lead the Compliance Risk Assessment function to assesses inherent regulatory risks, the strength of controls which address those risks, and the residual risks which result.  This work includes defining industry leading practices to assess risks and controls using data analytics and objective measures.

• Develop an organizational roadmap to address emerging regulatory trends.

• Lead the compliance organization with primary focus on engaging and building a high-caliber team; training and developing the team; ensuring a strong bench; mentoring and developing junior talent to succeed; and being a champion of the culture of Empower and the importance of a world-class compliance organization.

• Serve as a key member of the Compliance leadership team, collaborating to strategically define and execute on a vision for the Compliance function.

• Provide valued partnership to the business and challenges as needed in order to ensure regulatory compliance and protect investors, but also brings a collaborative approach to solving problems.

• Monitor and communicate legal and regulatory developments in the securities, broker- dealer, investment advisory, and insurance industries and work with the firms’ leadership regarding the impact of such developments.

What you will bring

• Bachelor's degree required, legal degree a plus.

• 15+ years of experience managing examination or enforcement matters which involve a regulator as a regulator, legal or compliance professional.

• Deep understanding of regulatory agency processes and extensive experience working with regulators or as a regulator.

• Significant experience in the financial services industry with deep knowledge of industry best practices related to managing regulatory matters, specifically concerning securities regulation.

• Demonstrated effective written and verbal communication skills including the ability to communicate about complex topics in concise terms.

• A legal or compliance leader with a reputation and track record for operating with the highest ethical standards.

• Ability to anticipate emerging regulatory trends and develop an organizational roadmap to address these trends.

• Strong people leadership skills with the ability to manage a broad team; hire and retain talent; mentor, c