SVP, Business Controls Officer

We are a hybrid, remote-office company dedicated to growing our talent anywhere!

We have onsite locations in: Sioux Falls, SD,  Scottsdale, AZ,  Louisville, KY,  Troy, MI,  Franklin, TN,  Easton, PA.

At Pathward, we take tremendous pride in our purpose to create financial inclusion for all™. We are a financial empowerment company that works with innovators to increase financial availability, choice, and opportunity for all.  We strive to remove barriers that traditional institutions put in the way of financial access, and promote economic mobility by providing responsible, secure, high quality financial products.

We are a team of problem solvers and innovators who celebrate our differences and know that our unique perspectives make us stronger and well-positioned for success.  We celebrate, and embrace, our team members through our *HUMBLE*HUNGRY*SMART approach, and we believe that we are strongest when we embrace the voices of our employees, customers, partners, and the communities we serve. 

About the Role:

Together with other members of the Consumer Lending, Commercial Finance, Tax Solutions and Partner Solutions Leadership Team, develops and executes on a strategic plan to improve Pathward’s 1st Line of Defense approach to compliance, third party risk management and BSA/AML items through improved innovation. Reporting directly to the President of Pathward, N.A., focuses on driving compliance and revenue growth by working directly with the revenue teams and the second line of defense to optimize solutions. Acts as a resource for the revenue teams to engage directly with the compliance teams of partners and prospects in resolving compliance concerns associated with new products and services.

What You Will Do:

•  Strategic Compliance Leadership: Lead the first line of defense in establishing and executing compliance strategies that align with regulatory requirements and business objectives, focusing on innovation and risk mitigation.
• Product and Customer Solution Development: Works closely with fintech partners and internal teams including the second line of defense to design and implement compliant solutions for new products and customer engagements, ensuring they meet all relevant regulatory and compliance standards.
• 1st Line of Defense Regulatory and Compliance Oversight: Ensures adherence to OCC regulatory compliance, the Bank Secrecy Act (BSA), Anti-Money Laundering (AML) regulations, and third-party risk management, embedding these requirements into day-to-day operations of the first line of defense. 
• Policy Formation and Implementation: Leads development of policies, procedures, and controls that reflect current laws, regulations and compliance requirements. Ensures these policies, procedures and controls offer a balanced view between the revenue operations of the bank and the second line of defense and effectively mitigate risks.
• Third Party Risk Management: Establishes and maintains robust frameworks for overseeing and mitigating risks associated with fintech partnerships and third-party service providers with a specific focus on nested third-party relationships.
• Collaboration and Stakeholder Engagement: Acts as a liaison between fintech partners, the revenue teams, and the second line of defense, fostering effective communication and collaboration to promote a culture of compliance while also driving solutions for innovation. 
• Compliance Monitoring and Reporting: Working with the revenue teams and the second line of defense, assists in implementation of systems for ongoing monitoring and reporting on compliance risks, ensuring timely identification and resolution of issues, with regular updates to executive management. 
• Training and Development: Leads initiatives to enhance compliance awareness and training programs for both fintech partners and revenue teams to ensure awareness of ever-changing compliance requirements with the goal of education informing future innovation. 
• External Focus: Grows the Pathward brand in the payments marketplace through interactions with partners, prospects and through participation in market-facing events.
• Other duties as assigned.

What You Will Need:

•  Bachelor's degree or equivalent education and work experience.
• Master’s degree preferred
•  Typically, 15+ years of experience in related fields.
• Minimum of 10 years of experience in compliance or regulatory roles within the banking or financial services industry, with a focus on first line of defense activities.
• Deep knowledge of OCC regulations, BSA/AML requirements, and third-party risk management within a fintech and BIN sponsorship context. 
• Proven experience leading compliance within a first line of defense, emphasizing proactive risk assessm