VP, AML Monitoring, Analytics, Data & Technology Governance

Job Description:

Role Summary/Purpose:

The VP, AML Monitoring, Analytics, Data & Technology Governance will serve as the AML and Sanctions technology Product Owner and the business and technical owner of Synchrony’s BSA/AML transaction monitoring and watchlist screening models and supporting systems, critical for combating financial crime and ensuring regulatory compliance. The successful candidate will be responsible for managing key aspects of the governance process across models, data, and technology, including coverage design, scenario/rules governance, development, vendor management, monitoring, validation, implementation, change control, and regulatory responses. You will lead strategic initiatives to enhance the robustness, effectiveness, and accuracy of these capabilities through rigorous oversight and collaboration with Model Risk Management (MRM), Compliance, Data Management, Operations, Technology, and external third-party vendors. This position is accountable for maintaining the highest standards in model performance, data quality, regulatory adherence, and supplier management, and will play a pivotal role influencing senior leadership decisions and regulatory examinations.

Our Way of Working

We’re proud to offer you flexibility. At Synchrony, our way of working allows you to have the option to work from home near one of our Hubs or come into one of our offices. Occasionally you may be required to commute or travel for in person engagement activities such as business or team meetings, training and culture events. 

Essential Responsibilities:

Governance & Strategic Ownership (Models, Scenarios, Coverage, Data, and Technology) 

• Serve as AML and Sanctions technology Product Owner for the transaction monitoring, watchlist screening, and case management tool ecosystem, partnering with Technology to manage requirements intake, backlog governance, delivery milestones, and release readiness. 
• Own transaction monitoring coverage design across Cards and Deposits, including rationale for scenario coverage, risk/typology alignment, identification of gaps, and enhancement roadmaps. 
• Lead the full lifecycle governance of AML transaction monitoring and watchlist screening models, including model selection, development, validation, implementation, ongoing monitoring, tuning, and retirement. 
• Establish and maintain scenario/rules governance, including thresholds, segmentation, change control, approvals, and documentation standards. 
• Define effectiveness expectations for transaction monitoring and screening programs and lead outcomes analysis, including false positive/false negative management and performance management information (MI) that supports program decisions and governance reporting. 
• Lead model projects working closely with vendors and/or cross-functionally. 
• Work on data collection and methodology evaluation to support model assessment, model development, testing and validation, and effectiveness enhancements. 

AML Data Governance & Data Quality Management 

• Establish and maintain AML data governance for monitoring and screening, including critical data elements (CDEs), data lineage, data dictionaries, and data control standards. 
• Implement and oversee a data quality control framework (completeness, accuracy, timeliness), including reconciliations, exception management, root cause analysis, and issue remediation tracking through to closure. 
• Partner with Data Management and Technology to ensure sustainable data sourcing, transformation controls, and audit-ready evidence of data quality and lineage. 

Systems Governance (TM/Screening/Case Tools) 

• Provide systems governance for transaction monitoring, screening, and case tools, including requirements definition, user acceptance testing (UAT) sign-off, access control requirements, audit trails, retention, and compliance-side change approvals. 
• Ensure effective change management practices are in place for model/system releases, including release notes, impact assessments, validation/verification steps, and post-implementation monitoring. 

Model Monitoring, Performance & Continuous Improvement 

• Maintain comprehensive model and scenario documentation needed to meet regulatory requirements, including inventories, monitoring plans, change logs, and approvals. 
• Lead the model monitoring process, including identification of root cause drivers of material shifts in performance and maintenance of model/scenario change logs. 
• Champion ongoing monitoring and tuning initiatives to proactively identify degradation, false positives/negatives, and emerging risks.