Finance Controls Testing Automation Leader

Finance Controls Testing Automation Leader – C13

Job Profile Title: Business Risk and Control Officer – C13 (Job Code: 231918)

The Global Functions Control Testing Utility is responsible for the testing of controls that are designed and executed by the Citi’s Global Functions teams such as Finance, HR, Operations, Technology, COO & ESPA as well as the CBNA Legal Vehicle.

This position reports to the Global Functions Controls Testing Automation Head, within the Global Functions Control Testing Utility; and is an execution-oriented individual contributor position accountable This is a strategic and execution-oriented management position which along with Peers and the Global Functions Controls Testing Automation Head, is accountable for end-to-end controls testing i.e., operational controls performance assurance/testing – which includes design, execution, results reporting, and insight sharing related to the above scope of controls testing. This role will focus on improving the effectiveness and efficiency of Controls Monitoring and Testing across Global Functions Controls by increasing the level of Automation in Controls Testing across the in-scope controls.

The Finance Controls Testing leader is a subject matter expert on overall controls monitoring, with an excellent level of understanding of control testing and who closely follows latest trends in Tech Infrastructure controls testing and adapts them for application within their own job and covered businesses and functions.

Excellent communication skills required to negotiate internally, often at a senior level. Developed communication and diplomacy skills are required to guide, influence and convince others, particularly colleagues in other areas and occasional external customers. Accountable for significant controls testing results and advice regarding the controls execution. Necessitates a degree of responsibility over technical strategy.

Responsibilities:

• Supports the Global Functions Controls Testing Utility by providing support on control design assessment and being responsible for designing automated testing tools.
• Serves as key subject matter expert on control testing automation initiatives and provides automation support when team is assessing an automated control design.
• Owns the control testing automation pipeline management, being responsible for agreeing priorities, escalating any blocks and continuously forecasting the work effort.
• Engages business owners to review Activities-Risk-Controls and gain a thorough understanding of the expected control testing tool, analyzing and defining an executable process.
• Conducts research as required on data availability, including location, quality, completeness, format and access needed for the target data.
• Maintains relationships and drives accountability with directs, partners, and stakeholders to drive control testing's success in support of the business's strategy.
• Handles control testing automation interactions with senior managers at Director or Managing Director levels.
• Defines user acceptance testing ahead of rollout with clear success criteria. Validates the reports that are provided by the automation team on an escalated basis, determining if the results are acceptable and as planned for the tool.
• Performs a hand-off to testing analysts and makes sure that their directs are reviewing related control testing procedures for accuracy.
• Serves as liaison with testing analyst and automation team on any escalated post-implementation issues that may occur with the automation.
• Maintains the automation dashboard, ensuring timeliness and quality of projects being delivered.
• Appropriately assesses risk when business decisions are made, demonstrating particular consideration for the firm's reputation and safeguarding Citigroup, its clients and assets, by driving compliance with applicable laws, rules and regulations, adhering to Policy, applying sound ethical judgment regarding personal behavior, conduct and business practices, and escalating, managing and reporting control issues with transparency, as well as effectively supervise the activity of others and create accountability with those who fail to maintain these standards.
• Supports other relevant work efforts of the department where needed and as directed by their manager.

Qualifications:

• 10+ years relevant experience, 4+ years in Risk & Controls roles, 5+ years of automation and experience in Finance Operations within a Bank.
• Subject matter expert on data management and reporting.
• Expert-level understanding of MCA (Managers Control Assessment) frameworks and processes.
• Advanced skills in MS Word, MS Excel, MS PowerPoint, and MS SharePoint.
• In-depth experience with tools such as JIRA, FDR, IBS, Eclipse, and Workflow Management tools preferred.
• Effective communication skills.
• Excellent people and relationship management skills with the ability to influence others and foster a sense of collaboration.
• Exemplary analytical skills with demonstratable continuous improvement mindset.
• Independent thinker and able to perform a credible challenge of businesses/functions.
• Ability to work effectively on virtual teams, including across different geographies and time zones preferred.
• Experience of Agile methodologies and human-centered design an advantage.

Travel Requirement:

• Less than 10%.

Education:

• Bachelor’s/University degree

Primary Locations:

• Irving, Tampa, Jacksonville, Florence.

The Business Risk and Control Officer is a strategic professional who stays abreast of developments within own field and contributes to directional strategy by considering their application in own job and the business. Recognized technical authority for an area within the business. Requires basic commercial awareness. There are typically multiple people within the business that provide the same level of subject matter expertise. Developed communication and diplomacy skills are required in order to guide, influence and convince others, in particular colleagues in other areas and occasional external customers. Significant impact on the area through complex deliverables. Provides advice and counsel related to the technology or operations of the business. Work impacts an entire area, which eventually affects the overall performance and effectiveness of the sub-function/job family

Responsibilities:

• Help contribute to governance and the facilitation of the execution of the Manager Control Assessment (MCA, i.e. Risk & Control Self-Assessment) as required by the MCA Standard including the assessment and appropriate approval of risk associated with business changes. 
• Support teams in the quality, completeness, and accuracy of the implementation of the Control Framework, including Risk Control Policy, Control Standard, Issue Management Policy, Lesson Learned Policy and Control Inventory.
• Assist in performing a detailed analysis on the identification of issue root cause, partnering with control and process owners to recommendations holistic corrective actions and improvements, provide check and challenge to ensure appropriate escalation in according with Issue Management and Escalation Policies.
• Help contribute to the Lessons Learned Policy, including monitoring of control breaches and dissemination and learnings across other business units for process improvement to limit the occurrence of similar future events and where similar risk exposure might exist.
• Support the review and challenge process, within the FLUs, on the effective design and management of controls to mitigate risks as required by the Control Standards, including implementation and operation, conducting the control monitoring, handling deficiencies, and escalating issues for resolution. 
• Help contribute to the timeliness, accuracy and completeness of the MCA through controls prior to the execution of a process (QC).
• Assist in the monitoring of the adherence to the MCA Standard through controls after the execution of a process (QA).
• Support in dealing with Operational and Compliance Risk in accordance with established Policy requirements.
• Assist in performing a detailed analysis to identify, assess, escalate, and manage risk exposures across Risk Categories (Operational Compliance, Strategic, Reputational, etc), including material, emerging and concentration risks in accordance with enterprise Policies and the establishment of Key Indicators to monitor risk exposures.
• Assist in supporting Risk Appetite and monitor / assess exposures against this in accordance with enterprise requirements (if applicable).
• Be part of the process to identify, assess, record and response to Operational and Compliance Risk events, ensuring these are captured accurately, timely and in accordance with requirements.
• Help ensure that adequate governance and training are in place to support management of Risk profiles.
• Contribute to the risks associated with New Activities and changes to the Business, ensuring these are well understood and adequately controlled (if applicable).
• Support operational risk scenario analysis and stress testing for Operational Risk Capital requirements.
• Support with risk and control assessments or coordination for programs within various risk stripes and ensure sufficient subject matter expertise exists to enable management of these risks within the Business (e.g. third party, fraud, sanctions etc) (if applicable).
• Coordinate risk and control responsibilities and ensure accountabilities are embedded within FLUs, including providing training and leading by example.
• Support with standards and procedures that conform to enterprise requirements and support sound operational and compliance risk management.
• Apply knowledge of the business, products or services to identify and implement control points and processes throughout the business.
• Appropriately assess risk when business decisions are made, demonstrating particular consideration for the firm's reputation and safeguarding Citigroup, its clients and assets, by driving compliance with applicable laws, rules and regulations, adhering to Policy, applying sound ethical judgment regarding personal behaviour, conduct and business practices, and escalating, managing and reporting control issues with transparency.

Qualifications:

• 6-10 years of experience.
• MS Excel, MS Access, SAS, SQL, Visual Basic a plus. 5+ years’ experience in financial services.
• Consistently demonstrates clear and concise written and verbal communication skills
• Effective organizational influencing skills required.
• Third party vendor management preferred. Demonstrated ability to lead global team efforts
• Excellent problem-solving skills Ability to comprehend the big pictures with high attention to critical details
• Demonstrated ability to develop and implement strategy and process improvement initiatives.

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In addition to salary, Citi’s offerings may also include, for eligible employees, discretionary and formulaic incentive and retention awards. Citi offers competitive employee benefits, including: medical, dental & vision coverage; 401(k); life, accident, and disability insurance; and wellness programs. Citi also offers paid time off packages, including planned time off (vacation), unplanned time off (sick leave), and paid holidays. For additional information regarding Citi employee benefits, please visit citibenefits.com. Available offerings may vary by jurisdiction, job level, and date of hire.

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