VP, Finance Governance - Issue Management Leader

About the role

The Finance Governance Issue Management Leader will be part of a relatively new first line of defense centralized team responsible for driving compliance with Governance standards across the Finance organization. These standards include Issues, Incident Management & Customer Remediation, Risk & Control Self-Assessment, Enterprise Surveillance, Change Management, and various Monitoring and Reporting activities. The role supports the maturation of the centralized operating model and assists Finance colleagues in this transition.

The ideal candidate possesses strong Finance technical and risk management skills, attention to detail, expertise in leading large group discussions, and the ability to manage through influence while multitasking effectively.

Responsibilities

• Deliver a centralized Finance Governance Model by driving adherence, providing expertise, and standardizing execution of enterprise-wide governance programs.
• Lead Issue, Incident Management & Customer Remediation across the Finance organization, including ad-hoc initiatives in other governance activities.
• Enforce a standard approach for issue documentation, challenge root cause and risk mitigation in accordance with Enterprise standards, perform data and trend analysis, and assess cross-functional issue impacts on Finance.
• Monitor issue status and report to Finance Leadership, second line, and risk committees.
• Collaborate with matrixed Governance representatives, Issue Coordinators, and a small central governance team (potentially managing one direct report).
• Coordinate with cross-functional Issue Management Leaders and teams on complex issues, representing Finance’s input and views on ownership and support.
• Project manage stakeholder coordination for analyzing new incidents and issues to drive ownership and solutions.
• Own monthly and periodic status reporting to Finance Management and the second line of defense.
• Engage in Issue Management, Incident, and Customer Remediation forums to provide input and cascade outputs regarding new or changing Enterprise requirements, exams, and initiatives.
• Support Finance in driving effective risk identification and management of compliance or operational risks, connecting Governance program outputs to ensure Self Risk Assessments and Monitoring & Reporting are complete.
• Establish relationships with Operational Risk and Compliance second lines of defense to provide challenge on issue ratings, action plans, and risk mitigation.
• Coordinate activities to support committees, ensuring presenters are scheduled and materials are provided to appropriate coordinators.
• Support the development of Finance-specific policy, procedures, job-aids, and training as the team and activities evolve.
• Deliver webinars and training to build understanding and capability within the Finance Function.
• Assist with additional governance responsibilities such as Exam Support, Supplier oversight, Surveillance Testing, and Quality Assurance as the team and operating model evolve.
• Perform other duties and special projects as assigned.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Accounting, or a related business field and 6+ years of experience in a regulated Financial Services organization, or 10+ years of equivalent experience in a regulated Financial Services organization or External/Internal Audit within a Financial Services practice.
• 4+ years of experience in a governance-related role.
• Finance qualifications (e.g., CPA).
• Ability and flexibility to travel for business as required.

Skills

• 10+ years of experience in Governance, Risk, and Control roles, including Issue Management responsibilities.
• Internal or External Audit and/or first-line risk and control experience.
• Strong attention to detail and superior writing and editing skills.
• Ability to lead a small team, manage matrixed individuals, and prioritize multiple workstreams.
• Strong presentation skills and experience leading large group meetings and presenting to Risk Committees.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to work cross-functionally to drive analysis and solutions.
• Understanding of Finance systems and processes.
• Knowledge of relevant legislation, regulations, and policies.
• Experience communicating with middle to upper management in a regulated environment.
• Analytical mindset, excellent documentation skills, and ability to manage multiple competing initiatives while delivering results within deadlines.

Pay

The salary range for this position is $110,000 – $185,000 USD annually, with eligibility for an annual bonus based on individual and company performance. Actual compensation will be based on work experience, skill level, or knowledge. Salaries are adjusted according to the market in CA, NY Metro, and Seattle.

Schedule

This role offers flexibility with the option to work from home near one of Synchrony’s Hubs or in an office. You will be required to commute to your nearest Hub (virtual or physical) for in-person engagement activities such as regular business or team meetings, training, and culture events. Field Sales and some Commercial team roles may have varied location requirements based on partner obligations.