Senior Compliance Officer

Job Description

Job Description

Position Description

The Senior Compliance Officer is responsible for leading the Bank's Compliance Management System (CMS) and enterprise compliance risk management program. Reporting directly to the Chief Risk Officer, this position provides independent oversight, regulatory guidance, and effective challenge to ensure compliance with applicable federal and state laws, regulations, internal policies, and ethical standards.

The role partners with business leaders to identify, assess, monitor, and mitigate compliance risks while supporting strategic growth initiatives. The Senior Compliance Officer serves as a key advisor to Executive Management and the Board and ensures compliance risk management is integrated into the Bank's Enterprise Risk Management (ERM) framework.

Primary Responsibilities

Compliance Risk Management & Governance

• Lead and continuously enhance the Bank's Compliance Management System and compliance risk management framework.
• Integrate compliance risk management with the Bank's ERM framework, risk assessments, issue management processes, policy governance, and strategic planning activities.
• Provide independent oversight and credible challenge regarding compliance risks, controls, remediation efforts, and risk acceptance decisions.
• Promote a strong culture of compliance and accountability across all business lines.

Compliance Risk Assessment, Monitoring & Testing

• Lead enterprise-wide compliance risk assessments and maintain an inventory of applicable compliance risks.
• Develop and execute a risk-based compliance monitoring and testing program.
• Assess control effectiveness and identify regulatory, operational, procedural, and consumer compliance risks.
• Recommend corrective actions and validate remediation efforts.

Regulatory Change Management & Advisory Support

• Monitor and assess changes in laws, regulations, and regulatory guidance.
• Advise business units on compliance requirements related to new products, services, systems, marketing initiatives, and strategic projects.
• Provide regulatory interpretations and practical guidance to management and business partners.
• Ensure regulatory changes are appropriately implemented and documented.

Policy Governance & Issue Management

• Support enterprise policy governance through review, oversight, and regulatory alignment of policies and procedures.
• Maintain oversight of compliance-related issues, findings, and corrective action plans.
• Evaluate root causes, monitor remediation progress, and escalate material matters as appropriate.
• Ensure compliance risks are appropriately documented, tracked, and reported.

Complaints, Examinations & Regulatory Relations

• Provide second-line oversight of consumer complaint management processes and trend analysis.
• Coordinate and support regulatory examinations, audits, and information requests.
• Maintain examination readiness and assist management in responding to regulatory findings.
• Build and maintain effective working relationships with regulators, auditors, legal counsel, and external consultants.

Reporting, Training & Leadership

• Prepare and present compliance reports to Executive Management, committees, and the Board of Directors.
• Report on compliance risk trends, regulatory developments, monitoring results, complaints, issues, and remediation efforts.
• Develop and oversee risk-based compliance training programs.
• Provide leadership, coaching, and guidance to compliance personnel and business partners.

Third-Party Compliance Oversight

• Evaluate compliance risks associated with third-party relationships and outsourced activities.
• Support compliance due diligence, ongoing monitoring, and issue management activities related to vendors and service providers.
• Coordinate with owners of specialized compliance programs, including BSA/AML, CRA, Fair Lending, Privacy, Identity Theft, and Information Security.

Supervisory Responsibilities

• Directly supervises assigned compliance personnel.
• Provides leadership, coaching, performance management, and professional development.
• May oversee consultants, vendors, project teams, and other assigned resources.

Knowledge, Skills & Competencies

• Strong knowledge of federal and state banking regulations and consumer compliance requirements.
• Demonstrated expertise in compliance risk assessments, monitoring, testing, issue management, and regulatory change management.
• Strong regulatory research, analysis, policy development, and documentation skills.
• Ability to influence business leaders and provide effective challenge while maintaining collaborative relationships.
• Strong project management and organizational skills.
• Executive-level written and verbal communication skills, including Board reporting experience.
• High degree of integrity, objectivity, sound judgment, and professionalism.

Technology Skills

• Proficiency with compliance management, policy management, workflow, issue management, and reporting systems.
• Strong data analysis, spreadsheet, reporting, and presentation skills.
• Experience using compliance and risk management technologies such as Ncontracts/Ncomply, Verafin, or similar platforms preferred.

Other Responsibilities

Performs other duties and special projects as assigned by the Chief Risk Officer. Responsibilities may evolve based on the Bank's growth, risk profile, regulatory environment, and strategic objectives.

FUNCTIONS SUPERVISED : Compliance

POSITIONS SUPERVISED: Control Risk Management Specialist, Compliance officer

EDUCATION REQUIRED : Bachelor's degree in business, Finance, Accounting, Risk Management, Law, Public Administration, or related field preferred. Equivalent directly relevant banking and compliance experience may be considered. CRCM (Certified Regulatory Compliance Manager) designation preferred.

Experience required : Minimum seven years of progressive experience in bank regulatory compliance, compliance risk management, internal audit, regulatory examination, legal, or related banking risk disciplines. Community banking experience preferred. Experience in compliance program management, risk assessments, monitoring and testing, regulatory examinations, regulatory change management, complaint oversight, policy governance, and Board reporting strongly preferred.

*Compensation is based on our market pay structures. However, individual salaries are determined by a variety of factors including, but not limited to business considerations, local market conditions, and internal equity, as well as candidate qualifications, such as skills, education, and experience.

Position Wage Range - $125,000-$178,000

Benefits include medical, dental and vision insurance, 401(k) with employer match, paid time off, paid holidays and other fringe benefits. Note that specific benefit entitlements are dictated by the terms of the plan documents and may be changed at the sole discretion of the Company.

Ascend Bank is an equal opportunity employer and offers equal opportunity to all applicants for all positions without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, age, disability, and veteran status.

Applicants requiring reasonable accommodation in the application process should notify Human Resources. 

Ascend Bank participates in E-Verify.

EOE/AA/M/F/D/V