Assistant Vice President (AVP), Fraud Strategy and Operations

Manulife•Waterloo, ON

3d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Assistant Vice President (AVP), Fraud Strategy and Operations is a senior leadership role within Manulife Bank, reporting to the VP Operations. This position is responsible for developing, implementing, and overseeing the Bank’s 1st line of defense fraud strategy and operational framework. The role ensures robust fraud prevention, detection, and response capabilities while maintaining compliance with regulatory requirements and aligning with enterprise risk objectives. The AVP will lead cross-functional initiatives to strengthen fraud controls, optimize operational efficiency, and drive innovation in fraud management practices.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Business, Finance, Risk Management, or related field
10+ years of experience in fraud management, risk, or compliance within financial services.
Proven track record in strategic planning and operational leadership.
Strong knowledge of fraud detection systems, regulatory frameworks, and operational risk.
Advanced analytical and problem-solving skills.
Excellent communication and stakeholder management abilities
Strong strategic thinking and execution skills.
Demonstrated risk management and compliance expertise.
Proven leadership and team development capability.
Advanced data driven decision making skills.
Excellent collaboration and influence abilities.
Commitment to innovation and continuous improvement.

Nice To Haves

Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE) preferred.
Bilingualism (English and French) is a strong asset. If the successful candidate is in Québec, proficiency in both languages will be required to support clients from various provinces outside of Quebec.

Responsibilities

Develop and operationalize the Bank’s 1LoD fraud strategy aligned with business objectives and regulatory standards.
Provide strategic direction for fraud prevention, detection, and mitigation programs across all fraud typologies.
Partner with Bank senior leadership to integrate fraud risk considerations into organizational planning and publish annual fraud plan.
Serve as the central point of accountability for fraud risk, aligning with CEO and Board expectations for integrated risk oversight.
Upgrade exec reporting to include KRI/KPI, forecasts, heatmaps; monthly performance packs.
Lead fraud operations teams responsible for alert management, investigations, and case resolution.
Ensure timely and accurate reporting of fraud incidents to internal stakeholders and regulatory bodies.
Oversee fraud stress testing and scenario planning to assess resilience.
Establish and maintain governance frameworks for fraud risk management.
Adopt COSO/ACFE framework; schedule semi-annual external benchmark reviews and formal law-enforcement engagement.
Collaborate with the Global Anti-Fraud Office, Bank Compliance and other oversight bodies.
Drive adoption of advanced fraud detection tools, analytics, and automation by investing in advanced AI/ML detection; implement model governance & drift dashboards; automate triage/reporting.
Monitor fraud model performance and implement corrective actions as needed.
Identify emerging fraud trends and develop proactive strategies.
Build and mentor a high-performing fraud strategy and operations team.
Foster a culture of accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement.
Launch certification-backed curriculum and publish competency matrix.

Benefits

health
dental
mental health
vision
short- and long-term disability
life and AD&D insurance coverage
adoption/surrogacy and wellness benefits
employee/family assistance plans
various retirement savings plans (including pension and a global share ownership plan with employer matching contributions)
financial education and counseling resources
holidays
vacation
personal
sick days
full range of statutory leaves of absence