Central Control Officer

Mizuho•New York, NY

3d•Hybrid

About The Position

Business Risk & Control (BRC) supports the First Line of Defense (1LoD) Target Operating Model (TOM) and the firm’s Non‑Financial Risk (NFR) framework. The team provides centralized risk and control guidance and quality assurance (QA) to promote consistent, sustainable, and well‑evidenced risk and control outcomes across supported businesses and corporate functions. The Central Control Officer sits within a centralized 1LoD risk and control team in BRC and is responsible for providing risk control standards, guidance, and QA over key NFR programs and deliverables. The role partners closely with business lines and corporate functions to support adoption of the 1LoD TOM and NFR framework and provides Control Officer coverage for assigned corporate functions (e.g., Human Resources, Legal). The Central Control Officer also supports embedded First Line Control Officers (FLCOs) through guidance, QA challenge, and coordination across core NFR deliverables, including RCSA, process mapping and control inventory, control testing and assurance alignment, risk events and issues, remediation tracking, and NFR/KRI reporting.

Requirements

7+ years of experience in 1LoD risk and control, non‑financial or operational risk, risk program execution, QA/testing, or a related control assurance role within financial services.
Demonstrated experience executing and/or quality assuring core NFR programs, such as RCSA, issue management, control testing and assurance, and process/control inventory.
Strong ability to provide credible challenge, raise and escalate issues appropriately, and operate independently with sound judgment.
Proven capability to develop high‑quality analysis, thematic insights, and actionable management information for NFR governance and decision‑making.
Strong interpersonal, analytical, and critical thinking skills, with the ability to articulate complex concepts clearly and concisely.
Highly professional, adaptable, proactive, and objective, with the ability to collaborate effectively across teams while maintaining independence.
Bachelor’s degree required.

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree preferred.
Prior experience as a Control Officer, FLCO, or in Internal Audit is preferred.

Responsibilities

Lead and perform QA over core 1LoD/NFR programs and artifacts, including RCSA, process mapping and control inventory, control design and testing/assurance alignment, risk events and issues (including SIIs and risk acceptances), remediation tracking and evidence, and NFR/KRI reporting.
Own the quality, completeness, and timeliness of assigned NFR deliverables, including documentation of QA conclusions and supporting evidence.
Perform targeted risk and control assessments to evaluate the adequacy of policies, procedures, processes, systems, and controls, and provide actionable recommendations to strengthen the control environment.
Partner with stakeholders across business lines and assigned corporate functions (e.g., HR, Legal) to balance NFR requirements with efficient operations, providing credible challenge and practical risk control guidance.
Provide Control Officer coverage and advisory support for assigned corporate functions, including participation in key initiatives, change programs, and process changes to ensure appropriate risk assessment and control considerations are embedded.
Coach and provide QA challenge to FLCOs and process/control owners on control execution, documentation quality, testing readiness, and remediation evidence.
Execute risk program QA reviews to assess completeness, quality of rationale, risk‑to‑control linkages, and sufficiency of evidence; identify themes and drive continuous improvement.
Report QA results, key themes, and emerging risks through NFR governance forums, influencing stakeholders on required enhancements to controls, documentation quality, and risk decisions, including escalation where appropriate.
Develop, maintain, and socialize 1LoD risk control guidance (e.g., minimum standards, procedures, templates, and playbooks) to support consistent implementation of the NFR framework and 1LoD TOM.
Act as a liaison to Second and Third Line risk, compliance, and audit teams to facilitate effective challenge, coordinate responses to inquiries, and support adherence to NFR framework requirements.
Support NFR‑related regulatory examinations, compliance reviews, and internal audits as a 1LoD subject matter expert, including coordination of evidence and demonstration of program design, execution, and QA outcomes.
Produce and maintain NFR management information, including dashboards and reporting on NFR profile, KRI trends, issue and remediation status, and QA outcomes to support management decision‑making and prioritization.
Analyze business, regulatory, and operating environment changes to assess impacts to NFR risks and controls and coordinate updates to risk assessments, controls, and documentation as needed.
Deliver communications and training to promote awareness and consistent adoption of NFR policies, standards, program expectations, and control best practices.