Chief Risk Officer

Sezzle • Nevada, Remote, NV

14h • Remote

About The Position

Sezzle Bank, a planned de novo national bank in formation headquartered in Nevada and wholly owned by Sezzle Inc., is seeking a Chief Risk Officer to develop and maintain an effective, independent second-line risk management program. The CRO will measure and manage credit, market, liquidity, operational, and model-related risks across the Bank. The role will build an enterprise-wide risk governance framework, establish risk culture, appetite, and limits with the Board and its Risk and Compliance Committee, and monitor risks and operational performance against Board-approved policies and tolerances.

The CRO is a Bank-only executive, with no concurrent position at Sezzle Inc. The role reports to the President of Sezzle Bank and the Board Risk and Compliance Committee. It serves as the Bank’s primary risk-program communicator to the Board, primary relationship manager for the OCC Examiner-in-Charge, and designated CRA Officer. The CRO also oversees second-line compliance, BSA/AML/OFAC, and information-security risk functions, and partners with business-line management and the Bank’s audit program.

Requirements

• 15–20+ years of banking or financial services experience, with significant experience in risk management, credit, compliance, or audit.
• At least 7–10 years in a senior risk leadership role, such as CRO, SVP Risk, or equivalent, at a regulated financial institution.
• Extensive experience managing a risk organization in a regulated banking environment.
• Direct experience with federal banking regulators (OCC, FDIC, or Federal Reserve) and the examination process.
• Deep knowledge of enterprise risk management frameworks, banking regulatory requirements, and second-line governance.
• Experience managing compliance, BSA/AML, OFAC, CRA, and cybersecurity risk programs.
• Strong communication skills and experience reporting risk matters to a Board.
• Demonstrated experience working with Claude or equivalent large language model tools; comfort leveraging AI to enhance productivity, research, and communication is required.

Nice To Haves

• Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Economics, Accounting, or Mathematics; a Master’s degree is preferred.
• FRM (GARP), CERP (ABA), CAMS, CRCM, or CPA certification.
• Experience with model risk governance and CECL/stress testing frameworks.
• Prior experience with de novo bank formation or building a second-line risk function from the ground up.

Responsibilities

• Define enterprise-wide risk management strategies, policies, and the risk appetite framework in collaboration with the Board and the Board Risk and Compliance Committee.
• Identify, assess, measure, manage, monitor, and report risks across the Bank, ensuring compliance with Board-approved policies, tolerances, and limits.
• Identify emerging risks, including risks associated with proposed products and services, and ensure business strategies align with regulatory requirements and supervisory expectations.
• Develop and maintain a model governance framework that includes independent model validation.
• Participate in ALCO as the independent second-line risk representative.
• Serve as the Bank’s primary relationship manager for the OCC Examiner-in-Charge, coordinating with the Bank’s President.
• Communicate with regulators and address regulatory inquiries and examination activities.
• Serve as the Bank’s designated CRA Officer; administer the CRA Strategic Plan, monitor performance commitments, and ensure CRA examination readiness.
• Oversee the Chief Compliance Officer and second-line compliance risk management, including complaints handling and emerging regulatory and consumer compliance requirements.
• Oversee the BSA Officer and ensure BSA/AML/OFAC policies, procedures, risk assessments, and controls are properly designed and operationally effective.
• Oversee the CISO to ensure information assets, sensitive customer data, and technologies are protected, and ensure the CISO reports routinely to the Board or appropriate Board committee.
• Provide risk-program communication and reporting to the Board and the Board Risk and Compliance Committee.
• Build strong relationships with business-line management and communicate emerging and current risk elements and issues.
• Support the Bank’s audit program, including addressing audit findings and remediation efforts.

Benefits

• Unlimited PTO, volunteer hours, and sabbatical.
• Life, short-term disability/long-term disability, medical, dental, and vision insurance.
• Highly discounted LifeTime gym membership.
• 401(k) with match.
• Collaborative co-workers.
• Opportunity to join a fast-growing FinTech alongside a motivated and driven team.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Executive
• Education Level: No Education Listed