Chief Risk Officer

CU1 Careers•Anchorage, AK

14h•Onsite

About The Position

Credit Union 1 (CU1), Alaska’s largest state-chartered credit union, is seeking a Chief Risk Officer to support its growth, post-merger integration, and increasing organizational complexity. The CRO treats risk as a strategic advantage, anticipates risks, exercises sound judgment, and advises the C-Suite and Board of Directors so decisions align with organizational priorities. The role is based in Anchorage, Alaska, and requires travel across CU1’s Alaska footprint, including Fairbanks, Fort Wainwright, Homer, and the Mat-Su. Compensation is competitive with peer credit unions of similar size and complexity and includes eligibility for performance incentives. The CRO oversees enterprise risk management, credit risk oversight, compliance and BSA/AML, fraud and financial crimes, third-party risk, operational resilience, information security governance, regulatory relations, and risk culture. The role provides independent challenge and oversight while building risk capabilities, talent, and structure across the organization. The CRO partners with executive leaders, business units, regulators, and the Board, and fosters risk ownership through the three lines of defense. CU1’s purpose is to be Alaska’s trusted financial partner, empowering people, investing in communities, and unlocking potential. Its vision is for every Alaskan family to be financially stronger than the generation before. The organization’s values are Driven by Care, Invested in Community, Committed to Curiosity, and Do What’s Right.

Requirements

10 or more years in risk, compliance, credit, audit, or regulatory roles in financial services.
At least 5 years leading teams.
Direct experience with credit union or community bank regulation, including NCUA or a comparable state or federal regulator.
Demonstrated ownership of at least two of the following: enterprise risk management, credit risk, BSA/AML, or compliance management.
Experience presenting to a board of directors or a board-level risk or audit committee.
Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience.
Legally authorized to work in the United States without restriction; CU1 does not provide visa sponsorship.
Clear judgment and point of view, willingness to raise difficult concerns, ability to translate risk issues for varied audiences, and ability to build systems and lead through influence.

Nice To Haves

Experience in an organization going through a merger, core conversion, or rapid growth.
Background in a state-chartered institution with dual regulatory oversight.
Certifications such as CRCM, CAMS, CERP, CRVPM, or CIA.
Experience in Alaska or another geographically distributed, rural-serving market.

Responsibilities

Oversee and run the enterprise risk management program, including the risk taxonomy, risk appetite statement, key risk indicators, and reporting for the Board and executive team.
Make risk a meaningful input to strategy, budgeting, and product decisions.
Partner with the Chief Lending Officer and Chief Financial Officer on portfolio quality, concentration limits, allowance methodology, stress testing, and loan policy.
Provide independent challenge on credit decisions and portfolio direction.
Own the compliance management system, consumer regulations, fair lending, and BSA/AML/OFAC program, keeping the program aligned with CU1’s risk, growth, and regulators’ expectations.
Oversee fraud prevention, detection, and loss mitigation across channels.
Own due diligence and ongoing monitoring frameworks for critical vendors, fintech partners, and outsourced services.
Oversee business continuity, disaster recovery, incident response, and crisis management.
Partner with the Chief Information Officer on cyber risk posture, security governance, and technology risk, providing independent oversight while IT owns execution.
Serve as a primary point of contact for NCUA and the Alaska Division of Banking and Securities.
Manage examination preparation, findings, and remediation, and keep leadership informed about regulatory change.
Build risk ownership at the business-unit level through the three lines of defense; set the framework, challenge work, and report risk clearly.
Build organizational capability, talent, and structure rather than personally reviewing every file.
Lead through influence to drive changes across departments.
Present clear recommendations and explain risk issues effectively to audiences such as branch managers and Board members.