Compliance Risk Manager

Mechanics Bank•Los Angeles, CA

2d•Hybrid

About The Position

Mechanics Bank is seeking a Compliance Risk Manager to join their team. This role is part of the second line of defense Compliance Risk Management function and reports to the Director of Compliance Risk. The primary responsibility is to own, manage, and continuously improve key compliance risk assessment processes. The position is crucial for the development, execution, governance, and enhancement of the Bank’s regulatory compliance risk assessment framework. The role requires a strong understanding of Risk, the ability to quickly contribute with minimal onboarding, and deep knowledge of Bank Secrecy Act and Anti-Money Laundering (BSA/AML) and/or a broad range of banking laws/regulations, including consumer protection and/or fair lending. The ideal candidate will have a firm understanding of risk assessment methodologies, leverage data across the organization to strengthen risk identification, process design, outcomes, and reporting, and be an initiative-taker who is flexible, innovative, adaptive, analytical, and able to communicate complex concepts clearly and effectively to diverse audiences.

Requirements

4 Year / Bachelor's Degree required. Additional experience may be considered in lieu of degree.
Minimum 5 years of banking or prudential regulatory agency compliance experience, preferably in a role with significant responsibility for managing, governing, overseeing, or evaluating enterprise-level compliance processes, including the identification, assessment, measurement, and monitoring of regulatory compliance risks and controls; or equivalent combination of education and experience.
Experience with compliance management system software and related governance tools used to support enterprise compliance programs.
Deep knowledge of Bank Secrecy Act and Anti-Money Laundering (BSA/AML) and/or a broad range of banking laws/regulations, including, consumer protection and/or fair lending, with the demonstrated ability to rapidly acquire and apply knowledge across new or evolving regulatory domains.
Advanced understanding of risk assessment frameworks and methodologies, with the ability to lead the design, enhancement, and execution of complex risk assessment processes and synthesize data-driven insights to inform strategic decision-making.
Highly analytical and intellectually curious, with the ability to deconstruct complex issues; conduct rigorous research; evaluate multiple solution paths; and transform disparate, noisy, or inconsistent data into clear, actionable, and strategically meaningful insights.
Exceptional verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to influence, advise, and communicate effectively with senior leaders, cross-functional partners, and subject matter experts.
Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel, with the ability to design, manage, and optimize complex, process‑driven workflows outside of dedicated compliance solutions/systems, including expertise in formulas, data validation, pivot tables, lookups, conditional logic, and building structured, repeatable templates to support risk assessment activities.
Demonstrated ability to exercise sound judgment, maintain strict confidentiality, and uphold the highest standards of integrity when managing sensitive information and critical compliance processes.

Nice To Haves

Professional certifications such as ACAMS (Association of Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialists), ABA CRCM (Certified Regulatory Compliance Officer), and/or CERP (Certified Enterprise Risk Professional) are preferred, reflecting a commitment to subject matter mastery and ongoing professional development.

Responsibilities

Provide end-to-end ownership of the Bank’s Compliance Risk Assessment processes, including the design, management, and coordination of annual and quarterly assessment cycles, while contributing original ideas, critical thinking, and strategic perspective to continually strengthen processes, methodologies, and overall program efficiency.
Lead and oversee assigned risk assessment activities in partnership with first line business risk owners, ensuring consistent execution, high-quality documentation, and alignment with regulatory expectations and internal standards, while maintaining accountability for information accuracy and performing quality control reviews of source materials and assessment documents.
Produce clear, accurate, and concise written reports summarizing risk assessment results for examiners and senior audiences, including executive leadership, governance committees, senior management, and the Board, ensuring clarity, accuracy, and a coherent risk-focused narrative that supports informed decision-making.
Develop data-driven insights to enhance risk identification, measurement, and assessment processes. Utilize data analysis tools and techniques to aggregate, quantify, and synthesize large datasets to identify patterns, trends, and potential risks related to money laundering, suspicious transactions, and/or applicable consumer protection and/or fair lending laws/regulations.
Proactively identify potential risks, emerging issues, and areas where the Bank may be operating outside its Compliance Risk Appetite, and keep management informed of material findings, control weaknesses, trends, and systemic issues identified through the risk assessment process.
Build, develop, and foster relationships with all lines of business and internal control partners (i.e., Audit, Risk, Compliance, and Legal) to support comprehensive risk assessment activities.
Maintain awareness of regulatory changes, emerging risks, bank-wide initiatives, and industry trends to ensure forward-looking, innovative, and adaptive risk assessment design and execution.
Perform all other job duties as assigned by the Director of Compliance Risk Management, including administrative responsibilities such as file maintenance and organization, document publication and version control, results tracking and reporting, meeting scheduling and coordination, note-taking, maintaining internal records and databases, and supporting general departmental operations.

Benefits

Medical, prescription, dental, and vision coverage for employees and their eligible family members
Employer paid Employee Assistance Program, Life Insurance, AD&D, and Disability benefits
Health Savings Account with employer contribution
Healthcare and Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts and Commuter/Parking Benefit
401(k) and Roth 401(k) with company contribution
529 Education Savings plan, Tuition Reimbursement Program and Student Loan Assistance Program
Supplemental Health plans, Voluntary Legal and Identity Theft Services
11 paid holidays, paid Sick days (accrual of one hour for every 30 hours worked), up to 25 paid vacation days, and 16 hours of paid volunteer time throughout the calendar year
Free personal checking and savings account
Discounted rates on primary residence loan with $0 origination fees (restrictions apply)