Lead Risk Officer

Hancock Whitney•New Orleans, LA

About The Position

The Lead Risk Officer leads the design, execution, and continuous enhancement of the Bank’s enterprise and operational risk management frameworks. Serving as a trusted advisor to senior management, the Lead Risk Officer provides thought leadership on risk methodologies, oversees risk assessments and significant operational risk events, and ensures business units and corporate support functions effectively identify, assess, and mitigate significant risks.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree required
8 years of progressive experience in enterprise risk, operational risk, internal audit, compliance, or related roles in financial services required
Strong understanding of enterprise risk frameworks, regulatory expectations, and core bank operations
Demonstrated ability to influence senior leaders and facilitate executive-level discussions
Strong analytical, reporting, and communication skills with ability to synthesize complex information for diverse audiences
Proficiency with GRC platforms, data visualization, and risk analytics tools

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree in Finance, Business, Risk Management, or related field preferred
Professional certifications strongly preferred (CRCM, FRM, CRM, CAMS, CRISC, CIA, CISA)

Responsibilities

Lead execution and continuous improvement of Enterprise Risk Management (ERM)/Operational Risk Management (ORM) programs, including Risk Control Self-Assessment (RCSA), emerging risk identification, issue management, operational loss event analysis, and enterprise-level reporting.
Provide subject matter expertise and guidance to senior leadership on risk identification, mitigation strategies, and regulatory expectations.
Design and refine risk program methodologies, policies, and procedures; oversee implementation across business lines.
Facilitate and present risk assessments, reports, and emerging risk analyses to senior leadership, risk committees, and the board.
Mentor and coach risk officers and associates, providing training and guidance to build organizational capability.
Act as liaison across second-line functions (Compliance, IT Risk, Model Risk, Internal Audit) to align practices and streamline governance.
Oversee administration and strategic use of Governance, Risk and Compliance (GRC) platforms, risk data analytics, and reporting tools.
Provide risk leadership for strategic projects and enterprise initiatives, ensuring effective controls and mitigations.
Escalate deviations from the Company’s risk appetite and ensure remediation plans are tracked and implemented.
Represent ERM or ORM team in cross-functional forums, risk committees, and industry engagements as a senior risk advisor.