Manager, First Line Risk

CardWorks • Wilmington, NC

2d • Onsite

About The Position

CardWorks Financial Group is a diversified financial services platform building ethical solutions across credit, lending, and the full customer lifecycle. Through our family of companies, CardWorks Financial Group tackles the complex challenges that larger financial institutions leave behind. We’re embedded throughout the credit card ecosystem as a lender, servicer, and merchant acquirer. Merrick Bank: The bank that builds CardWorks Servicing: One partner, total performance Carson Smithfield: Resolution with respect With nearly 40 years of operating history, our track record is solid: disciplined in downturns and built to accelerate in recovery. The CardWorks Financial Group companies take precise approach in complex markets, as a top three non-prime focused general purpose card issuer and a top fifteen U.S. merchant acquirer. Our team tackles the industry’s most complex credit and payment challenges. And we believe that excellent work starts with a team that feels supported, respected, and empowered to grow. CardWorks Servicing, LLC provides end- to end operational servicing functions for credit cards, secured cards, and installment loans.  We service consumer and small business loans across the credit spectrum and offers backup servicing and due diligence services to capital providers and trustees. Founded in 1997, Merrick Bank is an FDIC®-insured financial institution headquartered in South Jordan, Utah, with over $10 billion in assets. A wholly owned subsidiary of CardWorks Financial Group, Merrick Bank serves roughly five million cardmembers and more than 100,000 merchant customers, offering credit cards, recreational loans, deposit accounts, merchant services and bank sponsorships to consumers and businesses. Carson Smithfield, LLC provides a variety of post-charge-off debt recovery services, including digital self-service, IVR, live agent, and external agency management. Position Summary: First Line Risk Manager serves as a liaison, responsible for coordinating across Business Units and Departments to effectively manage issues and at times may participate in internal/external audits. Reporting to the Vice President First Line Risk, the Manager partners with stakeholders throughout the company along with service partners to manage issues and oversees milestone completion and issue closure. The role requires extensive collaboration, excellent communication and interpersonal skills, attention to detail, and a strong background in quality assurance and controls.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree (Business Administration, Finance, Economics, Accounting) preferred or 5+ years of equivalent work experience
• 5+ years of Credit Card experience, credit risk management, controls, audit and/or compliance
• 5+ years of experience documenting processes, conducting process assessments, and assessing risks
• 5+ years of experience in quality assurance, quality control and/or similar operational risk experience
• Experience with Enterprise Governance Risk& Compliance (GRC) systems (e.g. Archer)
• Demonstrated ability to work independently while building strong, collaborative partnerships across multiple teams
• Proven track record of driving issues through to resolution in complex, high-risk environments
• Ability to manage multiple high-priority initiatives simultaneously, with strong prioritization and execution discipline
• Experience facilitating meetings with large, diverse audiences, including senior leadership stakeholders
• Confident in constructively challenging and advising subject matter experts and business partners
• Strong leadership capabilities with sound judgment, decision-making, problem-solving, and communication skills
• Ability to influence and challenge leaders effectively while maintaining productive working relationships
• Intellectually curious, with a commitment to continuously expanding business and risk acumen
• Highly organized with strong attention to detail and the ability to execute with precision in a fast-paced environment
• Excellent time management skills with a consistent ability to meet deadlines
• Quality-focused mindset with a strong emphasis on accuracy, completeness, and continuous improvement

Nice To Haves

• Experience with third party and vendor management preferable

Responsibilities

• Own and manage the enterprise-wide issue management lifecycle from identification through resolution and closure
• Partner with key stakeholders to design and implement sustainable control processes that mitigate identified risks
• Influence business leaders on key risk exposures and required mitigation actions
• Coordinate the collection and development of audit-ready evidence and supporting artifacts
• Collaborate with business and compliance partners to develop and execute remediation plans
• Report status, trends, and outcomes through established governance and oversight routines
• Identify, prioritize, and drive control enhancements to improve risk management and customer experience
• Maintain and continuously strengthen business acumen across products, processes, and risk domains
• Coordinate internal audits and external assessment engagements, as needed
• Centralize and maintain standardized documentation to support audits and ongoing control activities

Benefits

• Competitive Pay , including a Bonus Target or Variable Pay Incentive Program
• Medical, Dental, and Vision (plus much more)
• 401(k) Plan with Company Match
• Short- & Long-Term Disability
• Wellness Programs
• Group Life and AD&D Insurance
• Paid Vacation, Sick Days and bank Holidays
• Employee Engagement Activities including Employee Appreciation Day, DEI Employee Resource Groups, Corporate Social Responsibility, Service Recognition

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Manager