Risk Manager

Navigator Credit Union•Ocean Springs, MS

About The Position

Navigator Credit Union is hiring a full-time Risk Manager to lead day-to-day risk management, fraud management, and assigned project coordination through an experienced team. The Risk Manager sets priorities and standards, develops employees’ judgment and capabilities, and ensures risk assessments, audit and risk schedules, fraud investigations and disputes, reporting, control recommendations, and assigned projects are completed accurately and on time. The role partners with business units and management, escalates significant concerns, makes risk-based decisions, and promotes effective controls, continuous improvement, and a strong risk-aware culture. The position directly supervises and develops staff; oversees audit, risk, and fraud programs and project and change management processes; coordinates with departments, auditors, consultants, vendors, committees, and other stakeholders; and prepares timely reporting. The Risk Manager also oversees fraud casework and monitoring, risk assessments and control activities, audit finding follow-up, project progress and reviews, and related corrective actions. The role reports updates and significant matters to the Director and performs other duties as assigned. Work is primarily sedentary in an indoor, climate-controlled private office with minimal noise. The role requires routine computer work averaging 6–8 hours per day when necessary, operation of routine office equipment, occasional lifting of up to 20 pounds, and the ability to climb or descend stairs in an emergency. Extended hours may be required or requested by management, and regular, reliable, timely attendance is required.

Requirements

At least 5 years of progressive experience in risk management, fraud management, audit, compliance, operations, or a related financial-services function.
Experience directing work, coaching employees, or leading teams.
Demonstrated experience with risk assessments, internal controls, audit follow-up, fraud investigations, loss prevention, management reporting, and cross-functional initiatives.
Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, Business, Risk Management, or a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and relevant experience.
Strong leadership, coaching, analytical, investigative, organizational, and communication skills.
Ability to assign and prioritize work, evaluate quality, make sound decisions, handle sensitive matters, resolve competing demands, and influence stakeholders at all levels.
Skills in people leadership, coaching, delegation, workload management, and accountability across a team with diverse responsibilities.
Strong attention to detail, quality assurance, documentation, and follow-through.
Sound judgment and timely, risk-based decision-making.
Knowledge of enterprise and operational risk assessment, internal controls, and audit coordination.
Skills in fraud investigation, dispute oversight, loss prevention, recovery, and trend analysis.
Skills in project governance, prioritization, stakeholder coordination, and post-project evaluation.
Clear reporting and executive communication, regulatory awareness, and confidential information handling.
Ability to work independently or as part of a team, plan and direct work, manage multiple and changing priorities, and maintain composure under deadline pressure.
Ability to deal calmly and professionally with people from diverse cultures and levels within and outside the organization, while exercising discretion with confidential matters.
Ability to routinely work at a computer for an average of 6–8 hours per day when necessary, operate routine office equipment, occasionally lift up to 20 pounds, and climb or descend stairs in an emergency.
Ability to work extended hours whenever required or requested by management and maintain regular, reliable, and timely attendance.

Nice To Haves

Credit union experience is strongly preferred.
Relevant certifications in risk, fraud, audit, compliance, or project management are preferred.

Responsibilities

Provide direct supervision, coaching, performance feedback, workload prioritization, and professional development for assigned staff.
Build a collaborative, accountable, service-oriented team culture and support training, mentoring, cross-training, knowledge sharing, and succession readiness.
Assign and balance audit, risk, fraud, and project work; ensure procedures, service standards, and quality controls are followed and work products are accurate, complete, and timely.
Evaluate risk, fraud, audit, and project management programs and improve procedures, workflows, tools, controls, and reporting as appropriate.
Oversee audit and risk schedules and coordinate activities with departments, external auditors, consultants, and vendors.
Oversee management responses to audit findings, corrective-action commitments, supporting evidence, and closure of items as appropriate.
Oversee enterprise and departmental risk activities, including enterprise risk assessments, Enterprise User Access Reviews, control testing, mitigation tracking, internal disclosures, branch cash counts, and other audit activities.
Direct and review risk management work and participate in risk assessments, cash counts, control reviews, testing, and research when needed.
Create and review risk analyses for new products, services, processes, and vendors; identify emerging risks and communicate practical control recommendations.
Report audit and risk schedule status, overdue items, findings, mitigation plans, vendor deliverables, and significant issues to management and appropriate committees; coordinate materials for Supervisory Committee meetings as needed.
Oversee the fraud case lifecycle, including alert review, investigations, disputes, documentation, member communication, loss mitigation, recovery, and law-enforcement referrals.
Oversee fraud monitoring systems and timely review and resolution of suspicious activity; monitor losses, recoveries, trends, root causes, and control gaps and direct corrective and preventive actions.
Coordinate with the BSA Officer regarding potential suspicious activity, SAR-related support, and identity-theft reporting; oversee employee fraud-awareness training and communications.
Oversee project and change management processes, stakeholder communications, project reporting, and assessment of project progress and outcomes.
Guide responses to project barriers, significant changes, competing priorities, and complex or sensitive matters; review completed projects and recommend follow-up actions and process improvements.
Provide the Director with regular, concise updates on risk, fraud, audit, project, team, and operational matters; prepare and present related reporting to management and appropriate committees.
Act as the primary escalation point for significant risk exposures, fraud events, control weaknesses, overdue remediation, and project concerns; coordinate response and communication through resolution.
Partner with operations, compliance, information security, internal and external audit, legal counsel, vendors, and law enforcement as appropriate.
Promote consistent risk ownership, documentation, confidentiality, and accountability across the credit union.
Perform other duties as assigned.