Senior Compliance Officer

Ascend Bank•Wallingford, CT

About The Position

The Senior Compliance Officer leads Ascend Bank’s Compliance Management System (CMS) and enterprise compliance risk management program. Reporting directly to the Chief Risk Officer, this role provides independent oversight, regulatory guidance, and effective challenge to help ensure compliance with applicable federal and state laws, regulations, internal policies, and ethical standards. The position partners with business leaders to identify, assess, monitor, and mitigate compliance risks while supporting strategic growth initiatives. It advises Executive Management and the Board and integrates compliance risk management into the Bank’s Enterprise Risk Management (ERM) framework. The role oversees enterprise compliance risk assessments, risk-based monitoring and testing, regulatory change management, policy governance, issue remediation, consumer complaint oversight, regulatory examinations, compliance reporting, training, and third-party compliance risk. It coordinates with owners of specialized compliance programs, including BSA/AML, CRA, Fair Lending, Privacy, Identity Theft, and Information Security. The Senior Compliance Officer directly supervises assigned compliance personnel and may oversee consultants, vendors, project teams, and other resources. Other duties and special projects may be assigned by the Chief Risk Officer; responsibilities may evolve with the Bank’s growth, risk profile, regulatory environment, and strategic objectives.

Requirements

Minimum seven years of progressive experience in bank regulatory compliance, compliance risk management, internal audit, regulatory examination, legal, or related banking risk disciplines.
Strong knowledge of federal and state banking regulations and consumer compliance requirements.
Demonstrated expertise in compliance risk assessments, monitoring, testing, issue management, and regulatory change management.
Strong regulatory research, analysis, policy development, and documentation skills.
Ability to influence business leaders and provide effective challenge while maintaining collaborative relationships.
Strong project management and organizational skills.
Executive-level written and verbal communication skills, including Board reporting experience.
High degree of integrity, objectivity, sound judgment, and professionalism.
Proficiency with compliance management, policy management, workflow, issue management, and reporting systems.
Strong data analysis, spreadsheet, reporting, and presentation skills.
Bachelor’s degree in business, Finance, Accounting, Risk Management, Law, Public Administration, or a related field preferred; equivalent directly relevant banking and compliance experience may be considered.

Nice To Haves

Community banking experience preferred.
Experience in compliance program management, risk assessments, monitoring and testing, regulatory examinations, regulatory change management, complaint oversight, policy governance, and Board reporting strongly preferred.
CRCM (Certified Regulatory Compliance Manager) designation preferred.
Experience using compliance and risk management technologies such as Ncontracts/Ncomply, Verafin, or similar platforms preferred.

Responsibilities

Lead and continuously enhance the Bank’s Compliance Management System and compliance risk management framework.
Integrate compliance risk management with the ERM framework, risk assessments, issue management, policy governance, and strategic planning.
Provide independent oversight and credible challenge regarding compliance risks, controls, remediation, and risk acceptance decisions.
Promote a culture of compliance and accountability across business lines.
Lead enterprise-wide compliance risk assessments and maintain an inventory of applicable compliance risks.
Develop and execute a risk-based compliance monitoring and testing program; assess control effectiveness and identify compliance risks.
Recommend corrective actions and validate remediation efforts.
Monitor and assess changes in laws, regulations, and regulatory guidance; advise business units on compliance requirements for products, services, systems, marketing initiatives, and strategic projects.
Provide regulatory interpretations and practical guidance, and ensure regulatory changes are implemented and documented.
Support enterprise policy governance by reviewing policies and procedures for regulatory alignment.
Oversee compliance-related issues, findings, and corrective action plans; evaluate root causes, monitor remediation, and escalate material matters.
Ensure compliance risks are documented, tracked, and reported.
Provide second-line oversight of consumer complaint management and trend analysis.
Coordinate and support regulatory examinations, audits, and information requests; maintain examination readiness and assist management with responses to regulatory findings.
Maintain working relationships with regulators, auditors, legal counsel, and external consultants.
Prepare and present compliance reports to Executive Management, committees, and the Board of Directors.
Report compliance risk trends, regulatory developments, monitoring results, complaints, issues, and remediation efforts.
Develop and oversee risk-based compliance training programs.
Provide leadership, coaching, and guidance to compliance personnel and business partners.
Evaluate compliance risks associated with third-party relationships and outsourced activities; support vendor due diligence, ongoing monitoring, and issue management.
Coordinate with owners of specialized compliance programs, including BSA/AML, CRA, Fair Lending, Privacy, Identity Theft, and Information Security.
Directly supervise assigned compliance personnel, including leadership, coaching, performance management, and professional development.
May oversee consultants, vendors, project teams, and other assigned resources.
Perform other duties and special projects as assigned by the Chief Risk Officer.