VP, BSA/AML Governance

Synchrony•Orlando, FL

3d•Hybrid

About The Position

Role Summary/Purpose: The VP, BSA/AML Governance is responsible for the rigorous oversight and continual improvement of Synchrony’s Bank Secrecy Act (BSA), Anti-Money Laundering (AML), and Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) governance framework. Reporting directly to the SVP, BSA/AML/OFAC Officer, this leader manages the execution, monitoring, and enhancement of second line of defense (2LOD) compliance processes and provides enterprise governance oversight across the first and second lines of defense. The VP will drive the design and implementation of robust risk assessment and quality methodologies, deliver critical program reporting, manage training, support change management initiatives, and ensure formal interaction and information-sharing with the 1LOD to assess program health, identify emerging risks, and maintain compliance in a dynamic regulatory landscape. Our Way of Working We’re proud to offer you flexibility. At Synchrony, our way of working allows you to have the option to work from home, near one of our Hubs or come into one of our offices. Occasionally you may be required to commute or travel for in person engagement activities such as business or team meetings, training and culture events.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Business, Finance, Law, Risk Management, or related field
8+ years of progressive experience in BSA/AML/OFAC roles within financial services, including direct experience with 2LOD governance, quality programs, and risk management.
In lieu of a degree; 15+ years of BSA/AML/OFAC roles within financial services, including direct experience with 2LOD governance, quality programs, and risk management.
In-depth knowledge of applicable U.S. banking regulations related to BSA, AML, OFAC and Sanctions compliance.
Experience developing, implementing, and overseeing QA and QC programs.
Demonstrated experience preparing and delivering executive-level reporting and program updates.
Proven track record in policy/procedure management and change control.
Strong analytical, communication, and relationship-building skills.

Nice To Haves

Masters Degree or JD
CAMS, CRCM, or other relevant professional certification
Strategic risk management mindset
Leadership and team-building
Effective problem solving and decision making
Executive communication and reporting
Project and change management
Independent judgment and integrity
Cross-functional collaboration

Responsibilities

Oversight of 1LOD and 2LOD Processes Set standards for the execution and monitoring of BSA/AML/OFAC processes within the second line of defense (2LOD), maintaining compliance with regulatory requirements and the Bank’s enterprise risk management framework.
Serve as an internal subject matter expert on BSA/AML/OFAC risk assessment methodology, guiding the development, enhancement, and execution of effective risk assessment strategies and controls.
Partner with risk and business leaders to ensure appropriate risk oversight and escalation processes.
Maintain an enterprise BSA/AML/OFAC control inventory, providing 2LOD line-of-sight into key controls across both 1LOD and 2LOD, including ownership, control design intent, and linkage to applicable risks and regulatory requirements.
Establish and maintain criteria for identifying “key” BSA/AML/OFAC controls and confirm appropriate testing/monitoring coverage is performed by the designated testing/monitoring functions; track and escalate gaps in coverage and recurring control themes.
Serve as an internal subject matter expert on BSA/AML/OFAC risk assessment methodology, guiding the development, enhancement, and execution of effective risk assessment strategies and controls.
Partner with risk and business leaders to ensure appropriate risk oversight and escalation processes.
Implement and maintain a formal engagement and information-sharing model with 1LOD stakeholders (cadence, required management information, standard readouts, and escalation pathways) to assess ongoing program health, identify emerging risks, and ensure consistent governance across lines of business.
Program Reporting Leadership Direct the creation and delivery of timely, accurate, and comprehensive BSA/AML/OFAC program reports, including:
Quarterly report preparation for the Compliance Committee
Semi-annual report preparation for the Enterprise Risk Management Committee (ERMC)
Annual report preparation for the Risk Committee
Ensure precise and actionable reporting of Risk Appetite Statement (RAS) metrics, with particular emphasis on timely SAR filing rates and trends
Synthesize complex program data for executive audiences, highlighting key risks, remediation status, and program effectiveness.
Provide regular feedback to process owners on QA/QC results, supporting continuous improvement.
In partnership with the AML Model, Data, and Technology Lead, ensure governance practices are in place for AML monitoring models/ scenarios and related analytics, including inventory management, documentation standards, change/tuning governance (e.g., thresholds/segmentation), performance monitoring and outcomes analysis, approvals, and coordination with Model Risk Management and Technology partners as applicable.
In partnership with the Sanctions lead/SME, ensure sanctions governance practices are established and effective (forums, standards, reporting, issue escalation), while recognizing the Sanctions function’s ownership for sanctions-specific governance content and execution.
Quality Assurance and Quality Control Management Develop, implement, and continually enhance robust QA and QC methodologies to systematically monitor the performance of BSA/AML/OFAC processes.
Oversee and, as needed, execute sample reviews of all QC activities to assess compliance with internal standards and regulatory requirements.
Identify process or control defects, lead or supervise targeted remediation plans, and ensure effective closure and documentation of corrective actions.
Provide regular feedback to process owners on QA/QC results, supporting continuous improvement.
Training and Communication Oversee BSA/AML/OFAC training content to ensure Directors, officers, employees, and relevant third parties receive comprehensive and current regulatory education.
Communicate policy, procedural, and regulatory changes across all levels of the organization, ensuring clear understanding and adoption.
Monitor training effectiveness and recommend enhancements, as needed.
Collaboration and Coordination Collaborate closely with the SVP, BSA/AML/OFAC Officer and management to ensure governance activities are fully aligned with overarching program objectives and strategic risk priorities.
Coordinate with functional and business process owners to implement control enhancements and process improvements based on QA/QC results.
Support, or lead as assigned, targeted reviews or investigations; analyze and report on findings and provide actionable recommendations.
Procedural Support and Change Management Participate in, or manage, the update and maintenance of BSA/AML/OFAC policy and procedure documentation, ensuring appropriate, timely, and risk-responsive revisions.
Lead the BSA/AML/OFAC change management process: ensure all procedural changes are assessed, documented, escalated, approved, and communicated to all relevant parties.
Stay informed about regulatory or industry changes, proactively updating internal frameworks to maintain alignment with best practices and regulatory expectations.
Manage the BSA/AML/OFAC Governance function budget, including planning, forecasting, expense management, and vendor/contract spend oversight as applicable; provide regular budget reporting and variance explanations to the SVP, BSA/AML/OFAC Officer.
Perform other duties and/or special projects as assigned.