VP of Risk Management

Role:

Provide strategic leadership and operational oversight for the department dedicated to identifying, analyzing, and combating identity fraud trends to safeguard members and mitigate financial losses. Centralize all fraud-related activities, including detection tools, trend monitoring, and response strategies across card disputes, remote deposit capture, ACH transactions, member-to-member transfers, wires, ATM operations, and suspicious activities within the digital banking platform. Emphasize automation to streamline processes, reduce manual workloads and redundancies, and enable the team to address complex issues, thereby enhancing cost savings and member protection. Continuously adapt procedures and leverage innovative tools to counter emerging fraud trends.

Essential Functions & Responsibilities:

Lead the identification, analysis, and mitigation of fraud trends, implementing innovative tools and strategies to address identity fraud in areas such as card disputes, remote deposit capture, ACH, member-to-member transfers, wires, ATM activities, and digital banking platform suspicious transactions.

Exercise supervisory authority over assigned personnel in compliance with organizational policies and legal requirements, including recruitment, training, performance evaluations, and resolution of workplace issues, with a focus on building expertise in fraud prevention and automation.

Drive automation initiatives to minimize manual processes and redundancies, reallocating team efforts toward complex fraud investigations and strategic risk management to achieve cost efficiencies and enhanced member security.

Ensure adherence to fraud-related regulations, including Regulation E, NACHA rules, and other applicable standards, while developing internal controls to prevent losses and protect member interests across all channels, including digital banking.

Continuously evaluate and modify procedures based on fraud trends and emerging tools, fostering innovation to adapt approaches and maintain proactive defenses against new threats.

Formulate and execute departmental goals aligned with the credit union's strategic plan, emphasizing fraud prevention outcomes, automation efficiencies, and team motivation to reduce risks.

Other duties are required from time to time.

Performance Measurements:

1. Demonstrate expertise in fraud detection, prevention strategies, and automation technologies, staying current on emerging trends, regulatory updates, and innovative tools.

2. Effectively resolve escalated fraud incidents, including those in digital banking, prioritizing member protection and loss minimization through adaptive procedures.

3. Implement automation solutions that reduce manual workloads, eliminate redundancies, and yield measurable cost savings while improving response times to complex issues.

4. Support audit processes by providing documentation on fraud controls, automation implementations, and procedural adaptations, implementing enhancements as required.

5. Ensure the department maintains access to necessary fraud monitoring and automation tools for proactive risk management and trend analysis.

6. Assume accountability for reducing fraud-related losses, achieving assigned goals, and advancing departmental specialization in digital oversight and innovation.

7. Develop a skilled team capable of addressing evolving fraud challenges, with demonstrated improvements in efficiency and member protection through automation and procedural refinements.

Knowledge and Skills:

Experience

Five to eight years in fraud prevention, risk management, or related roles within financial services, with proven success in combating identity fraud, implementing automation, and reducing operational losses through innovative approaches.

Education

(1) A bachelor's degree, or (2) achievement of formal certifications recognized in the industry as equivalent to a bachelor's degree (e.g., information technology certifications in lieu of a degree).

Interpersonal Skills

Proficiency in leading teams through complex fraud scenarios and automation projects, with strong abilities in training, collaboration, and stakeholder engagement to drive risk reduction and efficiency initiatives.

Other Skills

• Comprehensive understanding of regulations governing electronic transactions and fraud, including Regulation E (for consumer protections in disputes and errors), NACHA rules (for ACH operations), and related standards addressing wire transfers, ATM security, and digital banking activities.

• Advanced expertise in fraud detection tools, trend analysis, mitigation strategies, and automation technologies for card, deposit, transfer, payment systems, and digital platforms.

• Strong supervisory, technological, leadership, and communication capabilities, with proficiency in Microsoft Office, fraud analytics software, and automation tools (e.g., scripting, workflow automation platforms).

• Ability to manage multiple high-priority tasks independently, maintaining confidentiality and exercising sound judgment in risk assessments and procedural modifications.

• Proactive orientation toward regulatory compliance, member protection, loss prevention, and continuous innovation in response to fraud trends.

Professional office setting with occasional travel. The role involves a standard schedule, with flexibility for fraud response demands as needed.