Assistant Director – Risk and Controls
Northwestern Mutual
Location: Remote - US
At Northwestern Mutual, we help our clients realize the promise of financial security and deliver comprehensive planning, insurance and investments through a trusted advisor and engaging technology.
We're strong and growing. In a company with such a long and storied history, this may be the most exciting and important time to be a part of Northwestern Mutual. We're strong, innovative and growing.
We invest in our people. We provide opportunities for employees to grow themselves, their career and in turn, our business.
We care. We make a positive difference in our communities. Nationally, thousands have benefitted from our support of research and programs to fight childhood cancer. Each year, our Foundation, employees and financial representatives donate time, talent and financial support to causes they're passionate about.
Investment Products and Services helps our clients grow their wealth. In other words, IPS completes the promise we’ve made to our clients. By bringing investments and insurance together into one comprehensive plan, we help our clients strive toward their complete financial picture.
What you will do:
This role will provide sophisticated support by building relationships and consulting across the enterprise on a wide variety of topics to advance the company's risk and controls and best interest regulatory culture while ensuring business objectives are achieved.
How you will do it:
• Implement the strategy for the Enterprise Best Interest program across the enterprise with the objective of advancing the company's culture of regulatory compliance while achieving business targets, including regulatory and Board of Directors interactions.
• Directly and indirectly lead employees and their work in supporting the Enterprise Best Interest program including maintaining business as usual and operating model which includes, but is not limited to: policies, procedures and controls establishing and reports metrics for the enterprise, and advancing operational improvements to modernize the field and client experience and operational control processes.
• Understands applicable rules and regulations to independently identify, assess and consult to the mitigation of risk with enterprise business partners across a wide range of best interest and regulatory topics.
• Resolves complex or unusual best interest and business risk issues in partnership with business partners, enterprise compliance and best interest program management and communicates across enterprise team members to ensure alignment.
• Identifies and assesses best interest and business risk implications to controls and best interest program from new and/or updates to rules and regulations.
• Serves as a SME on areas of specialized technical expertise for partners within Investment Product and Services as well as in partnering with Life Product, Service and Operations, Marketing, , Enterprise Compliance, Law, Digital Product, Tech and DSS
• Executes required risk assessments, new and modified products and programs process with governance frameworks and applicable compliance testing and corporate audit results to cure and mitigate risk to the company, clients, and practices.
• Interprets internal/external business challenges and recommends best practices and required changes to improve products, processes or services including the field and client experiences
• Participates in projects or efforts in support of the division or department priorities/objectives as needed.
Bring Your Best! What this role needs:
• Bachelor's Degree Preferred or equivalent combination of education and experience preferred.
• FINRA series 7 & 24 required within 6 months of hire.
• Minimum of 6 years of proven experience. Experience in financial services preferred.
• Experience in securities/insurance operations, information technology, law, regulatory, audit, or testing preferred.
• Strong organizational leadership presence and proven track record to cultivate relationships and influence individuals at all levels of the organization.
• Understanding of the financial services / insurance / securities industry.
• Ability to cultivate relationships at all levels of the organization.
• Broad knowledge of Northwestern Mutual compliance and risk systems and business model inclusive of the home office and field.
• Ability to advise the resolution of complex business problems by applying advanced critical thinking.
• Ability to communicate sophisticated ideas, and assist in anticipating potential oppositions.