VP, Manager, Country Risk

GENERAL SUMMARY

The Country Risk Manager is responsible for executing the Country Risk Program (CRP) for the bank's country risk. This role ensures that all country risk program elements are delivered on time and meet required internal and regulatory standards. This will include leading the implementation and ongoing enhancement of the country risk program and its reporting, effective review and challenge of front-line units and control functions. This position will collaborate with department leaders and stakeholders to further enhance risk management processes and develop new strategies to mitigate country-specific risks.

The Country Risk Manager will have a crucial role in helping the bank to:

•    Mature and scale the bank's country risk management program while, applying industry best practices applicable to country risk management at a large financial institution.

•    Oversee the day-to-day program in alignment with the bank’s country risk management framework and ensure the related risk assessment processes and reports address required insights to actively monitor country risk.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

1. Manage the country risk program day to day, including making approved changes to processes and workflows. Oversee implementation tasks such as testing, requirements gathering, and solution design.
2. Support developing and maintaining Country Risk Program (CRP) policies, standards, and procedures, ensuring regulatory and operational risk requirements are appropriately addressed.
3. Monitor the regulatory environment to identify changes applicable to bank coverage areas. Advise on applicable changes, direct appropriate areas to implement or amend policies, standards, procedures, and processes to address regulatory requirements, challenge implementation plans as needed, and maintain a comprehensive regulatory inventory.
4. Conduct country risk compliance and operational risk reviews and assessments. Oversee monitoring and testing activities including working closely with first line teams on controls related testing.
5. Identify, aggregate, report, escalate, inspect, and challenge remediation plans, performing thematic analysis on business-owned issues and control enhancements. Ensure that Credit and Operational Risk owned issues and control enhancements are identified and addressed appropriately and timely.
6. Contribute to the development of risk mitigation plans, execute monitoring, testing, and risk assessments, and communicate results to stakeholders.
7. Review and challenge business processes, new products, risk identification, control inventory, and Risk and Control Self-Assessments. Review and challenge internal and external operational loss events, including developing remediation plans to strengthen controls.
8. Ensure metrics are designed to measure key risks and control performance. Monitor and report on metric performance and breach remediation. Design and maintain intuitive, accurate, and action-oriented dashboards that deliver valuable insights for data-driven decision-making.
9. Manage and provide guidance, acting as the second line of defense to create effective challenge of the first line. Foster a culture of continuous learning and skill development across the first line teams and ensure the adequacy of country risk training and awareness across the organization.
10. Define and manage country risk limits, ensuring they align with the bank's risk appetite. Monitor exposures against these limits and take appropriate action when limits are approached or exceeded.

QUALIFICATIONS

Education:    
•    Bachelor's or Master's degree in Finance, Economics, Risk Management, or a related field preferred.

Experience:  
•    Minimum of 7+ years of direct, related experience in Market or Credit Risk Management within a large financial institution or a regulatory body.
•    Commensurate experience in managing country risk within a large financial institution. 
•    In-depth knowledge of country risk factors, including political, economic, and social dynamics.
•    Proven track record in conducting country risk assessments and developing mitigation strategies.
•    Experience monitoring geopolitical events and assessing their impact on international operations and exposure calculations.
•    Familiarity with country-specific regulatory requirements and compliance standards.
•    Experience working with international, cross-border teams.
•    Experience with the practical implementation of regulations within a country risk management framework.
•    Prior managerial or supervisory experience preferred.

Skills/Ability: 

•    Solution-driven, highly motivated, and able to work independently.
•    Demonstrate intellectual curiosity and a focus on continued learning and skill development.
•    Comfortable with change and adjusting to dynamically changing demands and requirements.
•    Excellent analytical skills with strong attention to detail and accuracy.
•    Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, including experience working directly with technical and non-technical stakeholders.
•    Strong leadership abilities with a demonstrated capacity to drive change and decision-making.
•    Familiarity with GRC (Governance, Risk, and Compliance) technology platforms and knowledge of GRC frameworks and standards (e.g., ISO 31000, COSO).
•    Understanding of banking processes and operational risk management programs.
•    Ability to design and generate scheduled and ad hoc reports using reporting tools.

OTHER DETAILS

$120K – $160K / year 
Pay determined based on job-related knowledge, skills, experience, and location.
This position may be eligible for a discretionary bonus.  

Cathay Bank offers its full-time employees a competitive benefits package which is a significant part of their total compensation. It is our goal to provide employees with a comprehensive benefits package to fit their needs which includes, coverage for medical insurance, dental insurance, vision insurance, life insurance, long-term disability insurance, and flexible spending accounts (FSAs), health saving account (HSA) with company contributions, voluntary coverages, and 401(k). 

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Cathay Bank is an Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action Employer. We believe in diversity, equity, and inclusion in the workplace. We welcome applications for employment from all qualified candidates, regardless of race, color, ethnicity, ancestry, citizenship, gender, national origin, religion, age, sex (including pregnancy and related medical conditions, childbirth and breastfeeding), reproductive health decision-making, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, genetic information or characteristics, disability or medical condition, military status or status as a protected veteran, or any other status protected by applicable law.

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