Strategic Remediation Validation Testing (Audit and Controls Testing) - Associate Specialist

This is a newly created individual contributor position within the recently established Global Strategic Remediation Oversight and Governance team as part of the Global Regulatory Affairs Office. The successful candidate will report to the Remediation Validation Testing Manager. The successful candidate will bring proven expertise in financial services assurance and validation testing activities and will contribute to the design and execution of the significant remediation quality control/validation testing plan. Significant remediation activities will include those of regulators and internal audit. 

The candidate will interact and build relationships with senior management across Northern Trust. Additionally, the candidate will use their technical ability in the execution of the remediation quality control/validation testing plan. 

This individual will play a key role in managing and executing Northern Trust’s remediation quality control/validation testing program, ensuring alignment with regulatory expectations and translating multiple requirements into a balanced validation program. The seasoned professional supplies subject matter expertise, and execution rigor to enable management and coordination of issue validation and related testing activities. 

The key responsibilities of the role include: 

Leadership  

• Demonstrate excellent communication and leadership to influence a wide range of stakeholders 

• Demonstrate strong initiative, project management, people skills, sound decision-making, intuitive thinking, and sensitivity to cultural diversity 

• Display strong presentation and influence skills 

Technical / Operational 

• Establish and develop strong working relationships with key stakeholders 

• Accurately design and execute the quality control/validation approach and ensure that quality control/validation documentation is clear, concise, supports the reviews performed, and explains decisions made  

• Identify and analyze risks, plan and prioritize validation tasks for on-time delivery, conduct interviews, observe operations, document and analyze processes and controls 

• Exercise responsibility over the execution of assigned regulatory validation projects and/or deliverables to ensure that work is performed prompt and accurately 

• Develop and show an understanding of the business risks, controls, and processes, along with an understanding of relevant laws, regulatory rules and knowledge of the impact of systems within areas reviewed 

• Escalate and/or communicate with relevant stakeholders to discuss the issues raised during the quality control/validation activities and agree path forward for resolution 

The successful candidate will benefit from having: 

Required Skills 

• A college or university degree 

• 10+ yrs. experience in financial services, with 5+ years of testing experience in a financial institution, or similar consultancy experience in the financial services industry 

• Superior analytical and organizational skills 

• Ability to work under pressure 

• Ability to multitask and prove flexibility to change plans at short notice 

• Ability to communicate effectively in both oral and written forms, with all levels of staff and management  

Preferred Skills / Experience  

• Experience in the financial services industry, internal audit, or risk management, with in depth experience in risk management frameworks 

• Professional certifications (e.g., CPA, CISA, CIA, ACA, ACCA) and/or an MBA or JD along with proven technical abilities in select areas (e.g., regulatory compliance, risk management, auditing) 

Required Competencies 

• Ability to execute a formal quality control/validation testing strategy that reflects the organization’s risk profile, regulatory/legal requirements, and current risk trends 

• Demonstrate strong initiative and people skills, sound decision-making, analytical and intuitive mind-sets, political awareness, and sensitivity to cultural diversity 

• Ability to manage through critical issues and realign priorities and deliverables as needed 

• Ability to form evaluative judgment(s) based on analysis of information in complicated, unique and dynamic situations