Job Abstract

Lead Compliance Risk Management activities throughout the enterprise for their assigned area of responsibility.  The Senior Compliance Advisor will help develop, implement, and execute strategy of the workflow and performance of personnel to ensure processes are completed in an accurate and timely manner. The Senior Compliance Advisor operates under the firm’s second line of defense independent control function by executing program activities that prevent, detect and mitigate regulatory and compliance risk across the division.

• Provide compliance oversight, support and guidance for Wealth, Personal Trust and/or Private Banking products and personnel in accordance with fiduciary standards, applicable laws, rules, regulations, and regulatory expectations
• Interact with and assist in oversight of state, federal, domestic and possibly international regulator relationships and examinations including the Federal Reserve, OCC, SEC, DOL, FINRA, CFPB, State of New York, and/or the State of Delaware, as applicable
• Maintain M&T internal control standards, including timely implementation of internal and external audit points together with any issues raised by external regulators as applicable
• Assist in development and manage divisional and enterprise-wide policies, standards, procedures, training and control standards designed to minimize regulatory exposure
• Identify, measure, respond, and escalate compliance risk issues to the Compliance Director and/or the Lines of Business (LOBs) as necessary
• Work with the Compliance Director to engage other Risk Departments, Internal Audit, Legal and/or Regulatory Affairs regarding interrelated risk issues impacting fiduciary, operational, credit, strategic, reputation, market, liquidity, interest rate and capital risks
• Interact with numerous risk and executive management, lines of Business, and support organizations such as Internal Audit and Legal on an ongoing basis to ensure the division is operating within the defined Enterprise risk framework and Board-mandated compliance risk tolerance
• Assist with Risk Assessment Process
• Execute on strategic priorities for the group as the Second Line of Defense, potentially impacting the enterprise, and ensure ongoing compliance across the division and enterprise
• Provide Second Line of Defense Credible Challenge to the Business line and senior management in assigned Line of Business by identifying, assessing, documenting, monitoring, and communicating risks, recommending solutions and evaluating ultimate resolution of such risks
• Demonstrate strong critical thinking and problem-solving skills with an ability to challenge/translate ambiguous issues into well-defined risk exposure statements and sustainable solutions
• Analyze and stay current on rules and regulations applicable to the sale of Fiduciary and Private Banking products including individualized specialty lending and financing solutions, trading and investing strategies, financial management services, retirement and estate planning
• Evaluate and provide guidance with other stakeholders on new and evolving business products and services from a fiduciary and regulatory compliance risk perspective
• Perform testing oversight, including the review of surveillance activities and focused forensic reviews to assess compliance risks and identify potential breaches
• Promote an environment that values diversity and reflects the M&T Bank brand
• Complete other related duties as assigned.

The Senior Compliance Advisor works under general supervision of the Compliance Director and/or Line of Business leaders but exercises a high level of judgment and discretion to resolve problem situations independently. For this role, a thorough understanding of Wealth and Private Banking Products, Fiduciary Compliance Risk and how a Second Line Compliance Risk oversight department functions is key.

Effective communication and collaboration with Senior Leadership and M&T Bank Executive Management is expected in the role.

The Senior Compliance Advisor must understand when situations warrant escalation to the M&T Bank Chief Compliance Officer, Legal, or when other consultation is needed.

The Senior Compliance Advisor position is essential to ensuring compliance. Failure to adhere to regulations could result in significant long-term negative impact due to severe penalties from regulators and to legal and reputational risk.

This position must maintain positive collaborative working relationships with CRM staff, business line owners, as well as maintaining significant contact with 2nd Line Risk Management, Legal, Audit, and other M&T subsidiaries and departments. The Senior Compliance Advisor also interacts with external contacts, including regulators/examiners, vendors, and peer companies.

Provide guidance to junior staff members.

Bachelor's Degree in related field.

10  years’ experience in compliance, legal, audit, risk or other relevant function,

OR in lieu of degree,

A combined minimum of 14 years higher education and/or work experience, including 10 years compliance, legal, audit, risk or other relevant function

Juris Doctor or Masters degree preferred;

Thorough knowledge of operations, systems, and practices within subject matter business unit(s) (Fiduciary conduct standards)

Knowledge of bank-wide policies and procedures in responsible area

Proven track record in risk and control oversight (including significant experience in identifying regulatory compliance risks, control issues, implementing corrective actions and best practices).