Risk Strategy Director

At Early Warning, we've powered and protected the U.S. financial system for over thirty years with cutting-edge solutions like Zelle, Paze, and so much more. As a trusted name in payments, we partner with thousands of institutions to increase access to financial services and protect transactions for hundreds of millions of consumers and small businesses.

Positions located in Scottsdale, San Francisco, Chicago, or New York follow a hybrid work model to allow for a more collaborative working environment.

Candidates responding to this posting must independently possess the eligibility to work in the United States, for any employer, at the date of hire. This position is ineligible for employment Visa sponsorship.

Job Summary

The Risk Strategy Director is a senior leadership role within the Risk Strategy, Operations, and Transformation organization, reporting to the Head of Risk Strategy, Transformation, and Operations. The role has enterprise-wide accountability for defining, shaping, and advancing the company's risk strategy and transformation agenda in alignment with business objectives, regulatory expectations, and long-term growth priorities.

The Risk Strategy Director operates with significant autonomy, exercises independent judgment, and serves as a trusted advisor to executive leadership. A core expectation of the role is the ability to translate complex risk and strategic concepts into clear, compelling, and executive-ready communications.

Essential Functions

Risk Strategy & Planning

• Drive the development and ongoing evolution of enterprise-wide risk strategy, including 1-, 3-, and 5-year planning horizons.

• Partner with executive leadership to establish strategic priorities that mature risk capabilities and align with enterprise objectives.

• Identify, assess, and communicate industry best in class risk management practices, developments, and trends with clear business implications.

• Ensure alignment between risk strategy, business strategy, and execution across the enterprise.

Executive Storytelling & Communications

• Own the enterprise-wide risk narrative and ensure consistent, high-quality communication of risk strategy and transformation progress.

• Translate executive intent, vision, and objectives into concise, visually compelling, executive-ready PowerPoint presentations.

• Synthesize complex data, regulatory requirements, and risk concepts into clear stories that support executive and Board-level decision-making.

• Establish and enforce standards for best-in-class executive communications across the Chief Risk Office.

Risk Strategic Initiatives & Operating Model Leadership

• Define and lead large-scale, complex risk strategy initiatives from concept through execution.

• Apply structured problem-solving to ambiguous issues, synthesizing data and insights into actionable recommendations.

• Establish governance, milestones, and success metrics to ensure delivery of intended outcomes.

• Serve as a senior subject matter expert on risk operating and engagement models, as well as capacity and resource planning - guiding their evolution across the organization.

• Drive an endtoend, holistic view of risk across EWS leveraging the three lines of defense model.

• Partner closely with first and secondline risk teams to ensure consistency, integration, and maturity of risk processes and outcomes.

Executive Engagement & Influence

• Serve as a trusted advisor to senior executives, providing objective guidance and challenge on risk strategy and communication related matters.

• Facilitate executive forums, working sessions, and decision discussions.

• Influence outcomes across functions and levels without direct authority.

• Review and elevate deliverables to ensure executive-ready quality and consistency.

• Promote a culture of accountability, strategic thinking, and continuous improvement.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required; advanced degree preferred.

• 12+ years of progressive experience in risk management, enterprise strategy, or management consulting roles within financial services or similarly regulated industries.

• Demonstrated experience leading enterprise-scale initiatives and influencing executive decision-making.

• Expert-level PowerPoint and executive communication skills.

• Background and drug screen

Preferred Qualifications

• Prior experience at a top-tier strategy or management consulting firm.

• Experience in payments, banking, fintech, or financial services technology environments.

• Risk management or related professional certifications.

Physical Requirements

Working conditions consist of a normal office environment. Work is primarily sedentary and requires extensive use of a computer and involves sitting for periods of approximately four hours. Work may require occasional standing, walking, kneeling and reaching. Must be able to lift 10 pounds occasionally and/or negligible amount of force frequently. Requires visual acuity and dexterity to view, prepare, and manipulate documents and office equipment including personal computers. Requires the ability to communicate with internal and/or external customers. Employee must be able to perform essential functions and physical requirements of position with or without reasonable accommodation.

The above job description is not intended to be an all-inclusive list of duties and standards of the position. Incumbents will follow instructions and perform other related duties as assigned by their supervisor.

The base pay scale for this position in:
Phoenix, AZ in USD per year is: $154,000 - $193,000.
San Francisco, CA in USD per year is: $186,000 - $232,000.
Additionally, candidates are eligible for a discretionary incentive plan and benefits.

This pay scale is subject to change and is not necessarily reflective of actual compensation that may be earned, nor a promise of any specific pay for any specific candidate, which is always dependent on legitimate factors considered at the time of job offer. Early Warning Services takes into consideration a variety of factors when determining a competitive salary offer, including, but not limited to, the job scope, market rates and geographic location of a position, candidate's education, experience, training, and specialized skills or certification(s) in relation to the job requirements and compared with internal equity (peers). The business actively supports and reviews wage equity to ensure that pay decisions are not based on gender, race, national origin, or any other protected classes.

Some of the Ways We Prioritize Your Health and Happiness

• Healthcare Coverage-Competitive medical (PPO/HDHP), dental, and vision plans as well as company contributions to your Health Savings Account (HSA) or pre-tax savings through flexible spending accounts (FSA) for commuting, health & dependent care expenses.
• 401(k) Retirement Plan-Featuring a 100% Company Safe Harbor Match on your first 6% deferral immediately upon eligibility.
• Paid Time Off -Unlimited Time Off for Exempt (salaried) employees, as well as generous PTO for Non-Exempt (hourly) employees, plus 11 paid company holidays and a paid volunteer day.
• 12 weeks of Paid Parental Leave
• Maven Family Planning - provides support through your Parenting journey including egg freezing, fertility, adoption, surrogacy, pregnancy, postpartum, early pediatrics, and returning to work.

AndSOmuch more! We continue to enhance our program, so be sure tocheck our Benefits page here for the latest. Ourteamcan share more during the interview process!

Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

Early Warning Services, LLC ("Early Warning") considers for employment, hires, retains and promotes qualified candidates on the basis of ability, potential, and valid qualifications without regard to race, religious creed, religion, color, sex, sexual orientation, genetic information, gender, gender identity, gender expression, age, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, protected veteran or disability status or any factor prohibited by law, and as such affirms in policy and practice to support and promote equal employment opportunity and affirmative action, in accordance with all applicable federal, state, and municipal laws. The company also prohibits discrimination on other bases such as medical condition, marital status or any other factor that is irrelevant to the performance of our employees.