AVP, Automated Controls

The AVP, Automated Controls leads the design and delivery of automated internal controls embedded directly into business processes and technology workflows to improve efficiency, reduce manual effort, and strengthen control effectiveness across priority operations and platforms. This role partners with Finance, Risk, Compliance, Internal Audit, Information Security and Technology to translate internal financial controls, data governance, information technology general controls (ITGCs), operational risk controls, cybersecurity controls, and emerging AI / model governance controls and support sustainable adoption. 

What You Will Do: 

• Lead automated controls, design and delivery  

• Own the design and implementation of automated controls embedded directly into investment, underwriting, settlements, finance and data workflows. 

• Own the control execution and operation through the development life cycle and identify clear accountability for control ownership and execution once in production, including transition of ownership/execution to accountable team. 

• Translate financial, operational, IT, cyber, data governance and AI risk requirements into automated and other controls embedded in investment, underwriting, settlements, finance, and data workflows. 

• Identify risks associated with business processes and recommend, design and document controls to address those risks.  

• Simplify and standardize control processes so that controls are “built-in” rather than added on. 

• Embed controls into the data & analytics platform 

• Work with data, technology, and architecture teams to build controls into data pipelines (data quality checks, reconciliations, lineage, access control, etc.) 

• Establish and implement continuous monitoring, dashboards, and alerts for key controls and risk indicators. 

• Ensure data controls evolve alongside changes to data architecture, pipeline, and downstream consumption.  

• Internal financial and IT general controls 

• Design, build and maintain automated internal financial controls over settlements, reserving, and financial reporting, ensuring controls execute reliably and produce auditable evidence. 

• Work with IT to review/confirm appropriate ITGCs (access, change management, operations) for key applications and the new platform, supporting ICFR where applicable. 

• Establish a process and accountability for maintaining control documentation, evidence, and issue tracking as part of data-to-day operations.  

• Enhance operational risk and cybersecurity controls 

• Work with IT to review/confirm embedded automated controls have been established to manage operational and technology risks including process failures, data loss, unauthorized access, and system misuse. 

• Establish clear accountability and execution of controls.  

• Partner with Information Security to ensure robust IAM, logging, monitoring, and incident detection within critical processes. 

• Build AI / model governance controls 

• Support governance of AI/machine learning and analytics models, including controls over data sourcing, versioning, approvals, performance monitoring, and model changes. 

• Assist integrating controls into the AI and model governance framework aligned with risk and regulatory expectations and clear accountability. 

• Drive transformation and change adoption 

• Serve as a control lead on transformation initiatives, ensuring controls are considered from design through implementation. 

• Establish and maintain operating model for automated controls, including ownership, lifecycle management, evidence, exceptions and remediation.  

• Drive adoption of automation-first, controls-by-design practices through hands-on engagement, workshops and training with business and technology teams. 

• Monitor, remediate and continuously improve control operations  

• Establish continuous control monitoring and follow up on issues and remediation to manage risk and control performance in real time.  

• Investigate control exceptions, coordinate remediation and ensure sustainable fixes are implemented. 

• Develop metrics and dashboards to assess control coverage, reliability, and efficiency, and continuously identify opportunities to further automate, rationalize and simplify controls.  

• Provide transparent control evidence and performance reporting to business, Risk, Compliance and Internal Audit as downstream stakeholders.  

What You Will Have: 

Required: 

• Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Accounting, Information Systems, Computer Science, Risk Management, or a related field. 

• 7+ years of relevant experience in risk, controls, internal audit, technology risk, or related functions, preferably within (re)insurance, insurance, or financial services. 

• Demonstrated experience designing and implementing automated controls integrated into business processes and technology platforms (e.g., ERPs, policy/claims systems, data platforms). 

• Demonstrated ability to lead complex, cross-functional initiatives end-to-end (design through implementation and adoption), influencing senior stakeholders across Finance, Risk, Compliance, Internal Audit, and Technology. 

• Strong knowledge of: 

• Internal financial controls and ICFR concepts. 

• IT General Controls (access, change management, operations). 

• Operational risk frameworks and process control design. 

• Cybersecurity and information security principles. 

• Familiarity with data platforms, ETL/ELT processes, and analytics / BI tools (e.g., data warehouses, data lakes, visualization tools). 

• Experience implementing automated controls within Palantir Foundry or comparable platforms (Databricks, Snowflake, Collibra, cloud-native data stacks).  

• Knowledge of zero-trust principles and automated enforcement within IAM and cloud-native environments. 

• Ability to work in an environment of significant change and ambiguity, with proven success influencing cross-functional stakeholders. 

Preferred: 

• Professional certifications such as CPA, CA, CIA, CISA, CRISC, CISSP, CISM, or similar. 

• Experience in a reinsurance or specialty insurance company, particularly with underwriting, pricing, reinsurance settlements, or actuarial data and processes. 

• Exposure to AI/ML, advanced analytics, or model risk management and associated control frameworks. 

• Experience with cloud platforms (e.g., AWS, Azure, GCP) and associated security and control frameworks. 

Key Competencies:  

• Control & Risk Mindset: Balances rigorous control requirements with delivery speed and innovation in a transformation environment. 

• Technical Acumen: Partners effectively with engineers, architects, and security teams on automated control design, monitoring, and evidence generation. 

• Process Optimization: Simplifies, standardizes, and automates complex business processes to reduce friction and control costs. 

• Stakeholder Management: Communicates and influences effectively; translates risk/control concepts into implementable requirements and operating practices. 

• Change Leadership: Drives adoption through enablement, training, and practical execution; challenges status quo constructively. 

• Analytical & Problem-Solving Skills: Identifies control gaps, evaluates risk impact, and designs sustainable solutions with measurable outcomes.