Job Description:

Role Title: AVP, AML Model Governance and Supplier (L10)

Company Overview:

Synchrony (NYSE: SYF) is a leading consumer financing company that has been at the heart of American commerce and opportunity for nearly a century. Synchrony delivers credit and banking products that empower tens of millions of consumers to improve their financial lives and access what matters most. Leveraging innovative solutions that are shaping the future of retail commerce, Synchrony supports the growth and success of some of the nation’s most respected brands, alongside hundreds of thousands of small and midsize businesses, including health and wellness providers. Committed to excellence in service and culture, Synchrony is proud to be named as #3 as a Great Place to Work® in India and is honored to be ranked the #1 Best Company to Work For® in the U.S. by Fortune magazine and Great Place to Work®. For more information, visit www.synchrony.com.

Organizational Overview:

Synchrony's Risk Team provides independent oversight of Synchrony’s risk-taking activities to ensure safety and soundness, meet regulatory and legal requirements, and manage risks to the risk-appetite of the Board. Risk is responsible for independently assessing, quantifying, and overseeing risks & providing effective challenge. Risk serves as Synchrony’s Second Line of Defense.   

Overall, Risk Team oversees and manages the Risk Program to support the business in anticipating and addressing risks, issues and challenges. Results are consistent with the respective strategic uses and complying with related overall risk, risk testing policies, standards, procedures as well as regulations. Our Risk organization consists of 4 pillars: Compliance, Credit & Financial Risk, Enterprise Risk and Operational Risk. Each of the pillars play a vital role in managing Risk and supports the business in anticipating and addressing risks, issues, and challenges

Role Summary/Purpose:

This position provides support to BSA/AML/OFAC team’s model risk management activities and support the BSA/AML/OFAC team with various quality assurance and governance items. Primary responsibilities will include leading the tuning of AML models, including comprehensive above-the-line (ATL) and below-the-line (BTL) testing, segmentation analysis, and other model requirements. This position will exercise effective challenge across teams including third-party vendors to ensure rigorous risk management and effective model performance. This role also involves strategic oversight, complex problem-solving, and direct interaction with leadership.

Key Responsibilities:

Model Risk Management & Governance

• Act as the primary point of contact representing the BSA/AML/OFAC team  in engagements with the Model Risk Management (MRM) team, overseeing the technical, monitoring, and  change management aspects of AML models.

• Lead and complete all pre-implementation model documentation and work with the MRM to ensure all requirements are met including compliance with existing policies, standards, and procedures as applicable prior to deployment of any new models

• Develop, recommend, and perform data analytics and checks to ensure development data and operational data are appropriate for the model.

• Develop, recommend and drive metrics for continuous evaluation of model performance effectiveness

• Lead, prepare, validate, and present  to leadership the on-going monitoring reports, with a focus on insights, trend analysis, and proactive risk identification and submit for approval by the BSA/AML/OFAC leadership team

• Work with third-party suppliers for any third-party models in use by the BSA/AML/OFAC team to ensure all models are maintained at Synchrony required standards

• Lead and participate in AML model tuning  including the planning, execution, and  documentation of above-the-line (ATL) and below-the-line (BTL) testing activities, segmentation analysis, pre-implementation testing, and other model efforts to ensure accurate outputs will be produced once deployed

• Provide constructive and data-driven challenge to model performance and recommendations, driving timely remediation of identified deficiencies through collaboration with MRM and stakeholders.

• Participate in all vendor software/model demonstrations critically evaluating new technologies and tools for potential adoption

• Work with the VP, Governance and Oversight on changes to existing program including Money Launder Risk Assessment, Sanctions Risk Assessment, Risk Assessment Attestations, Trigger Based Reviews, and program scorecard

• Participate in regulatory exams including preparing materials and responding to inquiries

Risk & Supplier Management

• Risk assesses AML suppliers

• Lead mandatory meetings with AML suppliers

• Complete supplier contract assessments

• Complete and submit all ad-hoc supplier surveys

• Complete Supplier evaluations as required

• Represent AML team for all internal Supplier Management meetings

• Open issues and track to completion for any gaps identified during supplier evaluations

• Participate in Contract renewals with Legal and Supplier Management team

Required Skills/Knowledge :

• Minimum Master's degree (or equivalent international degree  in Statistics, Mathematics, Economics or related quantitative field and 4+ years' experience in model development / model validation experience in financial services, banking, or retail, or in lieu of degree, 6+ years of experience in related field.

• 4+ years’ hands-on experience with one or more statistical tools including Python, R, SAS, and SQL, SPARK, and Data Lake.

• 4+ years of statistical analysis and the handling large amounts of data and analyzing for trends.

• 4+ years’ experience with the application of US regulatory requirements for MRM.

• Excellent written and oral communication and presentation skills.

Desired Skills/Knowledge

• Strong knowledge of Regulatory requirements for MRM with proven track records of delivering Regulatory requirements.

• Strong understanding of AML and/or Fraud Models.

• 4+ years in MRM in modeling and validation in the financial services industry including both analytic/modeling/quantitative experience and governance or other credit/financial discipline.

• Experience in project management, including demonstrated ability to develop actionable plan to meet high level objectives, strong execution, and timeline sensitive deliverables.

• Sharp focus on accuracy with extreme attention to detail.

• Knowledge of Credit Card/Consumer Finance products and business model.

• Experience with Machine Learning / AI methodologies and related applications.

Eligibility Criteria:

• Minimum Master's degree (or equivalent international degree  in Statistics, Mathematics, Economics or related quantitative field and 4+ years' experience in model development / model validation experience in financial services, banking, or retail, or in lieu of degree, 6+ years of experience in related field.

Work Timing: 2:00 PM to 11:00Pm IST

This role qualifies for Enhanced Flexibility offered in Synchrony India and will require the incumbent to be available between 06:00 AM Eastern Time – 11:30 AM Eastern Time (timings are anchored to US Eastern hours and will adjust twice a year locally). This window is for meetings with India and US teams. The remaining hours will be flexible for the employee to choose. Exceptions may apply periodically due to business needs)
We are proud to offer flexibility at Synchrony. Our way of working allows you the option to work from home or workspaces in our Regional Engagement Hubs—Hyderabad, Bengaluru, Pune, Kolkata, or Delhi/NCR.
Occasionally you may be required to commute or travel to Hyderabad or one of the Regional Engagement Hubs for in person engagement activities such as business or team meetings, trainings, and culture events.

For Internal Applicants:

• Understand the criteria or mandatory skills required for the role, before applying

• Inform your manager and HRM before applying for any role on Workday

• Ensure that your professional profile is updated (fields such as education, prior experience, other skills) and it is mandatory to upload your updated resume (Word or PDF format)

• Must not be any corrective action plan (Formal/Final Formal)

• L8+ Employees who have completed 18 months in the organization and 12 months in their current role and level are only eligible.

• Employees at L8+ can only apply for this opportunity.

Grade/Level: 10

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