Freelance Operational Risk Manager Jobs in Massachusetts

Description

As a First Line Risk Manager supporting the Treasury and Wholesale Payments division in Commercial Banking, you will serve as the primary execution lead for risk and control activities across assigned products, processes, and services for Treasury & Wholesale Payments products that include but may not be limited to deposits, Liquidity, and Cash Management services. You will be responsible for executing control monitoring and testing programs, maintaining risk and control inventories, performing risk assessments, managing issues through remediation, and supporting the overall effectiveness of the first-line control environment.

This role serves as the operational pillar of the risk organization, partnering closely with business stakeholders and Senior Risk Managers to ensure risks are identified, controls are effectively monitored, issues are remediated, and governance requirements are met. The Risk Manager will maintain a deep understanding of business processes and control frameworks while providing actionable insight into control effectiveness and operational risk exposure.

Success in this role requires strong analytical skills, attention to detail, effective stakeholder management, and the ability to translate risk requirements into practical business solutions while maintaining a robust control environment.

Primary Responsibilities

40% - Control Monitoring, Testing & Control Execution

• Execute risk-based control monitoring and testing activities across assigned products, processes, and services and evaluate control design, adequacy and effectiveness
• Develop and maintain control assessment schedules and testing plans aligned to established risk assessment methodologies and ensure assessment activities are completed within established timeframes
• Execute continuous monitoring activities utilizing key risk indicators, key control indicators, data analytics, and automated monitoring techniques.
• Evaluate control effectiveness and provide recommendations to strengthen the control environment.
• Document testing outcomes, root causes, and remediation actions to support risk mitigation and continuous improvement.

20% - Business Risk Partnership & Governance Support

• Partner with business stakeholders to remain informed of operational changes, emerging risks, and control environment impacts.
• Provide risk and control guidance to business partners during implementation of process changes and remediation efforts.
• Support internal audits, compliance reviews, examinations, and control assurance activities through delivery of documentation and evidence.
• Assist with risk reporting, metrics, and management presentations.

20% - Process, Risk & Control Inventory Management

• Maintain risk, control, test, and process inventories within governance systems.
• Identify and document risks and controls within process maps and support ad hoc inventory updates.
• Execute Risk and Control Self-Assessments (RCSAs) and support ongoing risk identification activities.
• Ensure alignment between risks, controls, procedures, policies, issues, and supporting documentation.
• Maintain data integrity and inventory quality across risk management platforms.

15% - Issue Management & Remediation

• Author, track, validate, and report on risk and control issues through remediation and closure.
• Support issue impact assessment through qualitative and quantitative analysis, root cause analysis activities, and challenge remediation plans to ensure sustainable corrective actions.
• Execute monthly governance and risk control updates within GRC platforms.
• Monitor issue trends and identify emerging control concerns requiring escalation.

5% -Risk Activities

• Maintain understanding of regulatory, and internal policy requirements.
• Demonstrates the ability to analyze and interpret policies, procedures, and regulatory requirements, applying sound judgment to assess compliance, identify risks, and provide clear, actionable guidance. Escalate material control concerns and emerging risks to senior risk leadership.
• Identify opportunities for use of AI for risk program enhancements.

Experience - Minimum Required

• 4-6 years Risk Management Experience 
• Demonstrated experience supporting and/or leading risk projects across multiple business lines offering a wide variety of financial services products and services, with particular focus on Treasury & Wholesale Payment products and services, including but not limited to Deposit, Liquidity and Cash Management Products and Services. 
• Understanding of the regulatory environment and how the risks of the products and services the bank offers are viewed by the Second Line of Defense and regulators. 
• Ability to constructively work both independently and in collaborative environments involving all levels of management and employees 
• Ability to use data and metrics to back up assumptions, recommendations and drive actions 
• Experience in business domains such as risk management, audit, compliance, Payments / Deposits / Cash Management Products and Services
• Effective project management and analytical skills 
• Strong interpersonal and team building skills 
• Ability to build and expand trusting relationships and partnerships

Core Skills and Competencies 

• Knowledge of GRC Archer, JIRA, Analytics and Reporting tools (Tableau), AI scripting and prompting (Microsoft Co-Pilot), Microsoft product suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)

• At this time, Citizens is not able to provide employment-based immigration sponsorship for this position. Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States without current or future sponsorship requirements.

Education & Certifications

• Bachelor's degree required (Accounting, Finance, Business Administration preferred)
• Certifications preferred: CIA, APRP, CFE, AAP

Hours & Work Schedule

• Hours per Week: 40
• Work Schedule: Monday-Friday
• Hybrid presence: 4 days on-site, 1 day remote
• Locations: Boston, MA; or Johnston, RI

Pay Transparency
The salary range for this position is $90,000- $110,000 per year, plus an opportunity to earn an annual discretionary bonus. Actual pay is based on various factors including but not limited to the budget, work location, and relevant skills and experience.
We offer competitive pay, comprehensive medical, dental and vision coverage, retirement benefits, maternity/paternity leave, flexible work  arrangements, education reimbursement, wellness programs and more. Note, Citizens' paid time off policy exceeds the mandatory, paid sick or paid time-away policy of every local and state jurisdiction in the United States. For an overview of our benefits, visit 
https://jobs.citizensbank.com/benefits

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Some job boards have started using jobseeker-reported data to estimate salary ranges for roles. If you apply and qualify for this role, a recruiter will discuss accurate pay guidance.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Citizens, its parent, subsidiaries, and related companies (Citizens) provide equal employment and advancement opportunities to all colleagues and applicants for employment without regard to age, ancestry, color, citizenship, physical or mental disability, perceived disability or history or record of a disability, ethnicity, gender, gender identity or expression, genetic information, genetic characteristic, marital or domestic partner status, victim of domestic violence, family status/parenthood, medical condition, military or veteran status, national origin, pregnancy/childbirth/lactation, colleague's or a dependent's reproductive health decision making, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, or any other category protected by federal, state and/or local laws. At Citizens, we are committed to fostering an inclusive culture that enables all colleagues to bring their best selves to work every day and everyone is expected to be treated with respect and professionalism. Employment decisions are based solely on merit, qualifications, performance and capability.