Branch Controls, Governance

Sales & Distribution Governance Team proactively supports Retail Banking Sales & Distribution and Branch in managing and mitigating operational risks, executing risk and control responsibilities for Retail franchise as a First Line of Defence function and oversees business-wide risk and control functions. Retail Sales & Distribution has coverage across 17 countries in APAC and EMEA regions with over 189 branches and 1200 ATMs. This role, supporting the Retail APAC & EMEA region with a key focus on Citigold and Citigold Private Client, would report directly to the Regional Head of Sales & Distribution Governance, with a matrix reporting to the Regional Head of Branch Distribution & Client Servicing Head.

**Responsibilities**:
Partnering with the In Business Risk & Control, Branch Oversight Function (BOF), Controls Architecture Team, Group Informational Security Office (GISO), Independent Compliance Risk Management (ICRM) and Internal Audit (IA), the Branch Controls, Governance & Process Journey Lead will be responsible for effectiveness branch processes, covering operations, risk and control. The incumbent is expected to stay abreast in ensuring compliance on global and regional policies, legal and regulatory guidelines that relate to Retail Branch, ATM and Client Servicing. Support Regional & Country Branch Distribution & Client Servicing team to drive process simplification, and process effectiveness with branch transformation on digitization solutions.

**Job Scope**:

- Establish a strong and robust branch operation to achieve high efficient and productivity via system enhancement, process simplification and digitization solutions
- Provide support in ensuring adherence to a strong control culture and ensuring full compliance with applicable policies, law and regulations.
- Support automation and digitization of controls through process simplification and rationalization of day-2 checks/ callbacks/post facto reviews
- Manage and own the Annual Risk Assessment (ARA) and Managers Control Assessment (MCA) for Retail Sales & Distribution and Branch
- Maintain strong Internal Audit review outcomes with >90% satisfactory ratings - Appropriately assess the control effectiveness of the MCA entities in line with Internal Audit’s assessment
- Ensure complete, transparent and appropriate identification and documentation of all key controls in the MCA for the underlying business and functional processes
- Identification of control gaps in existing process, understanding the root cause of the issue and bringing process changes as required
- Interface with all stakeholders on impact due to new & changed regulations/ policies /guidelines/standards including modification of checklists and/or process manuals
- Support Regional Retail Sales and Branch audits and support countries on internal audits on reviews, coordination and provide guidance where needed
- Work with Country Branch Operations teams in maintaining strong Internal Audit, Compliance Assurance, Peer review and Regulatory review/exam outcomes with satisfactory ratings and no major issues being raised
- Provide support in designing Servicing & Transaction processes and ensure regulatory requirements are embedded in the process flows at all levels of execution from start to finish (including facilitating approvals at a regional level, not limited to, NPA, CPAC et al.)
- Ensure adherence to Legal, Regulatory (local /extraterritorial) and Citi policies, standards and procedures
- Timely escalation of key control issues identified to business seniors and working with the business stake holders in driving the corrective measures
- Cross functional partnership within In Business Risk & Control team, in conducting Peer Reviews
- Strengthen partnerships across all Lines of Defense
- Legal, ICRM, AML Compliance, ORM, Audit

**Professional Experience**:

- Minimum seven years in the Financial Services industry
- Minimum one years in an Internal Audit, Risk Management, or Controls related role
- Prior experience in Branch Operations or Branch Oversight Function would be an added advantage

**Competencies**:

- Strong knowledge of ATM & Branch processes
- Good understanding of Operations, Risk and Control functions
- Passionate about Client experience
- Ability to lead and drive controls across the products and functions irrespective of reporting lines
- Ability to manage through influence (e.g. management in the absence of reporting lines or with matrix reporting)
- Perform in a high-energy fast paced environment with tight deadline
- Operate within the matrix environment and effectively lead and drive change across multiple constituencies, organizational boundaries, levels of management by leveraging of all global, regional and country resources
- Be meticulous in work and diligent in follow-ups to effective closures
- Strong critical thinking and problem solving skills, including the ability to analyze operational and financial impact of various alternatives and ris