VP Director of Fintech Compliance

Summary: This position leads the day-to-day function of First Bank of the Lake's second line of defense (2LOD) fintech compliance team and is responsible for building and managing the Bank's fintech compliance due diligence, advisory, ongoing monitoring, and reporting programs. The Director supervises Compliance Officers and Compliance Specialists, establishes consistent oversight standards, and works directly with fintech partners and internal stakeholders to address compliance requirements throughout the program lifecycle. Responsibilities include customer materials, complaints, issues management, new-program risk assessments, and compliance analysis of program changes. The role emphasizes regulatory compliance oversight and practical guidance.

Job Functions:

• Leads, coaches, and develops a team of Compliance Officers and Compliance Specialists. Establishes priorities, assigns work, reviews the quality and timeliness of deliverables, manages performance, and identifies staffing and training needs.
• Builds and maintains a risk-based fintech compliance due diligence program, including review standards, documentation requirements, assessment criteria, escalation protocols, and procedures for initial onboarding and periodic reviews.
• Oversees and, when necessary, performs substantive reviews of fintech compliance policies, procedures, disclosures, controls, and supporting documentation. Identifies gaps, provides clear feedback, and documents compliance conclusions and unresolved concerns.
• Directs review of customer-facing materials, including account agreements, disclosures, marketing, websites, mobile applications, customer communications, and servicing materials, for accuracy, consistency, and compliance with applicable requirements.
• Serves as a primary compliance contact for fintech partners and provides practical, timely guidance directly to their leadership and operating teams. Communicates regulatory expectations clearly, constructively challenges proposed approaches, and influences corrective action while maintaining productive relationships.
• Leads compliance risk assessments for new fintech programs and analyzes proposed changes to products, services, customer experiences, and operating processes. Identifies applicable requirements, necessary controls, and unresolved risks before launch or implementation, and communicates recommendations to appropriate decision-makers.
• Establishes and manages ongoing fintech compliance monitoring, distinct from independent compliance testing. Defines partner reporting requirements, submission and review frequency, supporting evidence, and escalation thresholds; evaluates submissions, trends, and emerging risks; and follows up on incomplete or deficient information.
• Oversees fintech complaint reporting, review, and response processes. Establishes expectations for complaint intake, categorization, escalation, investigation, and timely resolution; reviews significant complaints and responses; and uses trends and root-cause analysis to identify potential customer harm and broader compliance issues.
• Oversees fintech compliance issues management, including documentation, risk prioritization, ownership, corrective action plans, due dates, and escalation. Challenges remediation plans, tracks progress, reviews supporting evidence, and supports closure decisions consistent with the Bank's issue management procedures.
• Develops and delivers management reporting on due diligence status, partner compliance performance, monitoring results, complaints, open issues, overdue corrective actions, and material risks. Escalates significant concerns promptly to the Chief Compliance Officer and supports committee and Board reporting as requested.
• Reviews, interprets, and communicates regulatory changes affecting fintech programs. Works with fintech partners, Bank stakeholders, and legal counsel to translate requirements into practical policies, procedures, customer materials, and program changes.
• Partners with first-line program management, operations, third-party risk management, BSA/AML, financial crimes, and other control functions to address shared risks while preserving second-line independence and business ownership of compliance obligations.
• Coordinates with independent compliance testing and internal audit to share risks, monitoring observations, and issue information without assuming responsibility for independent testing. Supports regulatory examinations, information requests, and responses related to fintech compliance.
• Maintains organized, supportable records of reviews, decisions, monitoring, and remediation. Uses the Bank's governance, risk, and compliance (GRC) and workflow tools to improve visibility, consistency, accountability, and reporting.
• Provides targeted compliance guidance and training to staff and fintech partners and promotes a culture of customer protection, transparent escalation, and sound compliance judgment.
• Performs additional responsibilities and duties as assigned by the Chief Compliance Officer.

Education/Experience:

• Bachelor's degree, preferably in business administration or a related field, with at least five years of relevant regulatory compliance experience in financial services.
• Experience working with a fintech company or a bank engaged in fintech partnerships is required. Direct banking-as-a-service (BaaS) or sponsor-bank compliance experience is preferred.
• Demonstrated experience supervising, coaching, and developing compliance professionals. Five or more years of management experience is preferred.
• Experience building or enhancing compliance due diligence, ongoing monitoring, reporting, complaints, and issues management processes. Ability to establish practical standards and manage work across multiple fintech programs.
• Experience with LogicGate or a similar governance, risk, and compliance (GRC) platform is a plus.
• Experience with monday.com is also a plus.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and data analysis and reporting tools is required.

Skills and Competencies:

• Strong working knowledge of federal and state banking and consumer compliance requirements, including but not limited to ECOA, TISA, EFTA, SCRA, MLA, FCRA, FDCPA, UDAAP, and their implementing Regulations, and their application to fintech products, customer materials, servicing, and program changes.
• Excellent interpersonal and influence skills, with the ability to provide clear guidance directly to fintech partners, communicate difficult messages, resolve disagreements, and obtain corrective action without relying solely on formal authority.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to prepare clear compliance analyses and management reports and interact effectively with executives, legal counsel, auditors, regulators, and internal stakeholders.
• Strong analytical, organizational, and project management skills. Ability to prioritize competing demands, identify significant risks, exercise independent judgment, and maintain attention to detail.
• Demonstrated integrity, objectivity, professional curiosity, and sound judgment, with the ability to balance collaborative relationships and effective challenge.
• Certified Regulatory Compliance Manager (CRCM) certification is preferred, but not required.
• Ability to collaborate effectively with distributed teams and fintech partners and to travel occasionally for Bank or partner meetings, training, and conferences. Must complete all required training, including Bank Secrecy Act/Anti-Money Laundering training, suitable to the position.

Physical Requirements:

• Prolonged periods sitting at a desk and working on a computer.
• Must be able to lift up to 25 pounds at times.

Work Arrangement:

• This position is remote
• Occasional travel may be required for in-person training or meetings.

EEO Statement:

We are an equal-opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment regardless of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or veteran status, or any other protected category.

All offers of employment shall be subject to the successful completion of all pre-employment screenings, verifications, and processes. Failure to comply with these processes or failure to successfully pass all phases of the pre-employment screening will result in a withdrawal of the employment offer.

Other Duties:

Please note that this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties, or responsibilities required of the employee for this job. Duties, obligations, and activities may change at any time, with or without notice.

Compensation is based on geographic location and individual pay decisions will vary based on demonstrated job related skills, knowledge, experience, education, certifications, etc.

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• 401(k) matching
• Health insurance
• Dental insurance
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Vision insurance
• Short- and Long-term disability
• Company-paid holidays

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