Model Maker jobs in Auburn, AL

Job Summary

Reporting to the Chief Operating Officer of Risk Management, responsible for management of the enterprise-wide model validation program associated with the Synovus development, deployment, and maintenance of quantitative and qualitative models to limit financial loss, poor business and strategic decision-making, and reputational risk. This role leads a team of model validation analysts and consults on the Bank's Model Risk Management Program in accordance with SR 2011-07. This role requires a candidate to be detail-orientated and analytical while providing strategic leadership in a fast-paced environment.

Job Duties and Responsibilities

• Oversees the independent risk-based validations of models within the company to ensure models adhere to regulatory standards and meet stated business purposes. This includes models that inform capital decisions, credit approval and product pricing, the allowance for credit losses (ACL), management of liquidity and interest rate risk, fraud detection, marketing, and both BSA/AML and Consumer Compliance. Validations include assessment of model conceptual soundness to include the evaluation of data and assumptions as well as computational accuracy; ongoing monitoring including confirming that the model is appropriately implemented, utilized and performing as intended; and performing outcomes analysis (such as back-testing).
• Effectively communicates validation work to executive and senior management, model owners, and Risk Committee of the Board (as needed). Oversees creation of technical validation summary reports to senior management and model owners. Develops and prioritizes constructive recommendations for model changes or enhancements. Maintains detailed and comprehensive records of validation projects through work papers and other acceptable project artifacts.
• Documents and presents observations to model owners and users, recommends management action plans and tracks remediation progress. Clearly articulates how observations impact business decisions or objectives. Presents the findings of these independent validations to executive and senior management and the board of directors (as needed). Consults with model owners, developers and users on the design of effective model operational controls. Serves as coach to others on these skills.
• Participates in the the Model Risk Management Committee.
• Provides mentorship and recommendations for ongoing development and refinement of model lifecycle quality monitoring, reporting frameworks, and methodologies. Partners actively with data science and technology teams for designing and using model operations platforms. Leverages a network of industry professionals to stay current on emerging trends and continually bring best practices to execution.
• While maintaining a standard of effective challenge through the model lifecycle, builds strong working relationships with key model stakeholders to include business unit leaders, model owners, developers and users. Facilitates communication between model validation teams and other stakeholders.
• Works with model governance team to ensure completeness of inventory of models enterprise-wide, including those developed in-house and those purchased from or developed by vendors.
• Serves as a liaison to bank regulators and auditors on model validation.
• Leads and mentors a high performing team focused on building strong analytical, technical, and domain knowledge while sustaining validation production and retention. Fosters a culture of continuous learning and improvement. Recruits, manages, and coaches a team of senior validation analysts to accomplish validation engagements.
• Each team member is expected to be aware of risk within their functional area. This includes observing all policies, procedures, laws, regulations and risk limits specific to their role. Additionally, they should raise and report known or suspected violations to the appropriate Company authority in a timely fashion.
• Performs other related duties as required.

The information on this description has been designed to indicate the general nature and level of work performed by employees within this classification. It is not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities, and qualifications required of employees assigned to this job.

Synovus is an Equal Opportunity Employer supporting diversity in the workplace

Minimum Education:

BS in quantitative discipline such as Statistics, Mathematics, Engineering, Computer Science, or Economics. MS/MBA with a focus in a related quantitative discipline.

Minimum Experience:

10 years work experience in model development or validation preferably in financial services, including experience managing data scientists and/or validation analysts

Required Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities:

• Ability to consult with and influence executives and senior management regarding analytics initiatives and projects and ensure proper use of analytic insights
• Advanced and broad knowledge of products and all categories of risk within financial services that may be impacted by models to include strategic, operational, reputation, compliance, credit, pricing, liquidity, and interest rate risk
• Advanced knowledge of best industry practices regarding model risk management
• Advanced knowledge and ability to interpret applicable regulatory guidelines and implement them in practice
• In-depth technical knowledge of statistical analysis and modeling methodologies, to include common AI/ML techniques and strong understanding of risks associated with AI/ML and corresponding mitigants
• Ability to recruit, lead and coach validation analysts
• Proficient in R and Python, as well as SQL and extracting data from databases
• Proficient using Microsoft Office products with advanced proficiency using Excel
• Strong project management skills
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills

Preferred Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities:

PhD in related discipline preferred