Director / Managing Director, Business Control Assurance in Toronto

BMO Capital Markets is a leading, full-service financial services provider. We offer corporate and investment banking, treasury management, as well as research and advisory services to clients around the world.

The Director / Managing Director, Business Control Assurance leads the independent first-line control assurance function for BMO Capital Markets and is part of Governance and Controls within the Capital Markets Office of the Chief Operating Officer (OCOO). Reporting to the MD & Head, Capital Markets Governance and Controls, the role is accountable for the strategy, operating model, annual plan, methodology, talent and performance of control assurance across Capital Markets businesses, functions, legal entities, jurisdictions and non-financial risk categories.

The role sets the assurance agenda and provides the senior first-line view on whether material controls are designed and operating effectively. The role determines where assurance is required, protects testing independence, resolves significant methodology and rating matters, and converts results into enterprise-level insight and intervention. The role leads relationships with Accountable Executives, Business Control leaders, first-line Enterprise Control Functions, second-line risk, Internal Audit and regulators on control assurance matters.

Key Roles & Responsibilities

• Assurance Strategy, Mandate and Independence: Set the Capital Markets first-line assurance strategy and target operating model, aligned to enterprise requirements and the Capital Markets risk profile.
• Risk-Based Planning and Portfolio Accountability: Own the enterprise-aligned annual and multi-year assurance plan and remain accountable for delivery, quality and material changes.
• Quality, Findings and Senior Decisions: Establish the standard for defensible assurance outcomes and exercise senior judgment on significant matters.
• Governance, Insight and External Engagement: Provide an integrated view of control effectiveness and use assurance outcomes to drive management action.

Skills

• Enterprise-level control assurance judgment and the credibility to take clear positions on significant control, methodology and rating matters.
• Ability to set strategy, build an operating model and convert complex enterprise requirements into practical Capital Markets execution.
• Strong executive communication, including concise reporting of control effectiveness, systemic weakness, business implications and required decisions.
• Exceptional influence and constructive challenge across business executives, first-line control teams, second-line risk, Internal Audit and regulators.
• Proven organizational leadership, including talent development, succession, resource strategy, vendor management and performance accountability.
• Strong analytical and transformation capability, with experience using data, automation and technology to improve assurance coverage and insight.

Personal Attributes

• Independent, decisive and willing to escape material concerns.
• Commercially grounded and able to balance rigor, proportionality and pace.
• Strategic thinker who remains close enough to execution to identify weak signals and intervene.
• Calm, credible and direct in high-stakes or contentious situations.
• Collaborative leader who creates clarity, raises standards and builds strong teams.

Education/Experience

• Undergraduate degree in Business Administration, Risk Management, Economics, Finance, Accounting or a related discipline; graduate degree or relevant professional designation is an asset.
• 10+ years of progressive experience in financial services, with substantial leadership experience in Capital Markets business controls, non-financial risk, internal audit, compliance testing, technology risk or related assurance disciplines.
• Demonstrated accountability for a significant assurance, testing or audit program, including strategy, annual planning, methodology, quality, reporting, regulatory engagement and people leadership.
• Strong knowledge of Global Markets and Investment & Corporate Banking products, front-to-back processes, legal-entity considerations and associated operational, regulatory, technology, data, third-party and resilience risks.
• Deep understanding of the respective accountabilities of business and control owners, independent first-line assurance, first-line Enterprise Control Functions, second-line oversight and Internal Audit.
• Experience advising senior executives and governance committees on material control weaknesses, risk acceptance, remediation priorities and systemic themes.
• Proven success leading organization transformation, building capability and deploying data, workflow or automation to improve assurance outcomes.

Compensation

The salary range for this role is $160,000 up to $200,000 CAD (subject to the candidate meeting the specific skills, experience, education, and qualification requirements).

BMO Financial Group’s total compensation package will vary based on the pay type of the position and may include performance-based incentives, discretionary bonuses, as well as other perks and rewards.

BMO is committed to an inclusive, equitable and accessible workplace. By learning from each other’s differences, we gain strength through our people and our perspectives.