Senior Independent Testing Specialist – EF Issue Validation

About this role:

Wells Fargo is seeking a Senior Independent Testing Specialist

In this role, you will:

• Lead or participate in moderate to high risk or complex review activities in a matrixed environment and communicate emerging risks to management within Independent Testing
• Contribute to large scale planning related to Independent Testing deliverables
• Review and research moderately complex potential corrective actions, and follow through on reporting, escalation, and resolution
• Ensure effective and appropriate testing, validation, and documentation of review activities for risk programs and controls according to standards and other applicable policies
• Resolve moderately complex issues and lead team to meet Independent Testing deliverables while leveraging solid understanding of risk management framework and the risk and control environment
• Collaborate and consult with colleagues, internal partners, management and lines of business regarding risk management

Required Qualifications:

• 4+ years of Independent Testing experience, or equivalent demonstrated through one or a combination of the following: work experience, training, military experience, education

Desired Qualifications:

• 4+ years of relevant experience in risk management (includes external/internal audit, compliance, operational risk, interest rate risk, credit risk, market risk)
• 4+ years must include direct experience in independent testing.
• Knowledge and understanding of financial services industry: compliance, risk management, or audit operations.
• Big four public accounting experience
• Experience with COSO (or Sarbanes-Oxley, SOX) internal control testing
• Strong knowledge of the COSO Framework and Risk & Control Self-Assessment (RCSA) programs
• A BS/BA degree or higher in one or a combination of the following: Finance, Accounting, Analytics, or Reporting
• A Master of Business Administration (MBA), Certified Public Accountant (CPA) or equivalent designation
• Foundational understanding of Enterprise Functions (including but not limited to Finance, Legal, Human Resources, Corporate Risk, etc.) and related supervisory expectations for large financial institutions
• Excellent verbal, written, and interpersonal communication skills.
• Strong organization and prioritization skills
• Ability to take on a high level of responsibility, initiative, and accountability.
• Ability to prioritize work, meet deadlines, achieve goals, and work under pressure in a dynamic and complex environment.
• Ability to work effectively in a team environment and across all organizational levels, where flexibility, collaboration, and adaptability are important.
• Experience reviewing testing strategies and methodologies; evaluating the adequacy and effectiveness of policies, procedures, processes, initiatives, products and internal controls; and identifying issues resulting from internal and/or external compliance examinations.
• Intermediate Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Outlook, and PowerPoint)
• Experience in working with processes that leverage SQL, Alteryx, Power BI, Power Apps, Power Automate, Python
• Knowledge of data manipulation, ETL (Extract, Transform, and Load), and business intelligence tools such as Alteryx, SQL, and Power BI for analysis, reporting, visualization, and data driven testing purposes.
• Working experience in automation using Alteryx with finance model execution, workflow management, or workflow automation design and management
• Experience supporting Regulatory Exams (Domestic and Int’l), Audits, or other regulatory reporting related assessments.
• Strong critical thinking and analytical skills with high attention to detail and accuracy
• Demonstrated success with influencing business units to identify, formulate and implement processes/procedures to mitigate risk.
• Demonstrated negotiation skills, especially with difficult topics when partnering with lines of business and technology. This includes the willingness and ability to question decisions, understand direction and escalate issues, where necessary

Job Expectations:

This role is in the Enterprise Testing – Issue Validation team within Independent Testing & Validation (IT&V). This centralized team operates as a second line of defense to key Enterprise Function processes. The team is an integral part of the Company’s control environment and provides credible challenge to relevant participants in the reporting processes and has enterprise-wide exposure to lines of business, internal audit, regulatory and risk reporting stakeholders.

Senior Independent Testing Specialist is accountable for developing and executing high risk or complex testing engagements with subject matter expertise in financial institution Enterprise Functions. Including, but not limited to Finance, Regulatory Reporting, Human Resources, Corporate Risk and Legal, evaluating the adequacy and effectiveness of front-line risk controls and other risk management activities in accordance with the IT&V policy and established processes and procedures, and communicating results to management. Strong operational and/or compliance-based testing/auditing experience and financial services business acumen and experience will be determining factors in selection. The role includes responsibility for conducting end-to-end business process walkthroughs; identification of risks and compensating operational and compliance controls; evaluation of control design; and testing of effectiveness of manual and automated control.

The successful candidate will be a team player and a self-starter who is accustomed to working in complex organizations, partnering with a diverse group of stakeholders, and achieving results. Candidates with experience supporting internal control frameworks for Issue validation and financial reporting (e.g., COSO/SOX are encouraged to apply.

Responsibilities of the Senior Independent Testing Specialist role include, but are not limited to:

• Serving in either a testing execution and/or lead capacity, participating in complex testing engagements in a matrixed environment, and communicating emerging risks to management.
• Leading and supporting efforts to effectively challenge risks in the end-to-end reporting processes and evaluate controls designed to mitigate those risks.
• Partnering with business partners to understand the environment and related initiatives to develop appropriate and complementary testing procedures.
• Executing substantive outcome-based testing of regulatory and risk reports with limited supervision.
• Documenting test results and timely escalation of exceptions identified
• Proactively communicating issues to stakeholders including ownership, while providing recommendations to management
• Developing clear and concise reporting to be shared with IT&V management and Front-Line Units
• Provide thoughtful credible challenge internally and to LOBs, cross-enterprise and across other corporate risk programs.
• Documenting test results and issues identified while also providing and communicating recommendations to management.
• Ensure effective and appropriate testing, validation, and documentation of review activities for risk programs, risks, and controls.

Posting End Date: 

*Job posting may come down early due to volume of applicants.

We Value Equal Opportunity

Wells Fargo is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, status as a protected veteran, or any other legally protected characteristic.

Employees support our focus on building strong customer relationships balanced with a strong risk mitigating and compliance-driven culture which firmly establishes those disciplines as critical to the success of our customers and company. They are accountable for execution of all applicable risk programs (Credit, Market, Financial Crimes, Operational, Regulatory Compliance), which includes effectively following and adhering to applicable Wells Fargo policies and procedures, appropriately fulfilling risk and compliance obligations, timely and effective escalation and remediation of issues, and making sound risk decisions. There is emphasis on proactive monitoring, governance, risk identification and escalation, as well as making sound risk decisions commensurate with the business unit’s risk appetite and all risk and compliance program requirements.

Candidates applying to job openings posted in Canada: Applications for employment are encouraged from all qualified candidates, including women, persons with disabilities, aboriginal peoples and visible minorities. Accommodation for applicants with disabilities is available upon request in connection with the recruitment process.

Applicants with Disabilities

To request a medical accommodation during the application or interview process, visit Disability Inclusion at Wells Fargo.

Drug and Alcohol Policy

Wells Fargo maintains a drug free workplace.  Please see our Drug and Alcohol Policy to learn more.

Wells Fargo Recruitment and Hiring Requirements:

a. Third-Party recordings are prohibited unless authorized by Wells Fargo.

b. Wells Fargo requires you to directly represent your own experiences during the recruiting and hiring process.