AVP, Financial Crimes Audit Executive

Why USAA?

At USAA, our mission is to empower our members to achieve financial security through highly competitive products, exceptional service and trusted advice. We seek to be the #1 choice for the military community and their families.

Embrace a fulfilling career at USAA, where our core values – honesty, integrity, loyalty and service – define how we treat each other and our members. Be part of what truly makes us special and impactful.

The Opportunity

The Financial Crimes Audit Executive directs and oversees independent audit coverage for USAA Federal Savings Bank’s Financial Crimes risk portfolio, including fraud, anti-money laundering (AML)/Bank Secrecy Act (BSA), and sanctions (OFAC) compliance. This role designs, administers, and executes a risk-based, comprehensive audit program that provides independent and objective assurance over the effectiveness of governance, risk management, and control processes across first- and second-line functions.

The position leads independent assessments of the organization’s AML/BSA, sanctions, and fraud control frameworks, evaluating control design, operating effectiveness, regulatory compliance, and readiness in a highly regulated environment with heightened supervisory expectations. The role defines and maintains risk-based audit strategies, oversees the annual and multi-year Financial Crimes audit plan, and ensures alignment with the Enterprise Audit strategy and USAA’s business objectives.

 As a senior audit leader, this role supervises and develops audit staff, sets performance expectations, and ensures consistent application of audit standards and methodology across Financial Crimes audits. The Head of Financial Crimes Audit engages with senior management and regulators, communicates key risk themes and emerging issues, escalates significant control weaknesses, and provides leadership-level assurance regarding compliance with BSA/AML, OFAC, fraud, and related regulatory requirements.

This executive role requires deep subject matter expertise in financial crimes risk management, strong regulatory acumen, and the ability to influence across the organization while maintaining independence and objectivity. The role also plays a critical part in strengthening the overall control environment, enhancing regulatory credibility, and protecting USAA and its members from financial crime risk.

We offer a flexible work environment that requires an individual to be in the office 4 days per week. This position can be based in one of the following locations: Plano TX or Charlotte NC.

Relocation assistance is available for this position.

Tasks

• Leads the design of USAA’s risk-based audit strategy, plan and program for area of responsibility considering USAA’s business strategy and complex regulations and regulatory heightened expectations.

• Supervises and drives operational planning of the audit team – including core business processes and technologies.

• Oversee and direct all aspects of the annual audit plan, specifically related to area of responsibility that is prepared based on risk analysis processes. Monitors and reports progress on this plan to executive management and stakeholders and provides progress updates to Audit Services VP and CAE.

• Monitors, independently and objectively, the governance, risk and control environment for area of responsibility ensuring trends and emerging issues that could impact operations are considered, consolidated, and communicated to Audit and CoSA Executive Management

• Determines, plans and supervises the delivery of the risk-based annual internal audit plan including identifying areas of risk and assigning appropriate risk ratings to ensure that critical business areas are reviewed on a recurring basis for area of responsibility.

• Approves updates to Risk Assessment to include content and rating justification. Assesses completeness of audit universe for assigned areas of business and recommends/approves additions or removals for the universe. 

• Reviews Risk Profile for collection of audit entities for assigned areas of business to ensure appropriateness. Aligns Risk Profile for areas of responsibility to the overall Risk Profile for the organization.

• Participates in the development of audit standards, governance model, operating policies and procedures for inclusion in the Audit Services Manual.  Oversees the implementation of approved changes to maintain an internal audit function and governance model that is consistent and appropriate for the size, complexity and risk profile for area of responsibility.

• Periodically reviews and updates the audit plan to consider the risk profile and emerging risk and issues.  In addition, evaluates the team assessment(s) of the adequacy and compliance with policies, procedures, and processes established by the front-line units and Independent Risk Management to ensure ongoing compliance with the Risk Governance Framework.

• Accountable for the delivery of internal audit work on time, within agreed upon budget, and in accordance with audit methodology, regulatory standards and the Institute of Internal Auditors (IIA) International Standards for the Professional Practice of Internal Auditing.

• Responsible for effectively managing all aspects of the internal audit work that is outsourced which evaluates the adequacy of and compliance with policies, procedures and processes established by the 1st and 2nd line of defense and provides technical and strategic direction to audits and investigations which are sensitive or complex in nature.

• Oversees and approves risk assessments for area of responsibility, including emerging risks and top risks associated with the current material processes, product lines, services, functions. Ensures quality audit work within required completion timeframes of each audit. Drives value to the business while reducing the risk profile.

• Ensures that audit processes are utilized in identifying control weaknesses and developing recommendations for area of responsibility

• Provides independent assurance to senior management on the effectiveness of the design, implementation and execution of the line of business processes and risk management framework (including risk profile, risk appetite, and compliance practices).

• Role models USAA’s mission, core values, culture and desired behaviors – including a culture of risk awareness around regulatory issues and accountability.

• Develops talent and builds high performing teams to deliver high quality results and value-added services – including the identification, development and retention of talent with requisite regulatory issue validation capabilities as well as providing leadership and overseeing performance and talent management activities.

• Holds self and others accountable to meet commitments by setting and clearly communicating expectations and roles and responsibilities.

• May assists in creating reports of audit results and delivering/communicating results to Vice President, Chief Audit Executive, executive management, Audit Committees, and Risk committees as required.

• Escalates to Audit leadership and appropriate committee’s significant control weaknesses and strengths related to complying with policies, standards and procedures.

• Reviews validation testing for area of responsibility to ensure that the recommended corrective actions to audit and regulatory identified issues are completed, sustainable and effective, and continues to evaluate the appropriateness of management’s corrective actions in response to issues identified.

• Builds and oversees a team of employees for assigned functional area through ongoing execution of recruiting, development, retention, coaching and support, performance management, and managerial activities.

• Stays engaged with governance committees. May present results of work during committee meetings.

What you have:

• Bachelor's degree OR 4 additional years of related experience beyond the minimum required may be substituted in lieu of a degree.

• 10 years experience in internal audit, risk management, compliance, or other control partner experience to include 6 years experience assessing business risks and applying appropriate audit plans to manage risks.

• 6 years of people leadership experience in building, managing and/or developing high-performing teams required.

• 4 years experience accountable for overseeing and developing audit plans and overseeing the execution of the plans

• Experience interacting with regulators, regarding audits or controls

• Expert knowledge of internal auditing standard, and techniques required to perform audits.

• Knowledge of accounting principles and practices

• Knowledge of banking, insurance, and investment operations.

• Demonstrated experience collaborating with key resources and stakeholders, influencing auditing decisions and managing work to achieve strategic goals required.

• Demonstrated understanding of the full spectrum of regulatory examinations and other supervisory engagement and processes.

• Expected working knowledge of the following regulatory guidance including but not limited to: Dodd-Frank Act, Homeowners’ Loan Act, Fair Lending laws, Texas Insurance Code, New York Insurance Law, and/or SEC, Federal Reserve, OCC, FFIEC, CFPB, UDAAP, and Federal regulatory bodies and applicable supervisory guidance

What sets you apart:

• Demonstrated accomplishments leading Financial Crimes audit functions in a large ($100B+) consumer bank, with accountability for fraud, AML/BSA, and sanctions (OFAC) coverage.

• Significant consumer bank product expertise (deposits, credit card, mortgage, consumer lending, etc.).

• Deep subject matter expertise in retail transaction monitoring and testing, customer due diligence, sanctions screening, fraud infrastructure, and fraud prevention within the consumer banking industry.

• Demonstrated experience leading Financial Crimes audit portfolios, including investigations, regulatory issue validation, and remediation oversight.

• Proven ability to lead independent regulatory compliance assessments and interact effectively with banking regulators on Financial Crimes–related examinations.

• Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE) and or ACAMS credentials preferred.

• Experience leading fraud investigations, identity management, or diligence functions in government services (e.g., FBI, NSA).

• Strong technology expertise in tools and techniques used by both fraudsters and financial institutions for fraud, AML, and sanctions detection.

Salary: The salary range for each position is: $195,230-$351,410.

Compensation: USAA has an effective process for assessing market data and establishing ranges to ensure we remain competitive. You are paid within the salary range based on your experience and market data of the position.

Employees may be eligible for pay incentives based on overall corporate and individual performance and at the discretion of the USAA Board of Directors.

The above description reflects the details considered necessary to describe the principal functions of the job and should not be construed as a detailed description of all the work requirements that may be performed in the job.

Long Term Incentive Plan: Cash payment for Executive level roles only, representing a cash payment which is both time and performance based.

Benefits: At USAA our employees enjoy best-in-class benefits to support their physical, financial, and emotional wellness. These benefits include comprehensive medical, dental and vision plans, 401(k), pension, life insurance, parental benefits, adoption assistance, paid time off program with paid holidays plus 16 paid volunteer hours, and various wellness programs. Additionally, our career path planning and continuing education assists employees with their professional goals.

For more details on our outstanding benefits, visit our benefits page on USAAjobs.com.

Applications for this position are accepted on an ongoing basis, this posting will remain open until the position is filled. Thus, interested candidates are encouraged to apply the same day they view this posting.

USAA 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, or status as a protected veteran.