About Minerva

Minerva Software Inc. is an early-stage startup developing model governance software for financial institutions. Our platform provides a centralized, independent record of model ownership, approvals, governance decisions and supporting evidence, with a particular focus on institutions that do not maintain large risk management teams.

About the Role

Minerva is seeking a Founding Managing Director, Financial Institutions, to lead client engagement and delivery. Reporting to the Founder, the successful candidate will own Minerva's relationships with banks and other regulated institutions, the revenue those relationships generate, and the delivery of every client engagement from first meeting to accepted deliverable.

OSFI Guideline E-23 on Model Risk Management takes effect on May 1, 2027. Federally regulated financial institutions must be able to show who owns, reviews, approves and monitors each of their models, and to produce the evidence on request. This role leads how Minerva helps those institutions prepare, and how that work becomes lasting client relationships.

This is an equity-based founding role at a bootstrapped, early-stage startup, designed for a senior client leader who wants ownership: of the client relationships, of the results, and of a founding stake in the company. It is well suited to someone who has served financial institutions for many years and is ready to build a practice, and the business behind it, from the outset.

Key Responsibilities

Client Relationships and Market Development

- Own Minerva's relationships with Chief Risk Officers, Chief Compliance Officers, heads of model risk and heads of internal audit at banks, credit unions, insurers and other regulated institutions.
- Build and manage a qualified pipeline through direct outreach, referrals, partner introductions and industry events.
- Represent Minerva with industry associations, professional bodies and at sector conferences.

Revenue Ownership

- Own the financial institutions revenue plan, including targets, pipeline coverage and forecast accuracy.
- Lead proposals, pricing, statements of work and contract negotiation through to signature.
- Structure engagements that move clients from an initial readiness engagement to an ongoing subscription.

Engagement Delivery

- Lead the delivery of client engagements, including scoping, intake of the institution's model inventory, gap assessment against OSFI Guideline E-23, remediation planning and acceptance of the final evidence package.
- Assemble and direct delivery teams drawn from Minerva staff, independent model validators and partner firms, and hold them to defined quality standards.
- Ensure every deliverable is documented to the standard expected by internal audit and supervisory review.
- Manage scope, schedule, risks and client expectations, and escalate early when any of them change.

Client Success and Expansion

- Oversee onboarding, adoption, renewal and expansion across the client base.
- Develop referenceable clients and, with client consent, published case studies.
- Bring client and market insight back to the Founder to shape product and service priorities.





Leadership and Company Building

- Partner with the Founder on company strategy, pricing and fundraising.
- Recruit and develop the future client engagement and delivery team.
- Report revenue, pipeline and delivery performance to the Founder and, as the company grows, to investors and the board.

Qualifications

Required

- 10+ years of client-facing experience serving financial institutions, including at least five years in risk, compliance or regulatory advisory, or in risk and compliance software.
- Established, active relationships with senior risk, compliance and audit leaders at Canadian federally regulated financial institutions.
- A record of originating and closing advisory engagements or enterprise software agreements with financial institutions against revenue targets you owned personally.
- Experience leading regulatory readiness or remediation engagements end to end, from scoping and statement of work through delivery, client acceptance and internal audit or supervisory review. Relevant areas include model risk management, third-party risk, technology and cyber risk, operational resilience, capital, IFRS 9 and AML/ATF.
- Working knowledge of OSFI's supervisory framework and guidelines, including E-23, and of how an institution prepares for an OSFI review.
- Experience guiding institutions through vendor onboarding, including third-party risk assessments under OSFI Guideline B-10, information security reviews, master services agreements and statements of work.
- Sound commercial judgement in scoping, pricing and staffing fixed-fee and time-and-materials engagements, and in managing their margins.
- Executive presence, with the ability to write and present material to executive committees and boards.
- An owner's mindset, with the drive to build a practice from the ground up and a genuine interest in long-term ownership of the company.
- A bachelor's degree in business, finance, economics or a related field, or equivalent qualified experience.

Preferred

- Experience in the risk advisory practice of a Big Four or specialist consulting firm, or in the second line of defence at a bank or insurer.
- Experience serving credit unions, insurers or trust companies, including provincially regulated institutions.
- Familiarity with the AMF's guideline on model risk management and professional working proficiency in French.
- Experience building a practice or client base from the ground up.
- An established network among independent model validators, consulting firms and industry associations.
- An MBA or equivalent graduate degree.

Professional Certifications The following certifications are considered an asset:

- Financial Risk Manager (FRM), Professional Risk Manager (PRM)



or Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA)
- Certified Internal Auditor (CIA) or Certification in Risk Management Assurance (CRMA), Institute of Internal Auditors
- Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA) or Certified in Risk and Information Systems Control (CRISC), ISACA
- Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialist (CAMS), ACAMS
- Project Management Professional (PMP) or PRINCE2 Practitioner

What We Offer

- Founding equity in Minerva Software Inc., so the client base and revenue you build are reflected in your own stake in the company.
- Full ownership of Minerva's client relationships, revenue and delivery as a founding executive.
- A seat at the table, as a founding officer, on company strategy, pricing and fundraising.
- Direct engagement with senior risk, compliance and audit leaders at Canadian financial institutions as they prepare for OSFI Guideline E-23.
- The autonomy to design the engagement model, the delivery standards and the team from the ground up.
- Close collaboration with senior practitioners in model risk, model validation and financial regulation.
- The flexibility of a remote-first working arrangement.

Compensation and Engagement

- This is an equity-based founding role for a candidate who wants ownership. Compensation consists of founding equity in Minerva Software Inc., subject to vesting under a founders' agreement. No salary is offered at this stage.
- The position is structured as a founding officer and shareholder role rather than an employment relationship.
- The role may begin on a part-time basis alongside current commitments, with its scope expected to expand as the company grows.

Work Arrangement

Remote, based in Canada, with travel to client institutions and industry events as required.

Conflicts of Interest and Confidentiality

Candidates currently employed by a financial institution, software vendor or advisory firm are responsible for obtaining any required approval for outside business activities prior to engagement, and Minerva will support candidates through this process. Candidates are expected to honour any non-solicitation and confidentiality obligations owed to current or former employers. Minerva does not seek, and will not accept, confidential or proprietary information, including client lists, belonging to any current or former employer.

Equal Opportunity and Accommodation

Minerva Software Inc. is committed to equal opportunity and to building a diverse and inclusive team. We welcome applications from all qualified candidates, including women, Indigenous peoples, persons with disabilities, members of visible minorities and members of 2SLGBTQI+ communities. Accommodations are available on request for candidates taking part in all aspects of the selection process.

How to Apply

Please submit your résumé together with a brief cover note outlining your experience with financial institution clients and your interest in the role. Shortlisted candidates will be invited to an initial conversation with the Founder. We thank all applicants for their interest. Only those selected for further consideration will be contacted.

📌 Founding Managing Director, Financial Institutions (Canada)
🏢 MINERVA SOFTWARE
📍 Canada