What is the opportunity?

The Operational Excellence Associate Director drives execution of audit remediation activities and operational excellence initiatives within the Client Lifecycle Management pillar. This role serves as a primary "doer" embedded within CLM operations, responsible for executing audit responses, managing action plans, and implementing control improvements. Unlike a governance function, this role maintains accountability into CLM Pillar heads for work execution and prioritization, ensuring audit requirements translate into concrete operational improvements.The Associate Director coordinates audit responses across regulatory examinations, manages compliance-related documentation, and ensures sustainability of implemented controls.

This position bridges the centralized Audit Engagement team and day-to-day CLM operations, ensuring timely resolution of identified issues while preventing recurring deficiencies.What will you do?

Audit Response Planning &

- Execution

Coordinate with 1st, 2nd line and 3rd line groups on review & exam scheduling and work planningParticipate in quarterly advance planning sessions to anticipate regulatory examination cyclesSupport centralized intake management by providing pillar-level resource availability and capacityMaintain work inventory and prioritize activities aligned with internal review and external regulatory exam timelinesServe as the primary point of contact for assigned audit areas;

coordinate directly with CLM Pillar heads &

- Head of Operational Excellence on work scope and prioritiesDevelop detailed audit response narratives with supporting documentation, process maps,



and data samplesTrack and manage audit action plans from initiation through completion and validationMaintain audit-ready documentation with transparent evidence of control effectiveness and remediation statusRespond to auditor inquiries and follow-up requests within agreed timelinesControl Assessment, Design &
- Governance

Identify control gaps and design preventive or detective controls aligned with operational risk and regulatory expectationsRecommend process improvements to CLM Pillar heads with supporting business casesParticipate in self-identified issues management (EIM) to document and remediate deficienciesSupport RCSA (Risk Control Self-Assessment) reviews and attestation processesChairing and Coordination of CLM Monthly Risk and Control Forum.Perform periodic analysis of OREs, Breaches &

- Complaints to drive strategic remediationCoordinate with 1LODb & 2LOD teams to review CLM specific training requirementsRegulatory and Compliance Knowledge

Maintain current knowledge of regulatory expectations in regulatory exams, KYC/AML requirementsWork with the CLM Leadership &

- Head of Operational Excellence to translate regulatory findings into operational remediation activitiesSupport privacy impact assessments, operational resilience reviews, BIA/BCP plan updates &
- Intragroup Outsourcing DocumentationEnsure compliance with regulatory examination protocols and timelinesEscalate emerging regulatory trends or examination focus areas to CLM leadershipIssue Management and Sustainability

Ensure comprehensive documentation of identified issues, root causes,



and remediation plansAssess sustainability of implemented controls and recommend enhancementsMonitor duplicate issue identification and coordinate resolution with central audit teamTrack remediation metrics and provide status updates to CLM Pillar headsIdentify systemic risks requiring structural or process-level changesDecision Making

Determines scope of audit response work and required supporting documentation;

prioritizes remediationactivities in consultation with CLM Pillar heads and central audit teamAssess control design and operating effectiveness;

recommends process improvements and enhanced control proceduresMakes go/no-go decisions on completeness and accuracy of audit response documentation before submissionEscalates emerging regulatory expectations or examination risks to Head of Operational Excellence and CLM Pillar headsPrioritizes work activities based on regulatory examination timelines and pillar operational capacityExecution

Recommends specific remediation actions and control enhancements to CLM Pillar heads and process ownersAdvises on regulatory examination preparation and required evidence packagesSuggests process improvements to reduce audit findings and control deficienciesRecommends resource allocation and timeline adjustments based on examination complexity and scopeWhat do you need to succeed?

Must have

Minimum 3-7 years in regulatory examination response, KYC/AML compliance, or Client Due Diligence functionsBachelor's degree in Finance, Law, Compliance, Business Administration, or related fieldDirect experience with regulatory exams (National Futures Association, FINRA, SEC, or OCC preferred) or equivalent international regulatory frameworksStrong unde

📌 Associate Director - Operational Excellence - Client Lifecycle Management (Winnipeg)
🏢 Royal Bank of Canada
📍 Winnipeg