Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
Timeline
Generic

Andrew Gness

Richmond,VA

Summary

Seasoned operational risk and regulatory professional with over two decades of experience in the banking and financial services industries. Broad knowledge base of industry practices, with specialized expertise in HMDA/CRA compliance, variance analysis, cash flow, and cost benefit analysis. Trained in CFPB, ODP and in lending principles. Direct experience and training in performing a broad range of reviews, including Reg B, Reg E, Risk Assessments, RESPA reviews, HMDA and CRA Scrubs, and Website Reviews. Skilled in managing day-to-day operations in ad hoc and structured environment and transitioning to production. Strong knowledge of and direct experience with Fair Lending programs, UDAAP programs, and RCSA assessments. Skilled in project planning, quality assurance, and controls testing as well as process analysis, documentation, and improvement. Advanced user skills in Microsoft Office and G-Suite (Drive, Docs, Sheets, and Slides).

Overview

13
13
years of professional experience

Work History

FS Risk, Regulatory & Compliance Consultant

Sentry Advisors, LLC. (Discover Financial Services)
Richmond, VA
08.2024 - 02.2025
  • Third Party Vendor Risk Management: Identifying, assessing, and mitigating various risks (e.g., credit, market, operational, cybersecurity) using industry best practices and frameworks.
  • Regulatory Compliance: Interpreting and implementing regulatory requirements (e.g., Dodd-Frank, Basel III, GDPR, KYC/AIML) across different business areas.
  • Assessment & Testing: Conducting risk assessments, compliance reviews, and internal audits to evaluate the effectiveness of controls and identify gaps.
  • Advisory & Consulting: Providing expert advice and guidance to clients on risk management and compliance matters, including regulatory changes and industry trends.
  • Framework Development Advisor: Advising on the implementation of risk management and compliance frameworks, policies, and procedures.

Senior Independent Control Testing Consultant

Eliassen Group and Independent Consulting (KPMG-Wells Fargo)
Richmond, VA
06.2023 - 08.2023
  • Planning and executing the test of design and operating effectiveness for RCSA (Risk & Compliance Self-Assessment) controls within required timeframes and in accordance with established processes and procedures.
  • Effectively communicating the testing or validation process, status, and results to business and risk partners.
  • Effectively communicating with IT&V Leadership and escalating validation concerns or issues as appropriate.
  • Identifying and implementing efficiencies and process improvements.
  • Providing credible challenge and recommendations to IT&V Leadership as needed.
  • Mentoring and coaching Associates.
  • Fostering relationships with teams and collaborating across other all testing and validation teams effectively.

Risk & Control Self-Assessment Consultant

Price Waterhouse Cooper (PwC) (Wells Fargo)
Richmond, VA
11.2022 - 04.2023
  • Support the execution and documentation of risk assessments for in-scope processes across the Enterprise.
  • Evaluate and perform an end-to-end analysis of the risk and control environment to identify significant gaps and weaknesses in partnership with stakeholders, including Process Owners and Control Officers.
  • Document process activities and associated risks and controls, including process descriptions, process prioritization, and top-down risk profiles.
  • Support and document the determination of inherent risk ratings, control ratings, and residual risk ratings of information risks.
  • Support execution and implementation of DMI's efforts to document, maintain and control the work it performs and drive cross-group consistency and alignment in the response to Audit / Regulatory needs as well as enterprise horizontal asks such as Risk & Control Self-Assessment (RCSA)

Regulatory Compliance Consultant

JCW Recruitment (Bank of America)
Richmond, VA
06.2022 - 10.2022
  • Advises staff and leads initiatives that support risk management programs, to include governance support, risk oversight, and key and emerging risks and/or operational risks and controls.
  • Partners with key stakeholders in the business and oversees the identification, assessment and documentation of risks and controls, including risks associated with new or modified products, services, distribution channels, regulations, and/or third-party operations.
  • Reviews and recommends the development of risk policies and procedures in partnership with leadership to ensure appropriateness and adequacy versus industry best practices and regulatory requirements.
  • Provides counsel to business unit managers on risk management issues.
  • Implemented a Federal Regulatory Registry for the client. This included regulations from the Equal Credit Opportunity Act (ECOA, Reg B), S.A.F.E Act (Reg G), Consumer Leasing (Reg M), Truth in Lending (TILA, Reg Z), E-Commerce Rules, Electronic Signatures (E-SIGN), Home Mortgage Disclosure Act (HMDA, Reg C), Pay check Protection Program (PPP), Unfair Dishonorable Abusive Acts and Practices (UDAAP), Reg E (EFT) and the Community Reinvestment Act (CRA).

Compliance Program Advisor

Atlantic Union Bank
Richmond, VA
07.2021 - 05.2022
  • Create/expand and manage the enterprise-wide Fair Lending, Reg B and UDAAP (Unfair, Deceptive or Abusive Acts or Practices) and UDAP per FTC functions for the enterprise.
  • Partner with LOB Managers and Compliance Advisors as the primary point of contact for Fair Lending, UDAP and UDAAP programs, offering advice and guidance on the identification and remediation of regulatory risks and to serve as a credible effective challenge to the 1LOD.
  • Perform compliance reviews to assess performance, risks, internal controls, and adherence to regulatory requirements specific to any area of the organization.
  • Interpret, perform, and provide research on compliance and regulatory questions impacting the bank's operations and performance relative to the horizontal program elements.
  • Identify risks, root cause, control weaknesses or gaps through regulatory reviews and work with LOB advisors to correct deficiencies.
  • Working with the Compliance team to maintain, enforce, and strengthen the bank's Horizontal Compliance Program Elements.

Principal Risk Specialist

Capital One
Richmond, VA
04.2019 - 05.2021
  • Provide risk consulting to designated areas with advice and guidance.
  • Identify and Mitigate Risk.
  • Review risk management database reports for compliance and fraud prevention.
  • Analyzed areas for potential risk to assets, earning capacity and organizational success.
  • Supported Monitoring and Reporting of risk activities.

Regulatory Compliance Manager

Capco
Zirconia, NC
01.2012 - 01.2018
  • Responsible for developing, supporting, and executing Risk Assessments by identifying major inherent risks within a client’s business line, testing the controls in place to mitigate the risk, and creating a compliance program to assist the client’s regulatory needs.
  • Created and implemented strategies as to maintain project deliverables and meet target deadlines.
  • Created and input Regulatory White Papers onto the SharePoint platform.
  • Trained CFPB Examiners on Overdraft Protection Programs and Lending Regulatory Compliance Principles.
  • Negotiated Statement of Works such as a Time and Material SOW resulting in the completion of specified deliverables for the Client.
  • Enforced regulations by reviewing federal and state laws to confirm compliance.
  • Completed all assignments on time and with no infractions during examinations.
  • Collaborated with leadership to devise strategies to improve processes and risk controls as well as implement new systems and best practice guidelines.

Education

Master of Business Administration; MBA -

University of Maryland
College Park, MD

Bachelors of Science - American Government

University of Maryland
College Park, MD

Skills

  • Data Analysis: Building dynamic Pivot Tables, utilizing Power Query (Excel), and performing data cleaning
  • Review & Collaboration: Managing complex "Track Changes," version history comparisons, and advanced sharing permissions
  • Advanced Animation: Implementing the Morph transition (PowerPoint) or intricate object animations to explain complex processes
  • Integration: Using tools like Zapier or native "Smart Chips" to link Docs, Calendar, and Tasks into a unified workflow
  • Operational Risk Management
  • Risk Management Program Oversight
  • RCSA Management-End to End Analysis
  • Consumer and Commercial Banking
  • Regulatory Compliance and Best Practices
  • Compliance and Risk Management Databases

Timeline

FS Risk, Regulatory & Compliance Consultant

Sentry Advisors, LLC. (Discover Financial Services)
08.2024 - 02.2025

Senior Independent Control Testing Consultant

Eliassen Group and Independent Consulting (KPMG-Wells Fargo)
06.2023 - 08.2023

Risk & Control Self-Assessment Consultant

Price Waterhouse Cooper (PwC) (Wells Fargo)
11.2022 - 04.2023

Regulatory Compliance Consultant

JCW Recruitment (Bank of America)
06.2022 - 10.2022

Compliance Program Advisor

Atlantic Union Bank
07.2021 - 05.2022

Principal Risk Specialist

Capital One
04.2019 - 05.2021

Regulatory Compliance Manager

Capco
01.2012 - 01.2018

Bachelors of Science - American Government

University of Maryland

Master of Business Administration; MBA -

University of Maryland