Charles M. Connelly
Fullerton,CA
Summary
Governance-focused leader with 25+ years of experience in risk management, financial oversight, process controls, and executive reporting within regulated organizations. Provides disciplined stewardship and ethical judgment. Translates complex operational and financial risk into clear, actionable insights for senior leadership.
Overview
25
25
years of professional experience
Work History
AVP, Partner Monitoring, Client Oversight Program
Synchrony Financial
Costa Mesa, California
07.2022 - Current
- Lead oversight of key financial and operational controls across enterprise clients, ensuring risks are identified, escalated, and remediated with disciplined follow-through.
- Conducted assessments of key control activities, enhancing governance and accountability across business lines.
- Analyzed financial and operational data to identify risk trends and recommended corrective actions aligned with regulatory and ethical standards.
- Facilitated meetings with senior leaders to review risk indicators, process anomalies, and track remediation progress.
- Serve as primary liaison for oversight inquiries, ensuring transparent communication and timely resolution of issues impacting financial integrity.
AVP, Partner Monitoring,Sales Process Surveillance
Synchrony Financial
Costa Mesa, California
10.2018 - 07.2022
- Consolidated surveillance results into executive-ready reporting highlighting trends, risks, and thematic insights.
- Executed surveillance routines across financial transactions, statements, and digital workflows, ensuring compliance with governance and regulatory expectations.
- Identified process defects and control gaps, escalated issues to leadership, and supported remediation planning to enhance financial stewardship.
- Maintained dashboards and oversight documentation for governance committees and senior leadership, facilitating informed decision-making.
- Supported internal audits and risk testing engagements, reinforcing a culture of accountability and transparency.
AVP, Partner Monitoring
CareCredit
Costa Mesa, California
07.2014 - 10.2018
- Designed and led monitoring processes across disputes, complaints, fraud, and remediation activities for high-risk client groups.
- Delivered business report-outs at merchant, client, industry, and enterprise levels to provide leaders visibility into financial and operational risks.
- Collaborated with sales, risk, and compliance teams to research issues, identify root causes, and recommend corrective actions that improved risk management.
- Maintained governance documentation and ensured timely completion of process attestations across business units to uphold compliance standards.
- Promoted best-practice oversight standards by partnering with Client Oversight Program leadership.
Manager, Provider Relations Research
CareCredit
Costa Mesa, California
02.2010 - 07.2014
- Led a team responsible for resolving complex fraud, dispute, legal, and operational escalations impacting financial outcomes and client relationships.
- Partnered with Legal and senior leadership to resolve regulatory complaints and litigation matters.
- Identified negative financial trends and developed solutions to mitigate exposure, enhance controls, and ensure compliance.
- Reviewed and adjudicated high-value chargebacks, ensuring financial stewardship while maintaining fair and ethical resolution practices.
- Built processes and documentation frameworks to support risk initiatives and facilitate regulatory settlements.
Operations Specialist
CareCredit
Costa Mesa, California
10.2005 - 02.2010
- Served as primary contact for senior management, legal teams, and VIP clients on escalated financial and operational issues, facilitating swift resolutions.
- Analyzed financial and operational trends, recommending process improvements that mitigated risk and enhanced efficiency.
- Delivered operational support to large corporate accounts, ensuring prompt and effective resolution of escalations.
- Implemented automated workflows and process enhancements to improve accuracy and productivity.
- Supported fraud and loss investigations, advising leadership on risk exposure and corrective actions.
Sales Representative
CareCredit
05.2001 - 10.2005
- Achieved enrollment goals through proactive outreach and diligent follow-up.
- Cultivated client relationships through consultative engagement, enabling providers to navigate financial solutions and compliance requirements.
- Guided new merchants on financial processes, onboarding requirements, and operational best practices to ensure seamless integration.
- Represented the organization at trade shows and seminars, promoting responsible financial solutions to prospective clients.
Education
Diploma -
Sunny Hills High School
Fullerton, CA06-1992
Skills
- Risk governance
- Financial oversight
- Operational oversight
- Regulatory alignment
- Compliance audits
- Risk identification
- Control design strategies
- Process improvement
- Automation strategies
- Data analysis
- Trend identification
- Executive reporting
- Governance reporting proficiency
- Stakeholder collaboration
- Leadership abilities
- Presentation skills
- Communication skills
Timeline
AVP, Partner Monitoring, Client Oversight Program
Synchrony Financial
07.2022 - Current
AVP, Partner Monitoring,Sales Process Surveillance
Synchrony Financial
10.2018 - 07.2022
AVP, Partner Monitoring
CareCredit
07.2014 - 10.2018
Manager, Provider Relations Research
CareCredit
02.2010 - 07.2014
Operations Specialist
CareCredit
10.2005 - 02.2010
Sales Representative
CareCredit
05.2001 - 10.2005
Diploma -
Sunny Hills High School