Jennifer Sullivan

Execute QA reviews of audit engagements and issue validations, conduct hot reviews of engagements and validations in flight, and validate audit owned regulatory issues. Draft and deliver QA issues, gaining buy-in and acceptance of issues by Audit leadership and validating associated corrective actions. Further support the team by conducting an additional level of review on subset of scorecards for consistency in capturing key concerns and scoring. Frequently asked to peer review/brainstorm on complex engagement scenarios by leadership and peers.

Identify and lead change initiatives to drive continuous improvement and efficiency and automation to an end efficiency in QA activities:

• Promote automation through development of Microsoft Copilot prompts to be used in various aspects of day-to-day QA testing
• Evolve core QA checklist/program each quarter to focus on risk, methodology changes, and efficiency
• Hold quarterly lessons learned look-back session for QA team
• Created job aids/scoring guidance to promote consistency in engagement QA ratings
• Co-created a QA issue repository to identify repeat issues and promote efficiencies when drafting QA issues.
• Serve as liaison for the QA team with the Audit Professional Practices team for methodology questions and feedback.

Executed periodic assurance reviews of the Second Line of Defense Regulatory Compliance Department in support of the Global and U.S. Compliance Operating Model. Reviewed and challenged Compliance in order to assess the adequacy and effectiveness of the Department's risk stewardship. Identified gaps and recommended tactical solutions to continuously improve and enhance the Department and its programs.

• Provided assurance to senior Compliance leadership that the program was fit for purpose, operating effectively and efficiently, and performed in line with best practices and firm standards.
• Evaluated how well the Operating Model and key program pillars were embedded across the department including identifying misalignments.
• Identified and shared best practices with respect to regulator expectations, compliance management programs, and operational risk.
• Navigated across the Department to gain buy-in and acceptance of issues and remediation.
• Executed risk assessments of the Compliance Department to build the annual review plan considering industry as well as internal department developments.
• Balanced active collaboration with independence/objectivity.
• Drove key risk-prioritization and streamlining enhancements for the Functional Oversight internally.
• Created nuanced testing plans to address U.S. regulatory expectations, while also drafting re-designed workplans for universal use by the global team.
• Contributed to the Global enhancement priorities including training, issue and report ratings definitions, and an automated workflow tool.

Executed Second Line of Defense Compliance Management Program for Retail Branch and Call Center divisions. Led a team of two advisors providing primary support for deposit regulations (Reg CC, DD, D, E, FCRA) while identifying potential implications and concerns relating to AML, Privacy, TCPA, Reg Z, HMDA, Fair Lending/Fair Banking. Advised on new business initiatives, issue remediation, implementation of compliance programs for new/changed regulations. Evaluated design and operational effectiveness of controls.

Provided regulatory and operational risk advice and challenge to enable business leaders to achieve results in key business strategic initiatives:

• Revised and simplified compliance training for customer facing associates; efforts contributed to associate ability to better retain and apply concepts in business operations.
• Streamlined operations and eliminated approximately 30% of the paperwork generated by the branch for new account openings and servicing requests.
• Solutions to enable the launch of new digital sales tools and online applications to encourage a more customer-friendly sales and service experience.
• Solutions to enable the launch of a strategic customer e-mail program.
• Integration of operations, governance, and complaint handling between two legacy company call centers.
• Branch format, staffing and service offering changes.

Guided first line of defense in their daily business operations including:

• Tracked, evaluated, and communicated federal regulation and state law changes, advising on the development and implementation of controls.
• Advocated for central governance forum review of new business initiatives to ensure other risks such as operational, reputational and legal risks were considered.
• Performed periodic compliance risk analysis on the retail bank; advising on emerging risks.

Executed Auditor in Charge responsibilities including audit scoping and planning, operational, financial, and compliance risk identification, supervision of staff auditors, management of budget, workpaper review, delivery and negotiation of preliminary audit findings, final report writing, and guidance on remediation and subsequent validation. Specialized areas of focus included broker dealer and global trading (foreign exchange and derivatives) divisions.

• BNY Mellon STAR winner for outstanding performance, commitment, and adherence to the Company's values.
• Recognized by Broker Dealer client for overall outstanding quality of work and communication skills.
• Recognized by Compliance Management for identifying strong Anti-Money Laundering/Know Your Customer issues.
• Persuaded management through solid working relationships, frequent communication and periodic business monitoring to “buy-into” audit recommendations.
• Researched changing regulations and current industry events in order to perform ad-hoc monitoring of client's operations and add value on a continuous basis.
• Designed a reference database to improve efficiencies in audit planning by collecting banking industry developments, best practices, and audit skill materials.

Built and executed a risk-based annual test plan for assurance over compliance with retail and compliance bank regulations, including First Line of Defense controls, compliance programs, and Second Line of Defense risk stewardship activities. This included scoping reviews to meet coverage mandates based on regulation risk, the Bank's risk management framework, and key business priorities. Responsibilities included building and defining a risk-based scope, supervision and coaching of a team of testing officers, management of project budget, workpaper review, delivery and negotiation of preliminary findings and final report, and provision of guidance on remediation and subsequent validation.

Key accomplishments:

• Appointed as engagement lead for the department's Internal Audit, representing the Assurance department's operations and performance. Led remediation activities, including building a re-engineered methodology for regulation-based reviews with Assurance senior leadership. Obtained feedback and secured buy-in and approval from various US and Global Assurance and larger Compliance department stakeholders.
• Frequently engaged by both the Assurance Professional Practices/Reporting team and testing managers for advice on applying the methodology and interacting with internal and external stakeholders.
• Designed test steps and documentation approach to integrate Second Line of Defense reviews into current First Line of Defense testing methodology.
• Championed Global bank methodology initiatives within the US team and provide feedback to Global team ensure US nuances and potential gaps are addressed while simultaneously championing a concurrent integration for financial crime and regulatory compliance teams.
• Participated in working groups to define, structure, and continuously improve supplemental US methodology, testing and documentation standards.

Provided chief of staff and operations support to internal audit teams to enable efficient and successful execution of the annual audit plan. Continuously planned and pivoted to provide support in a changing environment. Wide breadth of responsibilities including management and analysis of headcount and skills needs, interviewing, staff engagement and leadership meetings, analysis of performance metrics, annual planning and budgeting, preparation of regulatory and internal committee reporting, and innovation.

Key accomplishments:

• Pivoted to support new team and new interim leader during peak period, acting as plan liaison with the broader department to navigate the annual plan build and check/challenge progress with multiple deadlines.
• Established a consistent structure for team meetings and leadership meetings.
• Drove efficiency in plan and issue validation execution, overseeing a centralized workflow scheduling tool, and managing leadership approvals.
• Prepared regulatory meeting materials and coordinate and compose regulatory responses. Streamlined monthly regulator meeting presentation content.
• Onboarded new Senior Executive with deep-dive overviews and key partner introductions. Instituted an iterative approach to producing and distributing plan metrics and Senior Executive escalations, adapting to a new and growing leadership team. Advanced new Senior Executive priorities including a skills assessment, plan smoothing/forecasting, annual risk assessment updates and training, and monthly operational metrics reporting.
• Drove employee engagement initiatives including employee recognition and staff forums.