MELANIE MYJAK
DuPont,WA
Summary
Dynamic leader in Enterprise Risk, Compliance, and Audit with a proven track record of building and maturing Enterprise Risk Management (ERM) programs, transforming governance frameworks, and fostering a robust risk culture within regulated financial institutions. Expertise includes designing comprehensive enterprise risk systems, enhancing governance practices, and spearheading organization-wide risk initiatives in credit union and banking settings. Recognized for the ability to simplify complex risk concepts into actionable operational strategies for executives, boards, and regulators. Skilled in advancing Governance, Risk, and Compliance (GRC) maturity, modernizing risk reporting processes, and implementing scalable, technology-driven risk solutions that align with strategic objectives.
Overview
17
17
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Business Operations Process Controls Analyst
Apex Systems
08.2025 - 10.2025
- Streamlined process control assessments, reducing evaluation cycle times and improving documentation quality.
- Partnered with cross-functional teams to identify process risks and implement corrective actions that reduced recurring issues.
- Introduced standardized documentation formats that improved audit readiness and consistency across projects.
VP, Risk Management & Compliance / Ethics Officer
ACU
04.2018 - 06.2025
- Directed enterprise-wide compliance, ethics, and risk management programs, ensuring alignment with regulatory expectations and organizational strategy.
- Led change management and regulatory impact assessments; updated policies, controls, and training across all operational units.
- Vice-chaired the GRC Committee, shaping enterprise risk strategy and integrating risk insights into executive decision-making.
- Evaluate and respond to changes in applicable laws and regulations, market conditions, and products and services.
- Built enterprise risk dashboards and reporting tools, increasing visibility into key risk trends and decreasing preparation time.
- Strengthened risk culture by developing and delivering compliance, ERM, and ethics training programs with 100% staff completion.
- Enhanced business continuity and vendor risk programs, reducing operational vulnerabilities and improving due diligence turnaround.
ERM/BSA Officer
PARDA Federal Credit Union, Auburn Hills, MI
07.2012 - 03.2018
- Manage Compliance, BSA and Risk Management Programs.
- Establish protocols for handling sensitive transactional information, ensuring confidentiality and compliance with legal and regulatory standards.
- Advise management emerging compliance issues and guide the establishment of appropriate controls to mitigate risks.
- Oversight of compliance and legal issues, and regularly assessing adherence to all relevant regulations.
- Mentor interns, helping them develop their skills and advance in their education and careers.
- Overhauled the BSA/AML program, achieving consecutive clean examinations.
- Designed and implemented an enterprise risk framework resulting in a significant reduction in regulatory exam findings.
- Established a vendor risk management program that strengthened contract compliance and reduced high-risk vendor exposure.
- Developed business continuity and disaster recovery plans that improved resilience and reduced recovery times.
- Delivered risk, compliance, and BSA training that elevated organization-wide competency and audit readiness.
Internal Audit Manager
University Bank
07.2008 - 07.2012
- Directed internal audit activities for multiple business units, improving control effectiveness and reducing repeat findings.
- Developed and implemented risk assessment frameworks to identify and mitigate potential financial risks.
- Collaborated with cross-functional teams to enhance operational efficiencies through detailed audit findings.
- Implemented risk-based audit methodology aligned with strategic and regulatory priorities.
- Reported to the Board Audit Committee, influencing governance enhancements and executive corrective actions.
Education
Masters Legal Studies - Risk Management & Compliance
Seattle University School of Law
Seattle, WA09-2023
Bachelor of Arts - English
University of Michigan
Ann Arbor, MI06-1998
Skills
- Enterprise Risk Management (ERM)
- Governance, Risk & Compliance (GRC) Systems
- Internal Audit Leadership
- Risk Assessments & Issue Management
- Examination & Audit Readiness
- Business Continuity, Disaster Recovery
- BSA/AML Program Oversight
- Third-Party Risk Management
- Policy, Procedure & Control Development
- Executive & Board Reporting
- Risk Metrics, Dashboards & Data Visualization
- Cross-Functional Leadership & Training
Certification
CC, Certified in Cybersecurity
CUCE, Credit Union Compliance Expert
BSACS, Bank Secrecy Act Compliance Specialist
CUERME, Credit Union Enterprise Risk Management Expert
Dale Carnegie Leadership Training
Timeline
Business Operations Process Controls Analyst
Apex Systems
08.2025 - 10.2025
VP, Risk Management & Compliance / Ethics Officer
ACU
04.2018 - 06.2025
ERM/BSA Officer
PARDA Federal Credit Union, Auburn Hills, MI
07.2012 - 03.2018
Internal Audit Manager
University Bank
07.2008 - 07.2012
Masters Legal Studies - Risk Management & Compliance
Seattle University School of Law
Bachelor of Arts - English
University of Michigan