Renata Lukacik
Internal Audit Professional
Fort Lee,USA
Summary
Dynamic Senior Vice President with extensive experience at Citigroup, excelling in quality assurance and regulatory compliance. Proven track record in risk assessment and stakeholder communication, driving strategic improvements and enhancing audit methodologies. Adept at team leadership and talent development, fostering a culture of operational excellence and continuous improvement.
Overview
14
14
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Senior Vice President, Internal Audit Quality Assurance
Citigroup
11.2021 - Current
- Responsible for maintenance and execution of a robust Internal Audit (IA) Quality Assurance (QA) and Improvement program, leading practices, strategy, methodology and tools ensuring QA practices stay in line with industry standards and peer group practices
- Coordinating regulatory requests and responses during regulatory exams and inquiries
- Managing and overseeing a team of IA QA professionals responsible for execution of assurance work to ensure alignment with quality and industry standards and their professional development needs are met
- Providing on the job coaching and timely feedback to improve performance
- Leading and executing wide range of assurance activities over audit deliverables to assess risks within coverage areas, including, Personal Banking, Wealth Management, AML/KYC, Sanctions, Anti-Bribery and Corruption (ABC), Compliance and Legal for appropriateness of coverage and conclusions
- Evaluating IA’s adherence with internal methodology standards, industry professional practices, and regulatory guidance through various types of QA reviews, including, thematic/targeted reviews, regulatory issue validations and issues against Internal Audit, continuous improvement reviews and audits by effectively challenging audit approach and coverage with a holistic view and understanding of Citi’s strategy and applicable risks
- Managed and validated regulatory and non-regulatory issue validations to verify issues were appropriately remediated by validating design, effectiveness and sustainability of controls to ensure root cause was appropriately addressed
- Delivering excellence in control quality including, work papers, reporting and compliance with methodology, regulatory requirements and industry standards
- Influencing positive change in Internal Audit by communicating results from QA reviews, delivering periodic lessons learned and quarterly stakeholder performance summaries through in-depth analysis of audit themes, identification of trends, emerging risk and areas for continuous improvement
Vice President, Internal Audit Quality Assurance
MUFG
04.2019 - 10.2021
- Participated in development of the QAIP program, templates, regulatory issue validation standards and reporting requirements
- Facilitated external reviews, including requests from regulators to support quality assurance results
- Delivered high-quality work through oversight and execution of the quality assurance plan across first and second line of defense audit teams, performing complex reviews of audit planning processes, risk assessments, audit execution and regulatory and audit issue validations
- Responsible for development of QA testing programs designed to effectively assess the department’s conformance with Internal Audit’s methodology and regulatory requirements, including challenging audit scope, execution, and conclusions
- Communicated findings through quality assurance reports recommending and communicating improvement opportunities to the audit teams
- Mentored and provided coaching and oversight to QA team members throughout quality assurance reviews
- Demonstrated professional skepticism and personal accountability during Quality Assurance reviews
Vice President, Internal Audit Corporate Functions and Risk Management
MUFG
09.2016 - 04.2019
- Managed and In-Charged audit engagements, including development of audit strategy and execution of complex and first time second line of defense audits, including Enterprise Risk Management, Compliance Risk, Conduct Risk Heightened Standards, Credit Risk, Operational Risk, and other risk types
- Responsible for performing Director level responsibilities including, audit planning activities, strategic bank initiatives, resource management and development, active participation in ongoing monitoring activities, including committees/sub-committees and working groups and facilitation of ad-hoc requests
- Managed and executed regulatory and non-regulatory issue validations to verify appropriate remediation of corrective actions plans, assessed design, effectiveness and sustainability of control during issue validation to ensure root cause was appropriately addressed
- Managed and supervised staff during audit engagements while meeting tight deadlines for complex audit and end-end initiatives with quality results and within budget
- Lead coordination of second line coverage across material risk areas to ensure adherence of OCC Heightened Standards and Enhanced Prudential Standards (EPS) coverage
- Established Center of Excellence for Credit Risk across first- and second-line audit functions to enhance credit risk audit coverage, increase awareness of regulatory, industry and bank landscape
- Actively supported the bank’s diversity and inclusion initiatives, including rolling out programs
Audit Manager, Internal Audit Credit Risk and Corporate Functions
CIT Group, Inc.
08.2013 - 09.2016
- In-Charged and participated in first and second line of defense commercial lending credit risk, compliance and risk management audits ensuring all audit work was performed in accordance with department and professional standards
- Engaged in all phases of the audit process, including risk identification, performance of the risk assessment matrix during audit planning, development of the audit scope, issue write up and audit reporting
- Responsible for managing an audit team on audit engagements, including training them on audit methodology and business processes
- Responsible for issue tracking, validation, and appropriate closure to ensure the control deficiencies were appropriately remediated
- Engaged in building productive working relationships with management and key contacts within the business by providing value-added recommendations for control enhancements
- Responsible for delivering quality audit work within required completion timeframes of each audit
Senior Audit Supervisor, Global Compliance Audit
Bank of America
06.2012 - 08.2013
- Led and executed enterprise, complex and global cross functional audit engagements with a focus on bank regulations, SEC, FINRA, OCC and Federal Reserve requirements adhering to departmental and professional standards. The line of business coverage included, Global Wealth Management (GWM), Global Banking and Markets (GBAM), Global Consumer Banking Channel (GCB) and key Enterprise functions
- Provided ongoing coverage and guidance on key Legal & Compliance initiatives (e.g. FR08-8 Compliance Framework, Insider Trading Rules, Sales Practice and FINRA requirements, Anti-Money Laundering, Privacy, etc) during audit engagements
- Supervised audit teams in all phases of the audit process to ensure appropriate coverage, execution and key deliverables were met
- Proactively engaged Senior Leadership teams and Enterprise Control functions through audit and issue management process to effectively mitigate control deficiencies and actively participated in regulatory reviews and requests for timely remediation of control gaps
Audit Manager, Insurance and Broker Dealer Internal Audit
Prudential
09.2011 - 08.2011
- Led and implemented complex audits with a focus on insurance products and broker-dealer lines of business
- Performed operational and regulatory focused audits fragmented across multiple functions requiring high degree of judgment and subjectivity to ensure compliance with SOX 404, KYC, AML/BSA, USA Patriot Act requirements, Broker Dealer Rules, SEC, DOI and FINRA Requirements and company rules
- Planned and developed audit scope, objectives and program using risk and control-based auditing techniques, along with walkthroughs and review of client operating procedures
- Coordinated and communicated with all levels of business and control partners to analyze operational and management processes and system controls effectiveness and efficiency in view to improve them and propose value-added recommendations
- Trained, supervised, and developed audit team members
Education
Bachelor of Business Administration - Business Management
BARUCH COLLEGE, CITY UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK
NEW YORK, NYSkills
- Quality assurance and regulatory compliance
- Risk assessment and audit execution
- Control validation and internal audit practices
- Stakeholder communication and team leadership
- Critical thinking and process improvement
- Relationship management and performance coaching
- Strategic leadership and talent development
- Cross-functional team coordination
- Influencing and negotiation skills
- Staff development and operational excellence
- Strategic planning and problem solving
- Data analysis
Profile Snapshot
- Dedicated and detail-oriented professional with a proven track record of Internal Audit experience 15 + years across multiple lines of defense and product lines
- Adept at proactively identifying risks and emerging risks, and integrating them into risk assessments and assurance coverage
- Proven track record in providing strategic solutions in complex global bank structure and processes.
- Ability to interpret complex processes and data with control enhancement recommendations
- Strong knowledge of International Internal Audit (IIA) standards and regulatory guidelines (FRB SR 13-1, OCC Heightened Standards)
- Experience in managing and executing Quality Assurance and Improvement program processes and tools
- Effective project management, communication and interpersonal skills to influence change
Certification
Pursuing continuing education in Internal Auditing and Compliance
Affiliations
Global IIA Chapter Member
Timeline
Senior Vice President, Internal Audit Quality Assurance
Citigroup
11.2021 - Current
Vice President, Internal Audit Quality Assurance
MUFG
04.2019 - 10.2021
Vice President, Internal Audit Corporate Functions and Risk Management
MUFG
09.2016 - 04.2019
Audit Manager, Internal Audit Credit Risk and Corporate Functions
CIT Group, Inc.
08.2013 - 09.2016
Senior Audit Supervisor, Global Compliance Audit
Bank of America
06.2012 - 08.2013
Audit Manager, Insurance and Broker Dealer Internal Audit
Prudential
09.2011 - 08.2011
Bachelor of Business Administration - Business Management
BARUCH COLLEGE, CITY UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK