Credit Governance & Strategy Officer

Since 1973, East West Bank has served as a pathway to success. With over 110 locations across the U.S. and Asia, we are the premier financial bridge between the East and West. Our teams of experienced, multi-cultural professionals help guide businesses and community members on both sides of the Pacific looking to explore new markets and create new opportunities, and our sustained growth and expertise in industries like real estate, entertainment and media, private equity and venture capital, and high-tech help build sustainable businesses and expand our associates’ potential for career advancement. 

Headquartered in California, East West Bank (Nasdaq: EWBC) is a top-performing commercial bank with a strong foundation, an enterprising spirit and a commitment to absolute integrity. East West Bank gives people the confidence to reach further.

The Credit Risk Governance & Strategy Officer will work within the Credit Governance unit reporting to the Chief Credit Risk Management Officer. This is an impactful role that will directly contribute to the ongoing enhancement and capabilities of the Bank’s credit risk management and governance frameworks.  The role will coordinate with various first, second and third line risk management functions as well Senior Credit Supervision, Operations, DMI, IT and other constituents to design and implement enhancements to the Bank’s credit governance infrastructure. 

The ideal candidate will be a highly organized self-starter that brings demonstrated expertise, strategic vision, and an efficient  results-oriented mindset to help Credit Governance achieve and maintain resilient, scalable and effective risk management capabilities. The role requires strong working knowledge of credit risk management principles, risk governance practices, bank regulations, and regulatory expectations.

Credit Governance Framework Enhancement Management

• Lead processes to identify, design and enhance credit risk management and governance framework capabilities.
• Work cross-functionally with various stakeholders to assess current capabilities and to design and implement framework enhancements with respect to credit policies, underwriting standards, risk rating guidelines and tools, and credit risk data reporting.
• Enhance forward looking emerging risk identification and reporting capabilities for credit supervision and governance.
• Design and implement enhancements to procedures and processes within the control framework for credit risk management
• Utilize project management tools and techniques to organize multiple concurrent tasks, projects and workstreams
• Contribute impactfully to Credit’s governance structure and routines, proactively identify areas for improvement and design and execute enhancements.
• Collaboratively ensure the credit governance framework supports strong risk management and business unit objectives for growth and strong asset quality   

Internal and External Engagement

• Join the Chief Credit Risk Management Officer and other senior credit executives as a key Credit liaison with first-line (Risk Management), second-line (ERM Risk) and third-line (Internal Audit & Independent Asset Review) partners, ensuring alignment on credit policies, controls, limits/KRIs and governance capabilities and outcomes.
• Join credit leaderships engagement with external regulators, including preparation and presentations for examinations, reviews, and ongoing monitoring.
• Coordinate governance and oversight activities to ensure Credit Risk Management’s  activities are well-integrated and coordinated with enterprise risk, compliance, and audit expectations.
• May perform other duties as assigned

• Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Accounting, Business Administration, or related field; advanced degree or professional certification (CFA, CPA, FRM) preferred.
• 10+ years of experience in Credit, Risk, Audit, Regulatory Affairs, or Governance functions in a regulated financial institution, or as part of a regulatory agency.
• Demonstrated success building, enhancing or managing credit governance structures and engaging with both internal oversight partners and regulators.
• Experience utilizing data to support, synthesize and aggregate credit risk exposure; facility with credit systems, databases, and reporting platforms and the ability to identify requirements for system enhancements to improve governance and controls
• Coordinate, lead and drive timely completion of ad-hoc risk projects and initiatives
• Demonstrated critical thinking, and ideation and articulation of enhancement opportunities for consideration by institutional leadership
• Strong working knowledge as an independent user of MS Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Access). Facility with Power BI preferred.
• Knowledge and understanding of federal and state laws and regulations applicable to EWB
• Willingness to expand knowledge and skillset to contribute proactively on behalf of Credit Governance and Credit Supervision

Preferred Skills

• Deep understanding of credit risk management processes and governance frameworks, regulatory oversight frameworks and expectations, and enterprise risk management principles.
• Experience engaging across first-line, second-line, and third-line interfaces as well as with regulatory supervisors.
• Strong project management skills with a proven ability to drive change management and execution across multiple priorities.
• Professional and collegial interpersonal, communication, and collaboration skills; able to align diverse stakeholders and present effectively to senior management and regulators.
• Comfort operating in dynamic or rapidly evolving organizations, with the ability to design bespoke solutions appropriate for the culture and objectives of EWB.

Applicants must have legal authorization to work in the United States. We do not offer visa sponsorship at this time.