Principal Technology and Cybersecurity Risk & Controls Specialist

About this role

This role offers a hybrid work schedule; offering the flexibility to work remotely one day a week, while providing the opportunity for in-person collaboration.  Sponsorship is NOT available for this position.

Overview:      Executes and manages independent control testing and remediation plan closure validation activities across Technology, Cybersecurity, and Data domains. Influences risk management outcomes by partnering with Risk Advisors and Risk Owners on risk identification, control coverage, and control design adequacy. Provides subject matter expertise for complex testing and validation activities, reviews the work of peers, supports development and maintenance of the annual testing plan, and prepares management reporting to enable effective risk-based decision making.

Primary Responsibilities: • Maintain the Controls Testing methodology, procedures, standards, and quality assurance practices to ensure testing activities are executed consistently and in accordance with internal policies and requirements.

• Lead the development, execution, and management of the Annual Controls Testing Plan utilizing risk-based principles, inherent risk assessments, regulatory expectations, emerging risks, and organizational priorities to ensure appropriate testing coverage across Technology, Cybersecurity, and Data risk domains.

• Direct and execute independent assessments of control design and operating effectiveness to determine whether controls are appropriately designed and operating effectively to mitigate identified risks and maintain residual risk within approved risk appetite.

• Provide effective challenge to Risk Advisors, Risk Owners, Control Owners, and Process Owners regarding risk identification, risk-to-control mappings, control coverage, control rationalization, testing scope, and control design adequacy.

• Lead complex controls testing engagements and issue evaluations involving high-risk technologies, cybersecurity processes, data management capabilities, regulatory commitments, and strategic initiatives.

• Evaluate the sustainability and effectiveness of remediation activities to independently confirm whether corrective actions effectively address identified root causes, design deficiencies, operating effectiveness failures, audit findings, regulatory issues, and self-identified issues.

• Contribute to design and delivery of training programs to ensure comprehensive knowledge of technology and cybersecurity risk management and growing critical skills to enhance team's outcomes.

• Coordinate preparation and response to regulatory engagements, including reviewing responses for accuracy and meeting regulatory request, organizing documents and packets, and leading exam management (i.e., template folders, review of first day letter and follow-up requests).

• Prepare and deliver management reporting on testing results, thematic observations, control environment maturity, remediation status, and emerging risk trends.

• Understand and adhere to the Company’s risk and regulatory standards, policies and controls in accordance with the Company’s Risk Appetite.  Identify risk-related issues needing escalation to management.

• Promote an environment that supports diversity and reflects the M&T Bank brand.

• Maintain M&T internal control standards, including timely implementation of internal and external audit points together with any issues raised by external regulators as applicable.

• Complete other related duties as assigned.

Scope of Responsibilities: • This role primarily interacts with senior people leaders within the Technology and Cybersecurity teams, senior people leaders of Technology and Cybersecurity Risk, and internal partners such as the Risk Division, Internal Audit, and Regulatory Affairs. 

• Work is accomplished with periodic direction.  The position exercises judgement in selecting methods, techniques, and evaluation criteria in obtaining results. It exerts significant latitude in determining objective of assignment and takes calculated risks with consultation from expert. 

• Apply professional judgment in determining testing strategies, sample selection approaches, issue severity assessments, remediation validation requirements, and conclusions regarding control effectiveness and risk mitigation.

• Review and challenges complex risk assessments to provide an independent opinion on the completeness of risk identification, appropriateness of control selection, and adequacy of control design

• Serves as a recognized subject matter expert for controls testing methodology, control design assessment, operating effectiveness testing, issue validation, remediation validation, and risk-based assurance practices.

• This role may present to Regulators under direction of senior Technology and Cybersecurity Risk leaders.

Education and Experience Required: • Bachelor's degree and a minimum of 7 years’ relevant work experience, or in lieu of a degree, a combined minimum of 11 years’ higher education and/or work experience

• Demonstrated expert knowledge of Technology and/or Cybersecurity risk principles

• Minimum of 6 years' relevant work experience in or with the specific Technology, Cybersecurity risk area and/or business unit

• Previous experience of NIST (National Institute of Standards and Technology) or Cybersecurity frameworks, with a strong focus NIST 800-53 and 800-53a

• Strong knowledge of cybersecurity principles and industry best practices (relevant to confidentiality, integrity, availability)

• Proven knowledge of information technology security principles and implementation methods (e.g., firewalls, demilitarized zones, encryption, Active Directory / LDAP, SAML)

• Skilled in evaluating security controls based on confidentiality, integrity and availability requirements of systems

• Experience with handling multiple projects

• Experience meeting strict deadlines

• Experience overseeing project tasks for less experienced team members

Education and

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