Director/Vice President; Sr. Country Compliance and Operational Risk Manager (Seoul, Korea)

Job Description:

At Bank of America, we are guided by a common purpose to help make financial lives better through the power of every connection. We do this by driving Responsible Growth and delivering for our clients, teammates, communities and shareholders every day.

Being a Great Place to Work and providing a culture of caring is core to how we drive Responsible Growth. We are intentional about fostering an inclusive workplace where every teammate has the opportunity to succeed, build a career and contribute to our shared success. This includes attracting and developing exceptional talent, recognizing and rewarding performance, and supporting our teammates’ physical, emotional, and financial wellness through affordable, competitive and flexible benefits.

We value the unique perspectives individuals bring from all backgrounds and career paths - whether shaped by military service, community college education, or a wide range of work and life experiences. These journeys foster resilience, leadership and innovation, strengthening our workforce and positively impact the communities we serve.

Bank of America is committed to an in-office culture that supports collaboration, engagement, and career development. Our approach includes clear in-office expectations, while providing an appropriate level of flexibility based on role-specific responsibilities and business needs.

At Bank of America, you can build a successful career with opportunities to learn, grow, and make an impact. Join us!

Job Description:

This job is to lead and manage a team responsible for supporting the identification, assessment, escalation, and timely mitigation of compliance and operational risks within Bank of America's Merrill Lynch International, LLC.,  South Korea operations, in alignment with the Global Compliance Enterprise Policy, the Operational Risk Management Enterprise Policy, and the Compliance and Operational Risk Management Program and Standard Operating Procedures.

The position primarily supports the South Korea Global Markets, Global Research and Global Corporate and Investment Banking (GCIB) businesses and requires a sound understanding of applicable South Korea securities laws and regulations, including requirements issued by the Financial Services Commission (FSC), Financial Supervisory Service (FSS), Korea Financial Investment Association (KOFIA), Korea Exchange (KRX) and other relevant regulatory authorities.

The individual is expected to apply regulatory knowledge and risk-based judgment when reviewing business activities, products, transactions, regulatory developments, and potential compliance issues. Working closely with other senior Compliance and Operational Risk stakeholders, business stakeholders, Legal, Risk, Operations, and other control partners, the role contributes to effective risk management and regulatory compliance across the South Korea franchise. Key responsibilities include leading, managing and developing the Compliance and Operational Risk team responsible for providing compliance advisory support, monitoring regulatory developments and assessing their impact on business activities, assisting with the implementation of regulatory change initiatives, and supporting oversight of Front-Line Unit (FLU) and Control Function (CF) activities. Additional responsibilities include leading the Compliance and Operational Risk team coordinating regulatory examinations, inspections, audits, inquiries, and remediation efforts, including the preparation of materials and engagement with relevant internal stakeholders. The position also requires the ability to communicate professionally and effectively with internal and external parties, including regulators, auditors, industry associations, and senior business management.

The individual will participate in the execution of compliance risk management programs covering securities and capital markets activities, employee compliance, conduct risk, trade surveillance, electronic trading controls, conflicts management, and applicable financial crime compliance requirements. The role requires proactive collaboration with regional and global Compliance and Operational Risk partners to promote consistent implementation of enterprise standards and regulatory expectations. Success in this role requires a collaborative approach, strong stakeholder management skills, and an ability to contribute to a culture of compliance and sound risk management across the broader Compliance and Operational Risk organization.

Responsibilities:

• Leading, managing and developing a team. Includes to deliver results by effectively prioritizing, inspecting and appropriately delegating work to the team.
• Develop relationships with entity management, the respective lines of business, as well as support functions to keep abreast of current business developments and regulatory issues that may impact the Compliance and Operational Risk environment of the Bank.
• Member of Local Management Team – Provide Compliance and Operational Risk updates and involved in entity governance.
• Act as a liaison and foster good relationship with regulators, local banking associations and peer groups to keep abreast of any changes or new/upcoming regulations.
• Provide day-to-day compliance advisory support to Global Markets, Research and GCIB, and related business activities.
• Monitor and interpret regulatory developments and assess potential business and compliance impacts.
• Review new products, transactions, business initiatives, and marketing materials for regulatory compliance considerations.
• Support implementation of regulatory changes and remediation actions arising from regulatory examinations, audits, and internal reviews.
• Coordinate and prepare responses to regulatory inquiries, inspections, examinations, and information requests.
• Assist in overseeing compliance programs relating to securities activities, conduct risk, employee compliance, trade surveillance, electronic trading, and regulatory reporting.
• Participate in compliance monitoring, risk assessments, issue management, and control evaluations.
• Escalate identified compliance risks, control weaknesses, and regulatory concerns in a timely manner.
• Partner with regional and global Compliance, Legal, Risk, Operations, and business teams to support effective risk management.
• Prepare management reporting, governance materials, and regulatory communications as required.

Skills:

• 15+ years of experience in Compliance, Compliance Risk Management, Operational Risk, or related control functions within the banking or securities industry.
• Strong leadership skills and experience of leading, managing and developing teams.
• Working knowledge of South Korean securities regulations and regulatory expectations.
• Experience interacting with regulators, auditors, and internal control functions.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and risk assessment skills.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and collaborate effectively across teams, functions, and business lines.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills in both English and Korean.
• Confidence in engaging and communicating effectively with senior leadership.
• Ability to work independently while exercising sound judgment and appropriate escalation