Compliance Specialist III

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Position Summary

Compliance Specialist III serves as a compliance risk management subject matter expert responsible for leading complex compliance initiatives, providing strategic regulatory guidance, and supporting the overall effectiveness of the Bank's Compliance Management System (CMS). This position independently manages high-risk compliance activities, conducts enterprise-wide risk assessments, oversees significant regulatory change initiatives, supports regulatory examinations and audits, and serves as a trusted advisor to business partners. Compliance Specialist III exercises a high degree of independent judgment, identifies emerging compliance risks, and develops practical risk mitigation strategies to ensure compliance with applicable laws, regulations, and internal policies.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

A Compliance Specialist III serves as a compliance advisor and enterprise risk partner responsible for identifying, assessing, monitoring, and mitigating compliance risk across the organization.

Regulatory Compliance

• Serve as a subject matter expert on federal banking laws, regulations, and regulatory guidance.
• Identify emerging regulatory developments and assess enterprise-wide impacts.
• Lead complex regulatory research and provide interpretations to management and business units.
• Recommend strategies for addressing regulatory risks and compliance obligations.

Enterprise Compliance Risk Assessment

• Lead Business Unit Analyses (BUAs), compliance risk assessments for high-risk or complex business activities.

Regulatory Change Management

• Oversee complex regulatory change initiatives impacting multiple business units.
• Facilitate enterprise impact assessments and implementation planning.
• Monitor implementation progress and escalate risks or delays as appropriate.

Compliance Advisory

• Serve as the primary compliance advisor for assigned business units and strategic initiatives.
• Evaluate regulatory implications of new products, services, technologies, systems, and processes.
• Provide consultative guidance regarding compliance risks and regulatory expectations.

Issue Management

• Lead investigations of significant compliance issues and complaints.
• Perform root cause analysis and recommend corrective actions.
• Monitor remediation efforts and provide status reporting to management.

Third-Party Risk Management

• Lead Third-Party Risk Management (TPRM) compliance reviews.
• Evaluate vendor compliance programs, controls, and regulatory risks.
• Recommend risk mitigation and monitoring activities.

Compliance Training and Awareness

• Develop and deliver advanced compliance training.
• Promote regulatory awareness across the organization.

Reporting and Governance

• Prepare compliance reports, risk summaries, and trend analyses for senior management and governance committees.
• Monitor compliance metrics and key risk indicators.
• Provide recommendations for program enhancements and continuous improvement.
• Contribute to the ongoing maturity and effectiveness of the Compliance Management System.

Qualifications

Skills

• Advanced knowledge of federal banking laws, regulations, and regulatory guidance.
• Advanced knowledge of compliance risk management principles and Compliance Management Systems (CMS).
• Ability to independently interpret complex regulatory requirements and assess business impacts.
• Demonstrated expertise in compliance risk assessments, issue management, regulatory change management, and compliance monitoring.
• Strong analytical, investigative, and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent written, verbal, presentation, and stakeholder management skills.
• Ability to influence business partners and senior leaders without direct authority.
• Ability to manage multiple complex projects simultaneously.

Regulatory Expertise

Working knowledge of banking regulations and regulatory guidance, including but not limited to: UDAAP, ECOA / Regulation B, FCRA, HMDA / Regulation C, TILA / Regulation Z, RESPA / Regulation X, EFTA / Regulation E, Truth in Savings, Flood Regulations.

Education and Experience

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university required.
• 5-7 years of progressive compliance, risk management, audit, legal, or related financial services experience within the second line of defense.
• Demonstrated experience supporting examinations, audits, risk assessments, and regulatory change initiatives.

Specialized Training

• Experience working with enterprise risk management and governance frameworks preferred.

Certifications

• CRCM is strongly preferred.
• Additional industry certifications considered a plus.

Note:

Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job.  Activities, duties and responsibilities may change at any time with or without notice.     

Equal Employment Opportunity Information: Simmons First National Corporation and its subsidiaries are committed to a policy of equal employment with respect to a person's race, color, religion, sex, ancestry, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, covered veterans, military status, physical or mental disability or any other legally protected classifications.