Control Self Assurance Officer

**Introduction**:
About us.
A unique life requires a unique bank.
Defence Bank is a member-owned bank that has been proudly serving the Defence Community for 50 years. With 26 branches across Australia and our award-winning app, Defence Bank is where our members need us - anywhere, anytime.
The bank provides financial products and services to the Australian Defence Force and its unique community, reinvesting profits for the benefit of our members. We are a leader in our sector and our people led, technology enabled environment, celebrates the individual talents, personalities, interests and needs of our people.
Winner of the Best Reward & Recognition program 2024 and a finalist for Employer of Choice 2024, it is not only our employees who think our bank is truly one of the best places to work.
**Description**:
Are you our next Control Self Assurance Officer?
Reporting to the Head of Risk, this position sits within the Risk & Compliance function, whose core purpose is to “Keep the bank safe”. This position directly supports our purpose by playing a key role in driving the ongoing enhancement of our three lines of defence model. Through continuous engagement with business leaders across all levels, you will champion risk awareness and refine and test our risk and controls management frameworks to ensure operational resilience.
Your key responsibilities will include (but are not limited to):
Ongoing development of the internal control monitoring & testing program, including assurance over Credit, Operational and IT risk controls testing program with an immediate focus on Credit and Operational risk controls testing. Work closely with the Risk analyst and the 1st line business partners to develop and establish a business level risk profile.
Support the 1st line in the design and establishment of effective controls into core processes, assess their performance, and conduct ongoing testing and monitoring to maintain a robust and resilient risk environment.
Oversight of the design and operation of business-related control compliance monitoring and improvement activities to ensure compliance both with internal policies and applicable laws and regulations.
Conducting controls assurance testing as part of the controls Monitoring Program.
Engage in effective conversations with business partners around existing controls environment and enhancement opportunities where identified.
Providing 2nd line oversight to incident management, including remediation, action planning, and advising on improving control effectiveness and implementing new controls.
Contribute to the assessment of all risk types, the identification and management of emerging threats and assisting in the investigation of material incidents.
Contribute to the input for risk reporting to management, Risk and Compliance Committees, Board, and regulators.
Independently manage and respond to risk and compliance escalations in a timely and effective manner.
Supporting organisational compliance with APRA prudential standards.
Undertake prudent risk management in processes and policies, in line with risk management framework and Defence Bank’s risk appetite.
Assist the CRO in the coordination of the bank’s insurance renewal program.
The Control Self-Assurance Officer plays a critical role in fostering a strong risk culture by leading initiatives that enhance risk awareness and compliance across the bank. This includes educating leaders on their regulatory obligations, ensuring ethical conduct, and embedding accountability within executive teams. By driving risk maturity through proactive engagement, the officer helps maintain a balanced, results-oriented approach that aligns with the organization's scale, complexity, and resource allocation. Continuous monitoring and self-assessment further strengthen the business’s resilience, reinforcing a culture of accountability and best practices.
**Skills and Experiences**:
About You
You are a curious and digitally-driven risk professional with at least five years of experience in financial services, specialising in risk controls assurance, including Information Security. You have a strong understanding of banking regulations and hold tertiary qualifications in Law, Finance, or Compliance. Your expertise includes designing, testing, and assessing Information Security controls, building relationships with stakeholders, and developing monitoring and testing frameworks.
You simplify and streamline risk processes, ensuring compliance and accountability across leadership teams while fostering a psychologically safe and innovative environment. You proactively drive risk maturity, analyse complex situations, and develop risk profiles and controls. With strong problem-solving abilities, you work autonomously, manage deadlines efficiently, and model key principles of accountability, communication, and transparency while keeping members first. Your project literacy and ability to assess control environments allow you to keep the ban