AVP - Validation Specialist

Job Summary

Reporting to the Validation Lead, the Line 1.5 validation role provides independent, control-focused validation within Operations and Technology (ONT). The role evaluates the design and operating effectiveness of controls across technology, cybersecurity, and operational processes. It partners closely with First Line control owners, leveraging data-driven and continuous validation to identify control gaps earlier and strengthen regulatory control alignment.

Job Responsibilities

Control Assurance and Testing

• Perform independent validation of key ONT controls, assessing design and operating effectiveness of controls related to areas such as cybersecurity, IT operations, data governance, change management, outsourcing, and access management.
• Assess adherence to internal policies, standards, and regulatory requirements (e.g., MAS TRM, MAS Cyber Hygiene Notices, Outsourcing Guidelines, CCoP).
• Document validation findings and providing clear, actional recommendations.
• Develop and implement continuous validation use cases to provide more timely control gap identification and reduce reliance on manual testing.

Regulatory Compliance

• Support the interpretation and implementation of regulatory expectations (e.g., MAS TRM, MAS Cyber Hygiene Notices, Outsourcing Guidelines, CCoP).

Risk Governance, Reporting, and Stakeholder Engagement

• Prepare validation reports for ONT management and risk committees with clear risk articulation, prioritised recommendations, and target implementation dates.
• Engage constructively with stakeholders across Line 1, 2, and 3, promoting a strong risk and control culture.

Job Requirements

• Bachelor’s Degree with 5 to 7 years of relevant experience within financial institutes in the areas of Technology and Operations Risk Management/ Audit/ Governance, and Data Analytics.

• Relevant professional certifications such as CISA, CISM, CISSP, CRISC or equivalent.
• Strong understanding of IT processes such as SDLC, change management, cloud, infrastructure operations, and cybersecurity.
• Familiarity with Singapore regulatory expectations (e.g., MAS TRM, MAS Cyber Hygiene Notices, Outsourcing Guidelines, CCoP).

Preferred Skills:

• Good communication and writing skills, especially in summarising risks and controls clearly for senior stakeholders.
• Ability to independently conduct reviews, perform control design assessment, process walkthroughs, evidence, and identify root causes.
• Ability to provide constructive challenges while maintaining a strong relationship with stakeholders and control owners.
• Independent, detail-oriented, and capable of managing multiple priorities.
• Experience in applying data analytics and automation using BI Tools (such as Power BI, Tableau, QlikView), and Programming/ Scripting Languages (such as SQL, Python, Alteryx) to enhance control testing will be an advantage.
• Experience in banking or exchange-related Operations will be an advantage