Director of Product Compliance
WFA Digital Insight
The demand for skilled compliance professionals in the fintech sector has surged, with a 25% increase in job openings in the last year alone. As companies like Upstart continue to innovate and expand their services, the need for experts who can navigate complex regulatory landscapes has become paramount. Upstart, with its AI lending marketplace, is at the forefront of this innovation, making the Director of Product Compliance role a critical component of its long-term growth. With the fintech industry expected to continue its rapid evolution, candidates with a strong compliance background and the ability to think strategically are in high demand. Before applying, candidates should be aware of the dynamic nature of regulatory compliance in fintech and the importance of staying abreast of changes in the field.
Job Description
About the Role
The Director of Product Compliance at Upstart will play a pivotal role in ensuring that the company's products meet or exceed regulatory standards. This involves acting as a strategic partner to various teams, including Product, Engineering, and executive leadership, to shape compliance strategy, policy development, and risk management across the product lifecycle. The successful candidate will have a deep understanding of consumer lending regulations and a proven track record of designing and implementing scalable compliance solutions.The role is part of Upstart's Compliance organization, which is mission-critical in enabling responsible innovation, protecting consumers, and supporting the company's long-term growth. The Product Compliance team specifically focuses on ensuring new and existing products, including governance of innovative unsecured lending products, comply with regulatory requirements.
Given Upstart's digital-first approach and its presence in the fintech industry, the Director of Product Compliance must be adept at influencing product architecture and building trusted relationships across the organization. The role requires a unique blend of compliance expertise, strategic thinking, and collaboration skills.
What You Will Do
- Own and enhance the product compliance framework, including policies, procedures, and control design.
- Lead regulatory readiness by conducting risk assessments, gap analyses, and designing scalable controls.
- Develop key risk indicators (KRIs), metrics, and dashboards to provide compliance health insights to executive leadership and the Board.
- Act as a senior advisor to Product, Engineering, Ops, Legal, and Machine Learning teams.
- Influence organizational decisions through clear communication of compliance risks and recommendations.
- Represent Compliance in governance forums, product councils, and cross-functional initiatives.
- Oversee root-cause analyses and remediation plans for compliance issues.
- Partner with Legal, Internal Audit, and external regulatory exam teams to support audits and examinations.
- Lead the development and delivery of scalable, role-based compliance training.
- Champion a compliance-first mindset across the company.
- Drive early engagement and proactive risk identification.
What We Are Looking For
- Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field.
- 8+ years of experience in consumer lending, fintech, or regulatory compliance.
- Deep understanding of consumer lending regulations.
- Proven track record of designing and implementing compliance solutions.
- Strong strategic thinking and collaboration skills.
- Experience in risk management and compliance framework development.
- Ability to communicate complex compliance issues effectively to stakeholders.
- Strong leadership and team management skills.
- Experience with Excel and other compliance tools.
Nice to Have
- Advanced degree in Law, Business, or a related field.
- Certification in compliance or a related field.
- Experience with AI lending marketplaces or similar fintech products.
- Knowledge of governance, risk, and compliance (GRC) frameworks.
Benefits and Perks
- Competitive salary.
- Equity in a rapidly growing fintech company.
- Comprehensive health insurance.
- Generous PTO policy.
- Remote work stipend.
- Opportunities for professional growth and development.
- Access to cutting-edge technology and tools.
- Collaborative and dynamic work environment.
How to Stand Out
- Ensure your resume highlights compliance experience, especially in consumer lending or fintech.
- Develop a strong understanding of current regulatory trends and challenges in the fintech sector.
- Prepare examples of how you have designed and implemented compliance solutions in previous roles.
- Practice communicating complex compliance issues in a clear and concise manner.
- Research Upstart's products and services to understand the company's compliance needs and challenges.
- Be prepared to discuss your strategic thinking and collaboration skills, as these are key to success in this role.
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