Senior Manager - Commercial Banking Controls & Governance

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As the Senior Manager - Commercial Controls & Governance, you will be a driving force in shaping the Commercial Bank’s Operational Risk Management Framework to support continued growth across all commercial lending segments. This role is ideal for someone who understands how commercial deals flow-from origination to funding to ongoing portfolio management-and can translate that real-world experience into smarter controls, improved processes, and a stronger governance environment.

You’ll work closely with leaders across every segment of the Commercial Bank, partnering with them to strengthen processes, streamline operations, and build a unified, modern risk and control framework. If you love connecting the dots, influencing strategic decisions, improving how things work, and designing solutions that scale, this role places you at the center of meaningful, enterprise-wide impact.

You will dive deep into business activities to analyze how lending and operational processes truly function, uncover gaps or risks, and find opportunities to enhance controls while supporting a fast‑growing commercial portfolio. Your work will be highly visible, influencing senior leaders across the bank and contributing to large-scale transformation initiatives.

This is a unique opportunity for someone who blends strategy, problem‑solving, collaboration, and commercial banking knowledge-and wants to help shape the future of our Commercial Bank in an environment where your ideas matter and your expertise is valued.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Governance & Partnership

• Build and enhance governance and control solutions that align with business strategy and help teams operate smarter and more effectively.
• Serve as a trusted advisor to leaders across Commercial Banking, coaching them on implementing scalable and high‑value control frameworks.
• Influence leadership-level decisions by providing thoughtful insights backed by deep business understanding, commercial lending experience, and strong analytical thinking.

Operational Risk & Process Excellence

• Translate complex commercial workflows-including underwriting, deal structuring, documentation, and loan operations-into clear, actionable insights.
• Perform detailed analysis of business processes to identify risks, inefficiencies, and opportunities for process improvement.
• Break down end‑to‑end lending processes to detect control weaknesses, operational dependencies, and enhancement opportunities.
• Use creativity and critical thinking to solve unique, complex, and sometimes ambiguous challenges across the Commercial Bank.

Framework Leadership & Oversight

• Lead the development, enhancement, and maintenance of the internal controls governance system and framework.
• Monitor, measure, and report on the effectiveness of the internal controls governance program to senior leaders and external stakeholders.
• Document governance structures, compliance requirements, control activities, and roles/responsibilities in a clear, standardized format.

Risk Insights, Compliance & Regulatory Alignment

• Interpret new regulatory requirements affecting commercial lending and evaluate their impact on governance frameworks and operational practices.
• Identify emerging risks and industry trends that impact the Commercial Bank and provide recommendations on proactive mitigation.
• Support audits, regulatory reviews, and enterprise-wide governance initiatives requiring strong commercial banking and operational expertise.

Collaboration, Influence & Enterprise Impact

• Build strong relationships with stakeholders across risk, compliance, operations, underwriting, relationship management, and senior leadership.
• Ensure alignment and transparency across teams by developing tools, checklists, metrics, and communications that support stronger control practices.
• Participate in or lead strategic enterprise initiatives that require deep understanding of commercial banking operations and risk frameworks.

Qualifications

• 7+ years of experience within Commercial Banking, specifically in roles such as underwriting, relationship management, portfolio management, or loan operations.
• In-depth understanding of commercial lending workflows, operational processes, and supporting systems.
• Strong knowledge of risk management frameworks, governance best practices, and commercial banking regulatory requirements.
• Excellent analytical, problem-solving, verbal, and written communication skills.
• Expertise in influencing senior stakeholders, leading complex initiatives, and managing ambiguity.
• Strong collaboration and cross-functional relationship-building skills.

The above represents BMO Financial Group’s pay range and type.

Salaries will vary based on factors such as location, skills, experience, education, and qualifications for the role, and may include a commission structure. Salaries for part-time roles will be pro-rated based on number of hours regularly worked. For commission roles, the salary listed above represents BMO Financial Group’s expected target for the first year in this position.

BMO Financial Group’s total compensation package will vary based on the pay type of the position and may include performance-based incentives, discretionary bonuses, as well as other perks and rewards. BMO also offers health insurance, tuition reimbursement, accident and life insurance, and retirement savings plans. To view more details of our benefits, please visit: https://jobs.bmo.com/global/en/Total-Rewards

About Us

At BMO we are driven by a shared Purpose: Boldly Grow the Good in business and life. It calls on us to create lasting, positive change for our customers, our communities and our people. By working together, innovating and pushing boundaries, we transform lives and businesses, and power economic growth around the world.

As a member of the BMO team you are valued, respected and heard, and you have more ways to grow and make an impact. We strive to help you make an impact from day one - for yourself and our customers. We’ll support you with the tools and resources you need to reach new milestones, as you help our customers reach theirs. From in-depth training and coaching, to manager support and network-building opportunities, we’ll help you gain valuable experience, and broaden your skillset.

To find out more visit us at https://jobs.bmo.com/ca/en.

BMO is committed to an inclusive, equitable and accessible workplace. By learning from each other’s differences, we gain strength through our people and our perspectives. Accommodations are available on request for candidates taking part in all aspects of the selection process. To request accommodation, please contact your recruiter.

Note to Recruiters: BMO does not accept unsolicited resumes from any source other than directly from a candidate. Any unsolicited resumes sent to BMO, directly or indirectly, will be considered BMO property. BMO will not pay a fee for any placement resulting from the receipt of an unsolicited resume. A recruiting agency must first have a valid, written and fully executed agency agreement contract for service to submit resumes.