GRC Lead – Controls Modernization & Technology Risk

About the Position

GRC Lead – Controls Modernization & Technology Risk

We are seeking an experienced GRC Lead to drive the assessment, rationalization, and modernization of technology operational controls within a large-scale financial services environment. This role will be responsible for leading control assessments, facilitating stakeholder workshops, validating control effectiveness, and developing recommendations to optimize the control landscape. The ideal candidate will possess deep expertise in technology risk, IT audit, control design, operational risk, and control rationalization, with the ability to translate assessment findings into actionable modernization and automation strategies. This position requires strong stakeholder engagement, analytical rigor, and hands-on experience within regulated banking environments.

Please note, this role is not able to offer visa transfer or sponsorship now or in the future

Responsibilities

• Lead the assessment and rationalization of technology operational controls, validating control design, effectiveness, ownership, risk alignment, and evidence requirements.
• Review control inventories and conduct detailed evaluations to identify control gaps, overlap, duplication, obsolete controls, and optimization opportunities.
• Facilitate workshops and working sessions with control owners, technology teams, risk functions, compliance stakeholders, and governance groups.
• Develop and document recommendations to retain, consolidate, enhance, or retire controls based on risk coverage, efficiency, and business value.
• Update and refine control definitions, ownership models, scope statements, execution frequencies, and evidence expectations.
• Ensure control recommendations align with industry frameworks and regulatory expectations, including FFIEC, COBIT, and enterprise risk management standards.
• Identify opportunities for automation across control execution, evidence collection, testing, monitoring, and compliance activities.
• Develop assessment findings, control rationalization matrices, refreshed control sets, automation recommendations, and roadmap inputs.
• Support stakeholder validation activities and ensure recommendations are traceable, evidence-based, and aligned with business objectives.
• Perform quality reviews of control documentation, assessment outputs, and consultant deliverables to ensure consistency and accuracy.
• Contribute to executive summaries, governance presentations, and findings reports used to support future-state control transformation initiatives.
• Partner with delivery leadership and stakeholders to drive risk reduction, audit readiness, and control modernization outcomes.

Requirements

• 10+ years of experience in Technology Risk, IT Audit, Governance Risk & Compliance (GRC), Internal Controls, Operational Risk, or Controls Transformation.
• Strong hands-on experience assessing and improving technology operational controls within banking or financial services organizations.
• Proven experience conducting control assessments, evidence reviews, risk-to-control mapping, and control effectiveness evaluations.
• Experience rationalizing control inventories and documenting control disposition decisions with supporting rationale and stakeholder validation.
• Strong understanding of control design principles, audit readiness requirements, control ownership, governance models, and risk management frameworks.
• Knowledge of industry standards and frameworks including FFIEC, COBIT, NIST, ITGC, and operational risk management practices.
• Experience facilitating workshops, conducting stakeholder interviews, and translating discussions into structured risk and control findings.
• Familiarity with automation opportunity assessments and control modernization initiatives.
• Strong analytical, documentation, presentation, and stakeholder management skills.
• Experience working with GRC platforms such as ServiceNow GRC, Archer, MetricStream, OpenPages, or similar tools is preferred.
• Professional certifications such as CISA, CRISC, CIA, CGEIT, CISSP, or ISO 27001 Lead Auditor are highly desirable.

We Offer

• Salary: The annual salary for this position is between $136,500 - $160,000 depending on experience and other qualifications of the successful candidate.
• Benefits:
  • Medical/Dental/Vision/Life Insurance
  • Paid holidays plus Paid Time Off
  • 401(k) plan and contributions
  • Long-term/Short-term Disability
  • Paid Parental Leave
  • Employee Stock Purchase Plan

About the Company

Cognizant (Nasdaq: CTSH) is an AI Builder and technology services provider, bridging the gap between AI investment and enterprise value by building full-stack AI solutions for our clients. Our deep industry, process and engineering expertise enables us to build an organization’s unique context into technology systems that amplify human potential, drive tangible outcomes and keep global enterprises ahead in a fast-changing world. See how at cognizant.ai or follow us on Twitter.

Applications will be accepted until 21 Aug 2026.

Additional employment information

Compensation information is accurate as of the date of this posting. Cognizant reserves the right to modify this information at any time, subject to applicable law.

Applicants may be required to attend interviews in person or by video conference. In addition, candidates may be required to present their current state or government issued ID during each interview.

Cognizant is an equal opportunity employer. Your application and candidacy will not be considered based on race, color, sex, religion, creed, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, genetic information, pregnancy, veteran status or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.

If you have a disability that requires reasonable accommodation to search for a job opening or submit an application, please email [email protected] with your request and contact information.

Benefits that help you thrive and grow

Our benefits program is built with you in mind-so you can enjoy a fulfilling, balanced and healthy life.

Financial wellbeing

We regularly review market data to ensure compensation reflects the value you bring. Your benefits extend beyond pay and may include retirement plans, financial education, etc.

Physical and mental health

We empower you to prioritize your wellbeing through paid time off, flexible working where possible, healthcare plans, counselling, our Mental Health Allyship program and more.

Your career, your way

With 350,000+ roles at Cognizant, you’ll have opportunities explore new technologies, industries and locations-and build the skills you need to grow your career.

Real-world impact

Think about the biggest brands you rely on. Chances are, they rely on us to help strengthen their business. Here, you’ll turn bold ideas into solutions that improve lives everywhere.

Your path to Cognizant

Here’s what you can expect from our hiring process. Please keep in mind that it may vary by role and location. Explore our FAQs to learn more.

Step 1: Apply to the right opportunity

Find an open role that matches your skills and career goals and show us why you’re the person for the job. Don’t see the right opportunity? Consider joining our Talent Community.

Step 2: Connect with your recruiter

If one of our recruiters sees a fit, they’ll set up a short intro call to learn more about you and how your experiences and skills match the role.

Step 3: Show off your skills

If you and our team would like to continue the process, you’ll interview with our hiring team. Some roles may also require technical assessments and/or client interviews.

Step 4: Decision time

Our team will then review each candidates’ potential to succeed in the role. This step may take some time because we want to find the right fit for both you and us-but you can count on us to keep you updated.