Director, Operations & Controls

When you join Sallie Mae, you become a champion for all students. We're on a mission to power confidence as students begin their unique journey. To help them plan their higher education, successfully finish, and prepare for life after school. To help them Start smart. Learn big. Students need guidance navigating this important time in their life. They need someone who acknowledges that their education path is unique. They need a partner willing to evolve and not only meet but surpass their expectations. We're changing. Because students need a better way. We're looking for people who are excited to drive this transformation. To break barriers and think of new ways to adapt, help, and create better experiences for studentsand for each other. This is where diverse backgrounds, beliefs, and perspectives matter. It's where you're empowered to bring your authentic self to work. Feeling your best allows you to do your best. Our benefits take care of the whole youfrom physical and mental to financial and professional. You'll get opportunities to further your education and career, support for you and your family (including your pets!), paid time off to volunteer for the things that matter to you, and more. We're obsessed with impact and making a real difference. For us, that means putting relationships first, asking "why not?" when tackling challenges, and continuously learning new skills. Come do more than join something, change something. For students, for future generations, for the future of education.

The Director Operations & Controls will join the Capital Markets organization to strengthen execution discipline, audit readiness, and control oversight as Capital Markets activities scale in size and complexity. Reporting to a senior leader within Capital Markets, this role will build and lead a robust Operations & Controls capability focused on managing end-to-end audit and due diligence processes, maintaining comprehensive control documentation, and ensuring consistent execution standards. The role will serve as a key point of coordination between Capital Markets and internal and external stakeholders including Internal Audit, Compliance, Risk Management, Legal, Treasury, Accounting, rating agencies, external auditors, and investors. This position plays a critical role in enabling the Capital Markets team to operate efficiently, consistently, and with strong governance, while supporting the organization's funding, securitization, and investor engagement activities.

• Audit Management and Oversight
• Coordinate and support internal audit reviews of Capital Markets processes
• Drive remediation efforts for audit findings
• Oversee external audit engagements related to Capital Markets activities
• Serve as the primary point of contact for external auditors and examiners
• Due Diligence and External Reviews
• Lead ongoing due diligence processes with credit rating agencies and investors
• Manage due diligence information requests and facilitate reviews
• Trust Performance and Reporting
• Own the preparation and delivery of periodic trust performance updates for securitization trusts and funding facilities
• Coordinate data gathering across internal teams, analyze key performance metrics, and prepare reporting materials for stakeholders and investors
• Ensure reporting is accurate, consistent, and aligned with investor and regulatory expectations
• Controls, Documentation, and Standards
• Develop, maintain, and continuously enhance Capital Markets process documentation, control inventories, and execution standards
• Ensure critical processes have up-to-date control documentation aligned with internal policy, regulatory, and audit requirements
• Support audit readiness through strong documentation discipline and standardized operating practices
• Process Improvement and Execution Discipline
• Identify and implement opportunities to streamline operational processes and enhance control effectiveness
• Establish best practices that increase consistency, improve efficiency, and reduce risk as business activity scales
• Support continuous improvement initiatives across Capital Markets operations
• Cross Functional Partnership
• Partner cross-functionally with Corporate Finance, Legal, Compliance, Audit, Accounting, Treasury, Capital Markets, Product, Operations, and Technology to ensure funding and partnership requirements are reflected in business design, operating processes, reporting capabilities, and control readiness
• Facilitate effective two-way communication to address issues, inquiries, and control-related matters
• Foster a strong control culture in partnership with internal and external stakeholders

Minimum: Indicate minimum education, skills and experience required.

• Bachelor's degree in finance, accounting, business, or a related field
• 8+ years of relevant experience in financial services, preferably within banking, Capital Markets, internal audit, risk management, or related operations
• Strong knowledge of internal control frameworks, regulatory compliance requirements, and risk management practices in a Capital Markets or structured finance environment

Preferred: Indicate "nice to haves" regarding education, skills, and experience.

• MBA or other relevant advanced degree
• Professional certifications such as CPA, CFA, CIA, or similar
• Experience with structured finance or securitization structures, including ABS or trust administration
• Familiarity with rating agency requirements and investor due diligence processes
• Exposure to Capital Markets transactions, treasury, funding, or securitization execution
• Experience driving operational improvements or establishing control processes in a growing organization