Model Validation Expert

Why should you join our team?

American AgCredit offers a unique opportunity to be a part of a national financial system supporting those who feed, clothe and fuel the world. We are a growing organization embracing collaboration and innovation while delivering transformative solutions. American AgCredit provides a cultivating environment where you truly make a difference for our customers and teams.

Benefits offered by American AgCredit:

• Commitment to agriculture and the communities we serve
• Family friendly work environment
• Investment in employee development
• Medical, Dental and Vision coverage
• Outstanding 401k – automatic 3% employer contribution, plus match up to 6%
• Generous Paid Time Off (Vacation accrued at 26 days annually, Sick Days accrued at 15 days annually, 12 paid holidays, plus 16 hours of volunteer time)
• Competitive Incentive Compensation Plan
• Disability & Life Insurance
• Employee mental, physical, and financial wellness programs
• The position is bonus eligible based on association and personal performance

Position will be posted until filled.

Basic Function:

The Model Validation Expert is a highly experienced and detail-oriented consummate professional. This senior quantitative expert will perform or manage the validations and other effective challenge activities of financial and non-financial models spanning the entire organization. They will be a key resource who will promote the management of model risk and alignment to regulatory expectations throughout the model lifecycle. They will serve as a trusted advisor to the Director of Model Risk Management and will engage with partners and executives across the Association including model developers, external model validators, model owners, senior business leaders and executives, and will also represent the organization while engaging directly with external auditors and regulators.

Essential Duties:

• Perform independent model validations of financial and non-financial models of key importance to the Association.

• Manage validation projects executed by external consulting firms and contractors.

• Develop challenger models that incorporate alternative data, theories, and approaches.

• Update the Model Inventory as model information changes according to the model lifecycle

• Review model documentation created by model owners to ensure it meets regulatory and internal standards.

• Review issues submitted for closure and work with model owners to ensure issues are appropriately remediated.

• Drive improvements to the model risk management program by making recommendations for improvement in documentation templates and governance procedures.

• Influence and participate in complex long-term projects that directly impact the Association’s reputation.

Levels of Supervision Exercised and Received:

Operates with no supervision in a complex environment under only consultative direction toward predetermined long-range targets. Will perform model validations as well as oversee model validation activities performed by external co-sourced validation teams and may exercise limited supervision of internal resources. Reports to the Director of Model Risk Management.

Typical Education and Experience:

• Advanced degree in quantitative discipline.

• A minimum of 10 years of experience within a complex and highly regulated financial institution spanning both of the following areas: quantitative model development and quantitative model validation.

• Expertise with managing model validation projects, including creating the validation scope, maintaining productive relationships with model owners and contacts, identifying clear root causes of model deficiencies and creating findings with concrete action plans, and delivering validation reports that satisfy regulatory expectations.

• At least 5 years of experience with validating assumptions, qualitative inputs, and financial forecasting models as used in regulatory stress testing and CECL.

• Strong data analysis and programming expertise using R or python, especially for the replication of champion models, performance of sensitivity analysis, and development of challenger models.

• Experience with Generative AI validation is a significant plus.

• PhD degree and/or FRM or CFA designation preferred.

• Thorough understanding of regulatory requirements and supervisory expectations [SR 11-7, OCC 2011-12, FCA EM 31.1-2] along with a comprehensive understanding of the model lifecycle.

• Profound quantitative expertise with the ability to discern the main drivers of risk within highly complex data and modeling flows and their impact on the organization, especially as it relates to CECL.

• Excellent analytical, organizational and project management skills with high attention to detail and the ability to manage multiple tasks under tight deadlines.

Essential Requirements:

Must have the ability to perform basic office tasks and work in a typical office setting. Employee will be sitting for extended periods of time and accomplishing work at a desk and work at a computer for an extended period. Must have strong written and verbal communication skills to adequately convey ideas and work well with a team. Some lifting and moving of items up to 25 pounds required. Work during established business hours and may require occasional weekend and/or evening work. Position requires the ability to travel, on a limited basis.

PAY RANGE:

This range is reflective of the national salary average for this position and will be adjusted using geographic variance for physical location of the hired candidate. American AgCredit may compensate outside of the salary range for bona fide reasons not related to membership in a protected class.

• Reflected is the national base pay range and title offered for this job at the current level.

• Compensation, title, and job level may be adjusted based on candidate qualifications including but not limited to achievements, skills, experience, or work location.

• Salary offered, within the applicable range, is one component of the total rewards package offered to candidates.

All hiring is contingent on eligibility to work in the United States. We are unable to sponsor or transfer visas for applicants.

American AgCredit provides equal opportunity in employment to all employees and applicants. We celebrate diversity and do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, creed, religion, national origin, ancestry, alienage or citizenship status, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, marital status, genetic information, medical condition, physical or mental disability, pregnancy, childbirth or related medical condition, military service or veteran status, victims of domestic violence, or any other characteristics protected by applicable federal, state, or local laws. American AgCredit prohibits harassment of any individuals on any of the bases listed above.

If you need assistance or an accommodation due to a disability, you may contact us at jobs@agloan.com.