Jeffrey E.

Experience

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  FFERM Technologies

  Founder & Chief Risk Strategist

  Nov 2025 - Present

  FFERM Technologies is an AI-powered Risk Intelligence Platform for financial institutions.

  • Spearheaded processing of 4,400+ enterprise risks, demonstrating technology scalability.
  • Enhanced existing GRC platforms with predictive risk analytics and anomaly detection.
  • Developed proprietary ARS and DRS scores for advanced risk forecasting.
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  Protego Trust

  Chief Control Officer/Managing Director, Head of First LOD Risk and Control, QA & QC

  Jul 2022 - Present

  • Functioned as the Chief Control Officer and the Executive of the First Line of Defense Controls, ensuring that the Front-Line Businesses implement business controls based on identified risks associated with business processes, essential products, and services, such as digital custody, trading, lending, and issuance
  • Recognized for top performance and promoted to lead a matrixed team of consultants in providing guidance to the Front-Line Business Unit, performing as the First Line of Defense (FLOD) concerning Risk and Control, Risk Reporting, Disaster Recovery/BCP, Operational Resiliency, Change Management, and Control Testing
  • Constructing a Risk and Controls Management program from the ground up, establishing a foundation to mitigate risk and the banking organization that aligned with all regulatory requirements and implementing into the enterprise
  • Provide ongoing strategic risk and control knowledge to promote consistent risk and control monitoring, ensuring that the bank operations are within its risk appetite and tolerances
  • Acted as Chair of the Change Advisory Board management committee and a key contributor as well as voting member of Information Security Management and Risk Management committees
  • Participated in 1-on-1 meetings with CEO to advise of controls in the enterprise
  • Develop and cultivate relationships with key stakeholders and communicate to articulate risk and the control environment, managing issues, actions, and events that provide credible challenges within the Continuous Monitoring Plans and Risk and Control Assessments
  • Partnered with the Second Line of Defense leadership (i.e., CRO, CISO, CCO, CLO-General Council) and worked together to implement risk identification, risk appetite setting, risk tolerances, risk limits, assurance, remediation, and reporting
  • Created strategic policies and procedures and implemented testing, including reporting around the testing, preparing the organization to receive the charter from the OCC
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  The City University of New York

  Adjunct Professor

  Jan 2004 - Present

  The City University of New York (CUNY) is a transformative engine of social mobility and a vital part of New York City's fabric, offering high-quality education at 25 colleges.

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  Protego Trust

  Managing Director, Head of Business Controls, QA & QC.

  Sep 2021 - Jul 2022

  • Performed as the Managing Director, working cross-functionally with Engineers, Product Managers, Data Scientists, Internal Auditors, Risk, and Security, focusing on the implementation of FIAT and Blockchain-based Digital Currency Custody Solutions
  • Collaborated externally with vendors, external auditors, and partners to maintain that IT compliance requests are managed effectively with a clear understanding of timelines and all requirements
  • Provide training and development while leading a team responsible for IT quality control, change management, audit, and governance, ensuring understanding of expectations supporting individual and organizational success
  • Responsible for addressing the audit findings and observations related to IT and Tech, identifying ownership, and coordinating actions to remediate through to completion
  • Partnered with Technical and Compliance leadership to develop and deliver appropriate reporting and clear status concerning organizational IT regulatory control projects
  • Leveraged expertise to develop strategic IT and Tech policies and procedures, ensuring alignment with the correct controls
  • Integral in ensuring projects that include new development and change initiatives achieve objectives on time and budget
  • Led the organization through various aspects of change, including business processes, systems, and technology, as well as job roles and organizational structures
  • Responsible for the management of IT Audit processes and activities for applications and infrastructure, including servers, databases, data centers, firewalls, and more
  • Gathered an extensive knowledge of COSO, COBIT, SOX, SOC 1, SOC 2 NIST, and Dodd-Frank regulation, facilitating training to ensure understanding throughout the organization
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  Wells Fargo

  Enterprise Testing Senior Manager

  Jun 2017 - Aug 2021

  • Promoted to perform as Enterprise Testing Senior Manager, leading a top-performing team of Risk professionals responsible for independent quality assurance concerning the design and operating effectiveness of business control testing in accordance with Enterprise Quality Standards
  • Directed a team responsible for the assessment of compliance concerning the traditional banking regulations supporting the Wells Fargo business environment
  • Developed testing controls and implemented them across the organization, establishing a foundation to mitigate risk while ensuring the ongoing alignment with all regulatory requirements
  • Established relationships throughout the organization, including Wealth and Investment Management, Asset Management, Wholesale Bank, Consumer and Retail Banking, Corporate Risk, Wells Fargo Audit Services, and regulators, communicating regulations to answer questions and ensure complete understanding and compliance concerning enterprise risk
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  Wells Fargo

  Operational Risk Manager - BPRM Testing & Validation Manager

  Jul 2014 - Jun 2017

  • Directed the Test and Validation function of the Business Process Risk Management (BPRM) enterprise risk management program, continuously monitoring organizational performance to ensure program success
  • Developed and implemented a risk testing framework, supporting the new, heightened regulatory requirements and expectations
  • Constructed and managed a solid risk program that supported and guided different lines of business, identifying specific high-risk business processes and mapping those processes out comprehensively and consistently to allow periodic testing to ensure adequate controls were in place
• 

  TIAA-CREF

  Entitlement Management Compliance Manager

  Mar 2012 - May 2014

  • Leveraged expertise in governance, risk management, and compliance with regulations including SOX (Sarbanes-Oxley), SSAE16/SSAE18 (SAS-70), FDICIA, and HIPAA to lead a team of 5 Senior Information Security Analysts in corporate identity and assessment management initiatives
  • Evaluated internal controls using UFC, COSO, and COBIT, providing artifacts for both internal and external audit reviews
  • Reduced costs 12% over 3-year period through vendor contract negotiations and improved quantity of entitlement reviews 20% within 1 year
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  Bank of America

  Vice President -- Senior Compliance Manager

  Mar 2011 - Mar 2012

  Bank of America is committed to making communities stronger and financial lives better through responsible growth and empowering those we serve.

  • Liaised with regulators for testing protocol compliance in consumer banking.
  • Managed successful resolution of MRAs and observations by multiple regulatory bodies.
  • Designed consistent testing procedures to ensure compliance across consumer transactions.
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  Bank of America

  Vice President -- Senior Change and Delivery Consultant

  Aug 2009 - Mar 2011

  • Directed large-scale Capital Markets and Consumer Banking projects ensuring high quality and timely deliverables.
  • Mentored and trained 20 candidates in Six Sigma; facilitated the certification of multiple Green and Black Belt candidates.
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  Wachovia

  Senior Technology Auditor

  Oct 2007 - Aug 2009

  • Conducted detailed evaluations of IT and automation processes to enhance efficiency and control.
  • Performed comprehensive reviews of control effectiveness and design.
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  Bank of America

  Vice President -- Senior Compliance and Operational Risk Manager

  May 2006 - Sep 2007

  • Managed compliance operations for 500+ projects with a focus on risk management and regulation alignment.
  • Utilized advanced statistical methods like VAR and Monte Carlo Simulation to drive compliance solutions.
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  Bank of America

  Vice President -- Audit Consultant

  Aug 2002 - May 2006

  • Led an audit team ensuring adherence to ISO17799 and BITS-Roundtable standards.
  • Developed audit programs for compliance with Basel II, enhancing the security of customer information.
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  Bank of America

  Vice President -- Network Design Engineer

  Aug 1999 - Sep 2002

  • Upgraded campus network infrastructure to support growing business demands.
  • Provided third-level support for enterprise and national development networks, significantly reducing downtime.
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  Bank of America

  Assistant Vice President --- Desktop/Server Engineer

  Dec 1996 - Aug 1999

  • Configured and supported network infrastructures and critical server systems.
  • Enhanced network protocol analysis through use of advanced tools like FLUKE meters and SNIFFERs.
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  First Union National Bank

  Group Manager

  Dec 1994 - Nov 1996

  First Union Corporation was a bank holding company that provided commercial and retail banking services in the eastern U.S.

  • Managed vendor negotiations to drive cost-effective software and hardware acquisitions.
  • Led merger activities impacting ATM systems, successfully preserving network integrity.
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  First Union National Bank

  Automation Support Consultant/Team Leader-TierII Team Leader

  Jun 1993 - Dec 1994
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  JPMorgan Chase

  Computer Analyst

  May 1992 - Dec 1992

  J.P. Morgan is a global leader in financial services, offering solutions to corporations, governments, and institutions worldwide.

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  University of South Carolina

  Computer Consultant

  Aug 1989 - May 1993

  University of South Carolina is a prominent public university offering diverse undergraduate and graduate programs.