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Summary

The VP, GM Business Control – Commodities provides first-line business control coverage for Commodities across Global Markets, spanning physical and derivative activity in metals, energy, agricultural, and environmental products. The role is focused on operational and process execution risk across the commodity lifecycle, including process and control documentation, risk assessment, control monitoring, issues and events, KRIs, business continuity, and management reporting. A key priority is leading commodities operational risk programs, including MORA and successor frameworks, covering storage, transportation, inventory, providers, and related execution risks. The VP partners with Commodities Sales and Trading, Origination, Operations, Technology, first-line Centers of Excellence, Regulatory Business Control, Compliance, Legal, and second-line risk to ensure material operational risks are identified, controlled, escalated, and reported with clear, decision-ready insight.

Job Description

The VP, GM Business Control – Commodities sits within the Global Markets (GM) Business Control team, part of Governance and Controls within the Capital Markets Office of the Chief Operating Officer (OCOO). Reporting to the Director, GM Business Control, the role provides first-line operational and process risk coverage for the Commodities business, with particular depth in the execution risks arising from physical commodity activity.

The VP is a key first-line control contact for Commodities, working directly with business heads and desk leadership on process execution risks, operational incidents, control gaps, and changes to products, clients, providers, locations, or operating models. The role works closely with Operations, Technology, Corporate Risk Insurance, Third Party Risk, Physical Security, and second-line Operational Non-Financial Risk. Regulatory Business Control, Compliance, and Legal remain distinct partners for matters requiring regulatory interpretation or dedicated regulatory control coverage. Governance and Controls operates at pace with high expectations from senior business and risk stakeholders; Commodities adds a complex physical footprint, material operational exposures, and active governance oversight.

Key Roles & Responsibilities

1. Commodities operational and process risk execution – provide first-line business control coverage focused on the processes, controls, and execution risks supporting Commodities activity.

• Process Risk & Control (PRC) Library: Own the Commodities PRC inventory, including process documentation, risk and control mapping, control ownership, and periodic and trigger updates.

• Risk Assessment: Execute the annual PSPRA for Commodities, including new product and new activity assessments.

• KRIs and metrics: Develop and report Commodities KRIs and control KPIs, including limit, inventory, and event-driven measures, with trend analysis to inform risk appetite and business decisions.

• Control reviews and testing: Own controls management; identify vulnerabilities and efficiency opportunities; support control testing, evidence quality, and remediation tracking.

• Events and issues: Lead investigation and root cause analysis with the business, agree remediation actions and owners, and ensure timely recording, reporting, and escalation.

• Change and remediation: Provide operational and process risk input for business change, technology initiatives, audits, and remediation activity, ensuring practical controls are designed into changes from inception.

• Business continuity and resilience: Maintain Commodities Business Impact Assessments and Business Continuity Plans; coordinate testing and evidence to support resilience obligations.

2. Commodities operational risk programs – lead the assessment frameworks governing BMO-owned inventory, storage, and transportation, including MORA and equivalents for other commodity classes.

• Execute new provider and location assessments, including scoring, escalation, and approval routing; conduct periodic and trigger-based reviews of approved providers, facilities, and clients.

• Perform daily inventory, insurance certificate, and limit monitoring across providers, locations, clients, and jurisdictions, including limit increases, excesses, breaches, and country risk exposure; approve limits in IMS where delegated.

• Coordinate and execute the site visit and due diligence program, including findings and follow-up.

• Own assessment questionnaires, procedures, monitoring tools, and governance documentation, including periodic refresh, second-line challenge, and approval.

• Build out a consolidated commodities-level operational risk program extending beyond metals to energy, agricultural, and other physical sectors, including country risk tiering, scoring, and monitoring.

• Advise on new products, clients, storage and transportation arrangements, jurisdictions, and business initiatives, identifying operational, process, insurance, third-party, and related execution risks across the commodity lifecycle and engaging specialist partners where required.

• Coordinate engagement with specialist partners across ONFR, Corporate Risk Insurance, Physical Security, AML, Third Party Risk, Country and Credit Risk, Regulatory Business Control, Compliance, Legal, and Tax to support timely assessment and escalation without duplicating their accountabilities.

3. Governance, Reporting & Stakeholder Engagement – translate Commodities risk and control activity into decision-ready insight for business leadership and governance forums.

• Produce the monthly Commodities operational risk update covering inventory, providers, limits, assessment status, and workstream progress.

• Prepare first-line materials and speaking points for risk and control committees, including business spotlight and thematic reviews.

• Provide Commodities Sales, Trading, and Origination leadership with risk posture commentary, options, and clear recommendations.

• Partner with Operations, Technology, and first-line Centres of Excellence on system, data, and process enhancements that strengthen the control environment.

The ideal candidate will have the following attributes:

Skills:

• Excellent organizational skills with ability to create/execute a detailed plan for short- and long-term work.

• Build positive stakeholder relationships within Capital Markets and across Corporate Support Areas to garner support, advice and partnership that enables execution of the role.

• Communicate effectively in writing and verbally at all levels, including senior executives; able to present complex operational and process risks clearly and credibly to business, risk, audit, and specialist stakeholders.

• Proactive and self-directed, with the ability to quickly develop depth in new initiatives, changing business activity, emerging operational risks, and business priorities.

Personal Attributes:

• Confident, team player.

• Problem solver, decision maker, proposes solutions.

• Motivated, self-directed.

• Strong verbal, written and interpersonal communication.

• Calm under pressure, ability to execute while manage competing priorities.

• Humble, ability to laugh at self.

• Anticipate needs and requests.

Education/Experience:

• Undergraduate degree in Business Administration, Risk Management, Economics, Finance, or related discipline.

• Graduate degree and/or relevant professional designation is an asset.

• 5+ years of experience in commodities, Capital Markets, banking, or financial services, with demonstrated responsibility for operational risk, process execution, business controls, operations, physical commodity logistics, or related disciplines.

• Direct experience supporting physical commodities trading, commodity merchants, logistics or storage operators, commodity financing, or commodity risk management. Metals, energy, agricultural, or environmental markets strongly preferred.

• Strong understanding of Global Markets activities, with depth in Commodities sales, trading, financing, and origination and the associated operational risks, controls, and governance frameworks.

• Knowledge of physical commodities business models and end-to-end trade lifecycles, including the operational and process risks associated with logistics, storage, transportation, inventory, settlement, third-party providers, and related control points.

• Familiarity with the regulatory environment and market practices applicable to commodities is an asset, with the judgment to identify potential regulatory implications and engage Regulatory Business Control, Compliance, or Legal as appropriate.

• Ability to analyze complex commodity transactions and operating arrangements and translate process or execution risks into clear financial, operational, and business impacts.

• Proven ability to manage significant incidents, issues, and crisis situations in a fast-paced environment.

• Experience working across front-office businesses, Operations, Technology, first-line Centers of Excellence, second-line risk, audit, and specialist partners to resolve control gaps and deliver remediation.

• Advanced proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite, including Excel, PowerPoint, Word, Power BI, and Visio.

Salary:

The salary range for this role is $150,000 up to $180,000 USD (subject to the candidate meeting the specific skills, experience, education, and qualification requirements)

Salary:

Pay Type:

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: