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Principal Risk Associate, Operational Risk Management Control Testing

Location: Richmond, Virginia; McLean, Virginia
Job ID R236500 Updated date 02/26/2026
Principal Risk Associate, Operational Risk Management Control Testing

Capital One is seeking an energetic, self-motivated Principal Risk Associate to join the Operational Risk Control Testing team within the Operational Risk Management (ORM) second line of defense. The ORM Testing team is a dedicated group of professionals focused on developing and executing second line of defense oversight responsibilities for Capital One.

Risk Associates perform professional testing and challenge of operational controls identified through various risk assessment processes that identify material risks and controls of operational risk, including processes, systems and products. ORM Testing provides direct feedback to the first line of defense and informs the effective challenge regarding overall control effectiveness. 

This position will be expected to conduct control testing across a spectrum of business and technology processes, document testing results, prepare work papers to evidence testing methods, and draft final reports for customers to summarize testing results. This associate will be responsible for building and maintaining relationships with our business partners while adhering to the highest ethical standards required for independent testing. Success in this position will rely heavily on working with other team members, being able to identify and execute strategies to build and improve processes, being able to analyze data from a variety of sources and to independently identify risk through undefined processes or ways that are not predetermined.

Responsibilities:

  • Perform testing on identified operational risk controls to provide assurance that risk-taking groups are appropriately representing their control environments through the effective challenge of operational controls

  • Ensure issues are properly reported to business areas and remediated appropriately to reduce outstanding risk or performance breakdowns

  • Perform and support detailed data analysis to include trending, problem identification, and development/completion of remediation projects

  • Identify emerging risks, process improvements, or areas for increased training through the analysis of testing results

  • Manage work across organizational lines to achieve results and manage competing priorities

  • Support procedure reviews and document updates

  • Exhibit excellent verbal and written communication skills; develop communications (written and presented) to support findings

  • Assist with compiling metrics

  • Provide effective challenge to the business where appropriate  

  • Demonstrate problem-solving and analysis skills with attention to detail

Basic Qualifications:

  • High school diploma, GED, or equivalent certification

  • At least 3 years of audit or risk management experience

  • At least 1 year of testing or quality assurance experience

Preferred Qualifications:

  • Bachelor’s Degree in Auditing, Finance, Economics, Planning, Information Systems or Business Administration

  • 4+ years of audit or risk management experience

  • 1+ years of project or process management experience

  • Risk Management Certification

  • Familiarity with Federal Financial Institutions Examination Council (FFIEC) and The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) regulatory requirements as it relates to technology and operational resiliency

  • Experience in Microsoft Office or Google Suite

At this time, Capital One will not sponsor a new applicant for employment authorization for this position.

The minimum and maximum full-time annual salaries for this role are listed below, by location. Please note that this salary information is solely for candidates hired to perform work within one of these locations, and refers to the amount Capital One is willing to pay at the time of this posting. Salaries for part-time roles will be prorated based upon the agreed upon number of hours to be regularly worked.

McLean, VA: $120,800 - $137,900 for Principal Risk Specialist


 

Richmond, VA: $109,900 - $125,400 for Principal Risk Specialist


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 

Candidates hired to work in other locations will be subject to the pay range associated with that location, and the actual annualized salary amount offered to any candidate at the time of hire will be reflected solely in the candidate’s offer letter.

This role is also eligible to earn performance based incentive compensation, which may include cash bonus(es) and/or long term incentives (LTI). Incentives could be discretionary or non discretionary depending on the plan.

Capital One offers a comprehensive, competitive, and inclusive set of health, financial and other benefits that support your total well-being. Learn more at the Capital One Careers website. Eligibility varies based on full or part-time status, exempt or non-exempt status, and management level.

This role is expected to accept applications for a minimum of 5 business days.

No agencies please. Capital One is an equal opportunity employer (EOE, including disability/vet) committed to non-discrimination in compliance with applicable federal, state, and local laws. Capital One promotes a drug-free workplace. Capital One will consider for employment qualified applicants with a criminal history in a manner consistent with the requirements of applicable laws regarding criminal background inquiries, including, to the extent applicable, Article 23-A of the New York Correction Law; San Francisco, California Police Code Article 49, Sections 4901-4920; New York City’s Fair Chance Act; Philadelphia’s Fair Criminal Records Screening Act; and other applicable federal, state, and local laws and regulations regarding criminal background inquiries.

If you have visited our website in search of information on employment opportunities or to apply for a position, and you require an accommodation, please contact Capital One Recruiting at 1-800-304-9102 or via email at RecruitingAccommodation@capitalone.com. All information you provide will be kept confidential and will be used only to the extent required to provide needed reasonable accommodations.

For technical support or questions about Capital One's recruiting process, please send an email to Careers@capitalone.com

Capital One does not provide, endorse nor guarantee and is not liable for third-party products, services, educational tools or other information available through this site.

Capital One Financial is made up of several different entities. Please note that any position posted in Canada is for Capital One Canada, any position posted in the United Kingdom is for Capital One Europe and any position posted in the Philippines is for Capital One Philippines Service Corp. (COPSSC).

Who We Are

At Capital One, we’re building a leading information-based technology company. Still founder-led by Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Richard Fairbank, Capital One is on a mission to help our customers succeed by bringing ingenuity, simplicity, and humanity to banking. We measure our efforts by the success our customers enjoy and the advocacy they exhibit. We are succeeding because they are succeeding.

Guided by our shared values, we thrive in an environment where collaboration and openness are valued. We believe that innovation is powered by perspective and that teamwork and respect for each other lead to superior results. We elevate each other and obsess about doing the right thing. Our associates serve with humility and a deep respect for their responsibility in helping our customers achieve their goals and realize their dreams. Together, we are on a quest to change banking for good.