IT Risk and Controls Director

Career Guide

An IT Risk and Controls Director leads programs that reduce technology risk across systems, data, vendors, and operations. The role sets control standards, ensures compliance with laws and internal policies, oversees audits, and partners with technology and business leaders to prevent incidents and strengthen resilience.

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Key Responsibilities

Define the technology risk strategy and annual control plan
Lead risk assessments across applications, infrastructure, and cloud services
Design and oversee key controls for access, change management, and data protection
Establish control testing and evidence collection processes
Oversee internal audits and external audits related to technology controls
Manage remediation plans for control weaknesses and track progress to closure
Report risk and control status to executive leadership and board committees
Set policies and standards for identity, access, and privileged access
Partner with cybersecurity teams on incident response readiness and lessons learned
Oversee third party risk reviews for technology vendors and service providers
Build and lead teams of risk managers, control owners, and testers
Coordinate with legal, compliance, and privacy teams on regulatory expectations

Top Skills for Success

Stakeholder Management

Executive Communication

Program Leadership

Negotiation

Technology Risk Assessment

Control Design

Control Testing

Audit Management

Policy Development

Regulatory Compliance

Third Party Risk Management

Identity and Access Management

Cloud Governance

Risk Reporting

Data Protection

Career Progression

Can Lead To

IT Risk and Controls Senior Manager

Technology Risk Manager

IT Audit Manager

Cybersecurity Risk Manager

Governance Risk and Compliance Manager

Transition Opportunities

Head of Technology Risk

Director of Governance Risk and Compliance

Chief Information Security Officer

Chief Risk Officer

VP of Internal Audit

Director of Enterprise Risk Management

Common Skill Gaps

Often Missing Skills

Cloud Control DesignThird Party Risk ManagementControl AutomationRisk QuantificationMetrics DesignBoard ReportingIncident Response GovernanceData Privacy Compliance

Development SuggestionsRun a gap assessment against your current control environment, then prioritize learning in cloud governance, vendor risk, and automated evidence collection. Build a repeatable reporting pack with clear metrics and actions, and practice presenting risk decisions to senior leadership.

Salary & Demand

Median Salary Range

Entry LevelTypically not an entry level role

Mid LevelUSD 160,000 to 220,000

Senior LevelUSD 220,000 to 320,000

Growth Trend

Strong demand, driven by cloud adoption, rising regulatory scrutiny, and increased focus on resilience and third party risk.

Companies Hiring

Major Employers

JPMorgan ChaseBank of AmericaWells FargoCitigroupGoldman SachsMorgan StanleyCapital OneAmerican ExpressDeloittePwCEYKPMGAccentureIBMAmazonMicrosoftGoogleUnitedHealth GroupCVS HealthAetnaCigna

Industry Sectors

BankingFinancial ServicesInsuranceHealthcareTechnologyRetailManufacturingTelecommunicationsEnergyGovernment

Recommended Next Steps

Create a portfolio of risk and control outcomes, including audit results, remediation closures, and control improvements

Strengthen expertise in cloud governance and identity and access management controls

Implement a consistent control testing calendar and evidence standards across teams

Develop a risk reporting dashboard with clear metrics and ownership

Lead a third party risk review program for key technology vendors

Partner with engineering leaders to automate controls where practical

Prepare for executive interviews by practicing concise board level updates and decision focused narratives