Zoltan Szabo

I am a risk professional with over 20 years of experience in risk management activities at the business unit and enterprise levels. I am skilled in negotiation, problem-solving and visionary thinking, enabling implementation of new processes or enhancement of existing ones to achieve cost reductions. Leadership roles encompass enterprise risk management, operational risk, and contingency risk modeling. 

I am a member of several professional organizations and hold various certifications, including the Institute of Internal Auditors (CIA, CFSA, CRMA), the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners (CFE), the Professional Risk Managers’ International Association (Operational Risk Manager), and the Risk and Insurance Management Society. I have also been the Treasurer and Finance Chair of the Institute of Internal Auditors.

My background in financial services, an MBA and Economics degree, equips a strong ability to understand and develop risk governance with disciplined practices for balancing risk versus return in a sustainable manner. Core belief as a leader is empowering teams to act ethically. Fundamental principles of business philosophy are transparency and integrity, whether working inside or outside the organization. Proven expertise in executive leadership, strategy, enterprise risk management, risk governance, vendor management, regulatory compliance, board reporting, and regulatory relationships.

I have built a career in senior-level risk management and audit roles. Between 2021 and 2025, I served as the Senior Vice President (SVP) of Enterprise Risk Management at Origence (formerly CU Direct).

From 2018 to 2021, I was the Vice President (VP) of Enterprise Risk Management at VyStar Credit Union with an asset size of $14 billion, where I oversaw the organization's ERM program and reported on risk status to senior management and the Board.

From 2016 to 2018, I held the position of SVP and Senior Risk Officer at Planet Home Lending, LLC, managing risk processes and frameworks across the company’s mortgage originations, servicing, and correspondent lending operations.

Between 2013 and 2016, at EverBank, I worked as SVP and Risk Officer and VP and Senior Risk Management Manager for Commercial & Retail Bank. In these roles, I managed operational risk management activities, quality control programs, and audits for various banking operations.

Before specializing in Enterprise and Operational Risk, I gained experience in auditing and accounting. I worked as a senior auditor and as VP of Corporate Audit at Aurora Bank FSB from 2003 to 2012, overseeing risk assessment, planning, and execution of audits.

Earlier in my career, I was at CoBank, ACB as a Financial Instruments Accountant, and at Invesco Funds Group as an Accountant/Auditor in Portfolio Accounting.

Summary of my Education and Certifications is below:

• University of Colorado Denver, BA. Economics

• University of Colorado Denver, MBA (with a specialization in Finance)

• The Institute of Internal Auditors, CIA, CFSA, and CRMA

• Association of Certified Fraud Examiners, CFE

• Professional Risk Managers' International Association, Operational Risk Manager