Vice President, AI Risk & Operations

Company Overview We are the better way to work in finance. As private equity’s value creation partner, we sit at the heart of PE—where sponsors and CFOs meet. Through financial consulting rooted in data, technology, and AI, we help clients drive value—supporting the office of the CFO to drive end-to-end value creation. If you crave challenging work and are looking to grow, come solve complex issues alongside 1,400+ finance & technology experts in a supportive, collaborative environment, the Backed by premier private equity firms and headquartered in New York with 10 offices around the globe, we are a high-growth, entrepreneurial firm looking for people who want to be part of building something great. Come make your mark. About the role: We are seeking a Vice President, AI Risk and Operations who will play a critical role in maturing and scaling Accordion's enterprise-wide AI Governance risk and operations program. In this role, you will serve as an internal governance practitioner and cross-functional advisor, embedding AI governance policies, procedures, and controls across our operating model for internal AI solutions — with the expectation that this scope will evolve to include client-facing engagements over time. Drawing on your experience with AI policy, frameworks, and risk program design, you will translate complex governance requirements into actionable, scalable implementation systems. This position requires seamlessly bridging the gap between cutting-edge AI development and responsible governance, partnering with senior stakeholders across Practices, Technology, Legal, and Emerging Technology to enabling trusted use and development of AI. This position can be based in our New York City, San Francisco or Chicago offices and is a hybrid role with the flexibility to work remotely 2 days a week. Ideal candidates should be local to the desired location. This position is not eligible for immigration sponsorship. What You’ll Do Governance & Frameworks Enhance the enterprise AI Risk Management Framework, including AI use case and supply chain inventory management, use case risk classification taxonomies, and risk-tiering mechanisms aligned to internal standards and emerging regulatory expectations Design and operationalize scalable, end-to-end governance processes across the AI lifecycle Build and maintain AI governance playbooks, risk appetite frameworks, and responsible AI standards Identify opportunities to strengthen controls and oversight through process automation, tooling improvements, and governance workflow optimization Cross-Functional Collaboration Partner with Legal, Technology, and Consulting Practice Groups to embed explainability, bias mitigation, and ethical AI principles directly into use case development and delivery workflows Manage the firm's AI Governance obligations and processes end-to-end, including supporting AI and related vendor management supply chain Coordinate with Legal teams to ensure AI systems meet applicable jurisdictional and regulatory requirements, including proactive engagement on evolving global AI legislation Facilitate stakeholder working groups, cross-functional governance forums, and executive communications on AI risk priorities, testing outcomes, and documentation requirements Maintain the internal AI risk register and escalate issues through appropriate governance channels Liaise with Technology and Practices to ensure data lineage and quality standards are met for AI solutions Monitoring & Oversight Establish, track, and report on key risk indicators (KRIs) for AI systems in partnership with the Responsible AI Data Scientist and AI Governance Lead, across internal and client-facing AI solutions and products Monitor alignment with global AI regulatory frameworks (e.g., EU AI Act, NIST AI RMF) and support responses to regulatory inquiries, audits, or reviews Evaluate risks associated with third-party and vendor AI solutions across the full sourcing lifecycle — including procurement, onboarding, integration, and ongoing performance oversight — and identify operational guardrails and controls Assess design and operating effectiveness of AI controls against internal policy and external standards, especially for AI, privacy, and industry regulations, under Legal's guidance Produce high-quality audit findings reports with clear recommendations for remediation and monitor implementation of agreed action plans Stay current on AI regulation, industry standards, and emerging best practices Internal Enablement (Evolving) Support the development of AI Governance updates, training/awareness programs, and culture-building initiatives to embed responsible AI practices across the organization Contribute to Accordion's Trustworthy AI methodology and internal IP development Over time, support client-facing AI governance assessments, risk remediation roadmaps, and responsible AI frameworks as the program matures and scope expands You Have: Bachelors degree in Finance, Business Administration, or related field 7+ years’ experience in Risk Operations, Privacy Programs, or PMO/IMO, with at least 3 years directly focused on AI governance or oversight - preferably within professional services, consulting, or PE-backed environments. Demonstrated experience leading complex, multi-jurisdictional integrations and/or global expansion programs, with a track record of building and running structured governance. Strong knowledge of AI and privacy regulations and standards — including EU AI Act, NIST AI RMF, GDPR, CCPA, and ISO 42001 — and the ability to translate regulatory mandates into operational controls Strong grasp of AI/ML technical risks (e.g., bias, explainability, model drift, robustness) and associated controls Strong familiarity with regulatory and operational considerations relevant to cross-border professional services (e.g., data/privacy, employment, tax, licensing), and the ability to operationalize them into business processes. Exceptional communication skills with the ability to convey complex technical and regulatory considerations to non-technical stakeholders, including leadership and cross-functional teams Comfortable operating in a high-growth, entrepreneurial environment, with a bias toward structure, scalability, and execution discipline. Strong analytical and problem-solving skills AI usage and familiarity required Excellent attention to detail and organizational skills Ability to adapt to changing priorities and work effectively in a dynamic environment Preferred Qualification: Experience in Data Risk Management or direct collaboration with AI/ML development teams Familiarity with AI risk management platforms or tools for model monitoring, documentation, and compliance reporting Experience designing training, awareness, or enablement programs focused on AI risk, model governance, or responsible AI practices Certifications in risk, privacy, or compliance (e.g., CIPP, CIPM, CRISC, CRCM) Passion for AI and a desire to build a world-class risk management function You Are Energized by building and scaling governance programs that make AI deployment safer, more trustworthy, and more compliant — across a dynamic, fast-moving consulting environment A cross-functional collaborator who navigates matrixed organizational dynamics, working seamlessly with Legal/Risk/Compliance, Technology/Engineering, and business teams — and can drive decision making and ownership across diverse stakeholders A clear communicator who can translate AI governance concepts, regulatory requirements, and risk findings into actionable guidance for business, technical, and executive audiences A proactive problem-solver who thrives on staying ahead of AI governance expectations and emerging regulations, and can turn frameworks into operational reality An adaptive contributor who embraces the breadth and pace of consulting, working across diverse sectors and practice areas The annual salary for this role ranges from: $130,500 to $145,000 USD + benefits. This role is also eligible for bonuses, based on individual and company performance. Actual compensation packages are determined by evaluating a wide array of factors unique to each candidate, including but not limited to, geographic location, skill set, years and depth of experience, education, certifications, cost of labor and internal equity. Accordion is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to building a team that represents a variety of backgrounds, perspectives, and skills. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, marital status, age, national origin, ancestry, physical or mental disability, medical​​​ condition, pregnancy, genetic information, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or ​expression, veteran status, or any other status protected under federal, state, or local law. Please note that as per Accordion policy, we do not accept unsolicited resumes from third-party recruiters unless such recruiters are engaged to provide candidates for a specified opening and in alignment with our inclusive diversity values. Any employment agency, person or entity that submits an unsolicited resume does so with the understanding that Accordion will have the right to hire that applicant at its discretion without any fee owed to the submitting employment agency, person or entity. #LI-BS1