Director, Title Compliance

Essent Group Ltd. (NYSE: ESNT) is a Bermuda-based holding company (collectively with its subsidiaries, "Essent") which serves the housing finance industry by offering private mortgage insurance, reinsurance, risk management products and title insurance and settlement services to mortgage lenders, borrowers, and investors to support homeownership. We are focused on managing risk and dedicated to serving as a strong and fair counterparty. As a company, we bring strong private capital and a commitment to risk management to the mortgage insurance industry.

Title: Director, Title Compliance

Location: Fully in-office in Radnor, PA

The Director of Title Compliance (“DTC”) is a director-level position with broad responsibility for the day-to-day management of the compliance function relating to Essent’s title insurance businesses, supporting the design and execution of strategic and tactical programs while reducing and/or managing the risk of violating laws and regulations. Managing these risks is a critical issue for Essent since non-compliance can have significant consequences, including civil and criminal penalties, negative publicity, and loss of business.

The DTC reports to Essent’s Chief Compliance Officer and provides oversight of compliance functions for Essent’s lender and agency services, including all its regulated entities in the title agency and title insurance underwriting businesses. The DTC has access to the President of Essent Title.

The DTC will have the responsibility to articulate business-line-wide compliance risks, the statute with which to communicate it, and the means with which to monitor and implement compliance programs. The DTC is responsible for identifying trends, implementing effective compliance programs, and providing the necessary information and reports to operational and executive management. The DTC provides direction and guidance on development of internal control systems to meet business needs and fosters an environment for the identification and implementation of appropriate compliance, control practices, compliance testing, monitoring, and reporting.

This position plays a critical role in managing risk, ensuring compliance, and supporting the company's growth and profitability while maintaining risk centric policies and procedures. 

As a dynamic and resourceful professional, we will rely on you to perform the following duties:

• Apply knowledge of applicable U.S. regulations and best control practices, business acumen, and risk management practices to develop appropriate policies, procedures and control environment designed to ensure that compliance activities across Essent continue to meet all regulatory requirements.
• Provide leadership and collaborate with business executives and managers, attorneys, compliance staff and supporting business unit staff in the proactive design and development of a system of internal controls.The DTC balances the inter-relationships of regulatory risks, business needs (including costs), and internal controls to maintain a strong control environment that educates and reduces instances of non-compliance.
• Collaborate with the Chief Compliance Officer to ensure the development and delivery of compliance training programs for Essent’s title insurance businesses designed to maintain the competency of management, staff, and agents on the company’s compliance program.
• Serve as one of Essent’s senior relationship managers with a variety of government officials, particularly state insurance regulators, and develop a continuing dialogue with such regulators to ensure that the company is viewed as a credible and reliable partner in identifying and reducing instances of non-compliance with applicable laws and regulations.
• Monitor business and organizational developments to anticipate compliance issues and ensure optimal integration of compliance considerations and controls in business planning processes. Recognize the key issues which applicable laws and regulations, such as insurance company laws, anti-corruption laws, and laws regarding consumer privacy and protection, create for Essent’s business units; propose alternatives and compliance solutions to permit continued long-term business growth; and ensure implementation of the appropriate compliance control programs.Communicate complex regulatory issues in a form designed to create an understanding of the applicability of major compliance issues to management and internal staff.
• Provide constructive feedback on proposed legislative and regulatory actions, balancing public policy issues, business needs and appropriate controls.Develop and coordinate the strategies for responding to and supporting government inquiries, investigations, examinations, consumer and customer complaints, and internal audits and examinations and other significant points of contact related to the conduct of Essent’s title insurance businesses in the market and other major compliance issues to ensure that Essent fulfills its commitments to regulators, shareholders, and the public.
• Review and approve marketing materials to ensure legally compliant messaging that is consistent with Essent’s overarching corporate communication strategy.
• Actively participate in various internal committees as deemed necessary which may include Title Risk Committee, Title Claims Committee, Recoupment Committee, Policy Approval Committee, GRC Committee, and Privacy Subcommittee.
• Performs other duties as assigned by management.

Minimum Education & Experience Requirements:

• Juris Doctor degree preferred, but knowledge of laws, regulations, and legislative and regulatory processes required.
• 7+ years of corporate or law firm legal practice with experience representing financial services companies particularly insurance companies or insurance regulators required.  
• Title insurance experience and real estate transactional background preferred.
• Experience with mortgage origination compliance preferred.
• Knowledge of insurance regulatory compliance and analyzing and interpreting insurance laws and regulations.
• Knowledge of residential real estate law and the role of title insurance in particular.
• Knowledge of key ethics and compliance policies, rules, regulations, and concepts.
• Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer service.
• Knowledge of using computer systems, which may include setting up and using hardware and software programs, entering data or processing information.
• Skilled in negotiating with an ability to influence others.
• Skilled in time management, prioritizing and managing changing priorities.
• Skilled in policy and procedure reviews and development.
• Skilled in interviewing and developing facts and impressions.
• Skilled in establishing and communicating in difficult situations.
• Skilled in oral and written communications.
• Skilled in research and investigative techniques.
• Skilled in effective presentation techniques.
• Ability to think critically, analyze problems and data, and develop creative and practical solutions.
• Ability to exercise independent and sound judgment.
• Ability to understand complex legal concepts and legal research.
• Ability to explain legal topics in a clear and concise manner.
• Ability to be self-motivated, analytical, independent, credible, and persistent.
• Ability to partner and interface with business leaders across all functional areas.
• Ability to maintain credibility and objective perspective.
• Ability to communicate effectively verbally and in writing.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality.
• Ability to listen and understand information verbally and in writing.
• Ability to anticipate, identify, analyze and resolve conflict and problems.
• Ability to work well under pressure and capable of adapting and responding to changing situations in an agile environment.

Our commitment to your success is enhanced by our competitive salary and comprehensive benefits package including paid time off, medical, dental, vision, 401(k) and disability benefits. We work to maintain a positive environment for our employees, where people can learn and grow with the company. Essent is an Equal Opportunity Employer.