Advanced Program Manager

Wintrust provides community and commercial banking, specialty finance and wealth management services through its 16 bank charters and nine non-bank businesses. Wintrust delivers the sophisticated solutions of a large bank while staying true to the relationship-focused, personalized service of our community banking roots. We serve clients in all 50 states with more than 200 branch banking locations in Illinois, southwestern Florida, northwestern Indiana, west Michigan and southern Wisconsin and commercial banking offices in Chicago, Denver, Milwaukee, Grand Rapids, Mich., and in key branch banking locations throughout Illinois. Our people are the heart of our business and we are proud to rank consistently as a top place to work. Wintrust is a $66 billion financial institution based in Rosemont, Illinois, and listed on the NASDAQ Global Select Market under the symbol “WTFC.”

Why join us?

• An award-winning culture! We are rated a Top Workplace by the Chicago Tribune (past 11 years) and Employee Recommended award by the Globe & Mail (past 6 years)

• Competitive pay and discretionary or incentive bonus eligible

• Comprehensive benefit package including medical, dental, vision, life, a 401k plan with a generous company match and tuition reimbursement to name a few

• Promote from within culture

Why join this team?

• This position has the opportunity to interface with and have a positive impact on multiple areas of Wintrust's business

• We hold ourselves accountable to high standards, share wins, operate ethically, and have fun

What you’ll do:

The Advanced Program Manager will lead and coordinate a dynamic IT audit facilitation program. This role is responsible for overseeing the planning, execution, and completion of internal and external audits across multiple technology teams. The ideal candidate will serve as the primary liaison between auditors and IT staff, ensuring effective communication, alignment of expectations, and timely delivery of audit evidence. Key responsibilities include developing standardized audit processes, monitoring audit progress and remediation, supporting closure of audit findings, and driving continuous improvement initiatives.

Audit Program Leadership & Coordination:

• Lead and manage the IT audit facilitation program, overseeing planning, coordination, and execution of internal and external audits.

• Serve as the primary liaison between auditors and IT teams, ensuring clear communication, alignment of expectations, and timely responses to audit evidence requests.

• Develop and maintain standardized audit facilitation processes, procedures, and documentation.

• Coordinate audit timelines, deliverables, walkthroughs, and evidence collection activities across multiple technology teams.

• Mentor and coach IT team members on the audit function.

Monitoring:

• Establish routines to monitor audit progress and resource dependencies throughout the audit reporting year.  

• Collaborate with the IT Risk Program Manager to track and report audit status and remediation progress to appropriate audiences.  

• Identify opportunities to enhance audit readiness and process efficiency.

• Monitor remediation progress and escalate risks or delays to leadership as appropriate.

• Support closure of audit findings through coordination, documentation, and follow-up activities.

• Validate the completeness of remediation evidence prior to submission to auditors.

Stakeholder Engagement & Communication:

• Lead regular status meetings and communication forums to maintain transparency and accountability.

• Translate complex audit requirements into actionable steps for operational teams.

Program Management & Continuous Improvement:

• Define program metrics and performance indicators

• Drive continuous improvement initiatives to streamline audit processes and reduce operational burden.

• Maintain centralized repositories for audit documentation and evidence management.

Qualifications:

• 7+ years of experience in IT audit, IT risk management, compliance, or program management

• 5-7 years of experience facilitating internal, external, or regulatory audits

• Experience managing audit findings, remediation activities, and governance reporting

• Experience working in regulated environments or large, complex IT organizations

• Bachelor’s degree in Information Technology, Information Systems, Accounting, Cybersecurity, or a related field required

• Master’s degree or relevant certifications preferred

• CRISC (Certified in Risk and Information Systems Control) certification

• PMP (Project Management Professional) certification

• Strong program and stakeholder management skills

• Deep understanding of IT controls, audit processes, and regulatory expectations

• Ability to manage multiple concurrent audits and competing priorities

• Excellent communication, facilitation, and organizational skills

• Strong analytical and problem-solving capabilities

• High level of accountability, professionalism, and attention to detail

Benefits:

Medical Insurance • Dental • Vision • Life insurance • Accidental death and dismemberment • Short-term and long-term Disability Insurance • Parental Leave • Employee Assistance Program (EAP) • Traditional and Roth 401(k) with company match • Flexible Spending Account (FSA) • Employee Stock Purchase Plan at 5% discount • Critical Illness Insurance • Accident Insurance • Transportation and Commuting Benefits • Banking Benefits • Pet Insurance

Compensation:

The estimated salary range for this role is $85,000.00 - $110,000.00, along with eligibility to earn an annual bonus. Actual salaries may vary based on several factors, such as a candidate’s qualifications, skills and experience.

#LI-Hybrid

From our first day in business, Wintrust has been proud to serve a variety of unique communities and people from all walks of life.  To build a company that reflects the communities we serve, we believe that fostering a unique and inclusive workplace where everyone feels valued and empowered to succeed will support our ongoing success.  Wintrust Financial Corporation, including community banking and financial services subsidiaries, is an Equal Opportunity Employer.  All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, disability, veteran status, genetic information, and other legally protected categories.