Strengthening data governance maturity for a U.S. regional bank

THE CLIENT

A California-based regional bank with approximately $7.87 billion in assets under management needed to address governance maturity gaps identified by regulators in connection with data used to support model risk management.

THE OUTCOME

The organization received a structured governance gap assessment with prioritized remediation actions across executive, management, and operational layers. Critical gaps impacting regulatory compliance and model risk oversight were identified, and a clear roadmap for improving governance accountability and policy alignment was delivered.

WHY WAS IT DIFFICULT

Existing governance policies, standards, and procedures were in place but were not sufficiently mature to meet evolving regulatory expectations. Roles, accountability structures, and enforcement mechanisms were inconsistent across organizational levels, and there was no structured framework to assess governance adequacy or prioritize remediation.

THE ENGINEERING JOURNEY

The team applied a multi-dimensional governance framework covering People and Organization, Operating Model, Roles and Responsibilities, Culture, Process Governance, and Training. C-level executives, chief audit leadership, commercial leadership, and operations stakeholders were engaged through structured interviews to gather cross-functional insights. Existing policies and standards were assessed against regulatory expectations, and findings were mapped across organizational layers.

KEY DECISIONS

A persona-based analysis was used to map findings across executive, management, and operational layers, ensuring remediation recommendations were tied to specific accountability structures rather than delivered as generic guidance. Both tactical and strategic improvements were scoped to provide immediate and long-term value.

MEASURABLE IMPACT

• Critical gaps identified: Governance deficiencies impacting regulatory compliance and model risk oversight surfaced and documented
• Structured prioritization: Remediation actions sequenced across executive and operational layers
• Actionable recommendations: Both tactical improvements and strategic maturity enhancements defined
• Improved visibility: Clarity established across governance roles, accountability structures, and operating model effectiveness