Having moved to Arizona from Salt Lake City in 2001 for a management opportunity and what was originally a 5-year plan and a move back to Utah has now turned into 24 years with no plans to move for Matthew Duran. His team looks at risk, not just at the relationship level but at the parent level, and oversees risk through various components by actively engaging with multiple stakeholders across the organization.

 

Describe your role at Northern Trust

Currently I’m the Head of Enterprise Critical Vendor Management.  We are a first line of defense ‘parent’ level risk management group.

As an ECVM (Enterprise Critical Vendor Manager) we look at risk not just at the relationship level but at the parent level. We oversee risk through various components by actively engaging with multiple stake holders. We utilize measurements to define which vendors are considered enterprise critical by looking at strategic components already being measured throughout the bank.  

Gathering data from sourcing, due diligence, important business services, business impacts (regulatory, monetary, etc..), are just a handful of what is looked at as part of our process.

Once we have the data we need, we engage our stakeholders to collaborate and make a truly informed decision. Once an engagement is deemed enterprise critical, the process from then enhances the controls process by doing certain tasks like Exit Strategies, Scorecards (monthly), and business reviews just to name a few.   

Our team also works on reporting not only at the engagement level, but at the parent supplier level. We have created a user tool called the Vendor Health Report.  The data in this report shows spend data, issues management, relationship updates that comes with RAG statuses.

We assist the vendor managers and relationship managers on the action plans that come out of tabletop exercises in which we perform assessments against their Exit Strategies.  

I really could go on for quite some time on this, but you’ll just have to wait till my book comes out….

 

Describe your team

Currently the ECVM team consists of 2 team members in Tempe (with 3 more on the way), 1 team member in Boston, MA, and 4 in Chicago (with 1 more on the way). 

In the interim I will also be assisting in other programs under the TPMO umbrella like Non-Traditional Third Party (1 in Tempe and 1 in Chicago), TPMO Reporting (1 in Tempe and 1 in Chicago) and Incident Management (1 in Tempe).   

Each team member is unique, we have bilingual employees so we may just have to start setting up some language classes internally!  Our team spans across all the different generations as well and believe it or not, we all fit right in with each other’s backgrounds and personalities.

 

Briefly describe your career path.

Roughly 30 years of Risk and Controls background moving from Third Party Oversight to Vendor Management to Control Officer.

 

What made you decide to work at Northern Trust in your current role?

I was given the opportunity to create a program from scratch here.  Having built this program out at other Global systemically important banks (GSIB) financial institutions, I wanted to be able to streamline the ECVM process knowing all the lessons learned from previous roles.

 

And what do you see as the next step in your career progression?

Great question…. I like to create programs or grow and develop teams so that would keep me in the TPMO umbrella for a while.

 

What are you most proud of in your career at Northern Trust so far?

Training and seeing my team members grow.

 

Can you describe a particular project you’ve worked on that you loved and what was great about the experience?

There’s a few since this group is relatively new. I believe the Vendor Health Reports give us a great holistic view into a Critical Supplier as a whole. 

 

What was the most innovative part of the project from your perspective?

Moving out of Excel driven data displays into Power Bi.  Why? I hate stagnant reporting. There’s nothing better than having valid data in a live environment.

The adoption process has been great. We now have partners asking for more data in similar fashions. 

My role on this project was to be the big picture guy giving my team the 30,000-foot view of things on what we need to accomplish. I trust and empower them to get the vision into the granularity phase. Their creativity and collaboration are what truly makes that report great!

 

 

What’s a typical “day-in-the-life” at Northern Trust look like for you?

Unfortunately, with the amount of risk programs out there, meetings engulf the brunt of my day, but I do ensure I can carve out time for my team members.  

 

What would your ideal workday look like? 

When a centralized process is in a mature phase, meaning that meetings are not in a silo and then attempting to re-centralize with everyone to find commonalities within each program.

 

When did you realize that Northern Trust was a good fit for your career?

During my interview! I like to build programs from design to implementation then to sustainability.   

 

What do you like best about working at Northern Trust?

The people I partner with.

 

What technology/technologies have you been excited to work with here at Northern Trust?

Interos and Rapid Ratings

 

How do you keep your skills fresh?

Being in the first line of defense, we have to proactively self-educate to keep the regulators at bay. 

 

How does Northern Trust University help you build your skills?

Northern Trust University has been great. I’ve been lucky to be a part of bigger banks, but the division here with NTU has been one of the finest I’ve ran across.

 

How has Northern Trust supported your career objectives / development?

My current manager has given me the empowerment to really make a difference within my area. She has supported me along the process of building a department that Northern Trust has never had before. So, to trust someone that has come from an outside organization and given me the empowerment to do so is valued. Not only do I get the support I need, but the guidance as well.

 

What’s unique about Northern Trust’s culture that enables you to create, innovate, make an impact or lead effectively?

Empowerment!  My leadership has given us the proper guidance to feel that we truly can make a difference.

 

What part of Northern Trust’s culture differentiates it from other companies?

Diversity here at Northern has been great. Northern’s focus on diversity really gives us more perspectives, values and ideas.

 

How do you create a balance between work and home?

Sometimes it’s tough to be honest. 

Certain projects and programs that are currently being designed take more effort and time. However, when it gets to be too much, leadership notices and truly is appreciative. 

There are several opportunities to get away and recharge via PTO, Personal Time, etc. Leadership has never questioned time off. 

 

What are some activities outside of work that help you cultivate joy, gratitude, enjoyment and wellbeing?

Being a grandfather, I truly enjoy hanging out with the grandkids and watching all their sporting events and extracurricular activities. Golf is a huge stress reliever though as well as doing anything outdoors!

 

What would you say to someone considering a career here?

Come with an open mindset and ready for a challenge.

 

What advice would you give to someone beginning their career at Northern Trust?

Self-educate and ask as many questions as necessary. 

 

Do you have any other career tips you would give to candidates interested in working for Northern Trust? Or general tips for career success?

Make goals, plenty of short term goals that lead up to the long term goals. Also, remember sometimes you have to walk laterally to get you to your ultimate goals. No task is too small…

 

What’s your favorite thing about working in our Tempe office?

The atmosphere! Employees in all areas are all open to sitting down, talking about their areas and connecting with you.

 

Fast Facts

Name: Matthew Duran

Role: Head of Enterprise Critical Vendor Management

Business Unit: Third Party Management Office

Geographic Location: Tempe, AZ

Education: University of Utah

Any additional certifications: Six Sigma Greenbelt; PMP (expired)

Hometown / where are you living now – Born in Salt Lake City, Utah/ Currently residing in Queen Creek, Arizona

Do you have a pet(s)? – 2 Dogs; Sammy Giuseppe is a 7-year old Staffordshire Terrier and Poppy is a 4-year old blue nose

Where do you volunteer your time? – Currently I speak to incoming patients that have congestive heart failure and are waiting on a transplant (heart) at the Mayo Clinic.

What are you reading / podcast recommendation – currently reading “Tattoos on the Heart” by Gregory Boyle.

Favorite sports team – Seattle Sports – Mariners, Seahawks, Kraken

Comfort food – Italian Food

Best icebreaker to start a meeting – movie quotes

Best advice you’ve received (work or non-work related) – “Start by doing what is necessary, then do what is possible, and suddenly you are doing the impossible.” – St. Francis of Assisi

Describe Northern Trust in one word: Diverse

 

Careers at Northern Trust

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