Joel McPhee

About Joel McPhee

With more than 25 years of experience, I’ve been at the forefront of addressing the most pressing challenges facing complex organizations. While my primary background lies in financial services, my experience also extends to fintech, retail, and academia. As a visionary leader, attorney and published author, I am skilled in balancing high-level strategy with pragmatic execution required to drive meaningful business outcomes and navigate today’s dynamic and ever-changing landscape. In my first book Mastering Strategic Risk: A Framework for Leading and Transforming Organizations,(John Wiley & Sons, April 2014), I provide a new governance model detailing how to effectively lead organizations through challenging times. What I bring to the table: • Organizational Transformation: I am an expert in spearheading culture transformations that boost employee engagement and adoption, ensuring that investments in AI and innovation lead to real, measurable business impact.• Strategic Risk Expertise: I specialize in assisting organizations that operate in complex and high-stakes environments by implementing robust risk management frameworks designed to protect value and foster sustainable growth. As the author of \"Mastering Strategic Risk: A Framework for Leading and Transforming Organizations\"(Wiley), I offer a validated governance model to support leaders through periods of significant challenge.• AI & Innovation Acceleration: I design physical and virtual spaces where teammates develop proficiency in AI tools (LLMs, LCNC, and Agents) while building the \"innovation muscle\" needed to sustain a culture of continuous improvement.• Trust & Influence: I have a proven history of building trust and credibility at all levels of an organization, from the boardroom to the front lines, assembling high-performing teams that excel amid change.I am passionate about enlisting and uplifting teammates to become champions of change. By equipping the \"everyday employee\" with the power to build, design, and create, we don\'t just optimize a company—we future-proof it. Let’s connect to discuss how to harness the full spectrum of your organization\'s talent and unleash the power of sustainable innovation and Risk.

Experience

1. Head of Quality Assurance Global Finance

   Citi

   Jul 2022 — Present · New York, NY, US

   With a distinguished career spearheading the Global Finance Quality Assurance function, I specialize in driving strategic initiatives to enhance the accuracy and integrity of key regulatory reports. My leadership extends to guiding a diverse team of over 150 professionals worldwide, focusing on transactional integrity, conformance, and reporting controls. My approach integrates innovative solutions, including leveraging automation and advanced AI, to scale data exception identification, significantly reducing risks and improving operational efficiencies.Achieving a 30% reduction in transaction testing cycle time, while simultaneously expanding coverage by centralizing processes.Pioneering partnerships with the AI division to mitigate data management risks and uncover reporting errors, showcasing the power of technology in enhancing quality assurance processes.Standardizing quarterly reviews across multiple control testing facets, employing a risk-based prioritization method and refining the operational model for heightened effectiveness.I am committed to leveraging my strategic vision, technical expertise, and a proven track record to deliver tangible improvements in financial reporting and quality assurance.

Education

• Oakwood University

  B.S. Business Management

• Capital University Law School

  Doctor of Law (J.D.)