Saurabh Bajaj

About Saurabh Bajaj

Seasoned Audit, Assurance & Enterprise Risk Management professional with 18+ years of experience across internal and external audits, IT audit & cybersecurity assurance, business advisory, information security, and regulatory compliance.Passionate about building resilient, sustainable organizations, I specialize in strengthening governance, driving operational excellence, and enabling businesses to navigate complex operational, technological, and regulatory landscapes. Over my career, I’ve built a reputation as a trusted advisor to executive leadership, delivering high-impact results through strategic execution, risk management, and cross-functional collaboration.I have led global initiatives to enhance compliance, mitigate risk, and embed risk-aware cultures, aligning organizational practices with evolving global standards. My approach blends technical expertise with business insight, ensuring risk management drives performance and long-term growth.Key areas of expertise: • Audit & Assurance: End-to-end internal/external audits to identify control gaps, reduce risk, and improve efficiency. • Business Advisory: Partnering with leaders to design strategies for growth, scalability, and process optimization. • IT Audit & Cybersecurity: Strengthening IT governance and ensuring compliance with data protection and cybersecurity standards. • Enterprise Risk Management (ERM): Designing integrated frameworks that align risk with business objectives. • Regulatory Compliance: Expertise in PCI DSS, SOX 404, SSAE 18 SOC 1 & SOC 2, RBI SAR, DPDP Act, and compliance across RBI, NPCI, MAS, BNM, BaFin, ABS, and APRA. • Third-Party Risk: Building frameworks for vendor governance and supply chain resilience. • Global Leadership: Leading diverse teams across geographies, mentoring talent, and fostering collaboration.I thrive on solving complex challenges and aligning governance and risk management with business strategy. My goal is to enable organizations to grow securely and sustainably, while fostering cultures of integrity, innovation, and accountability.

Experience

1. Director - Enterprise Risk & Controls

   Fiserv

   Jun 2018 — Present · Mumbai, IN

   Leading enterprise-wide risk management, governance, and compliance strategies to strengthen controls, enhance operational resilience, and align risk practices with organizational objectives. My role involves working across diverse markets and regulatory environments to ensure global compliance and sustainable growth.Key Responsibilities & Achievements: • Led global ERM programs, developing integrated frameworks to identify, assess, and mitigate strategic, operational, and technology risks. • Directed internal and external audits, driving control improvements, compliance maturity, and operational efficiency. • Oversaw IT audit and cybersecurity assurance initiatives, safeguarding data and improving IT governance to meet evolving global standards. • Built third-party risk management frameworks, enhancing vendor governance and supply chain resilience. • Managed regulatory compliance initiatives covering PCI DSS, SOX 404, SSAE 18 SOC 1 & SOC 2, RBI SAR, DPDP Act, and global regulators including RBI, NPCI, MAS, BNM, BaFin, ABS, and APRA. • Travelled extensively across APAC and EMEA to lead external audits with Big 4 firms and WSA companies, ensuring consistent compliance and control effectiveness across geographies. • Partnered with executive leadership to embed a risk-aware culture and align risk management with strategic business goals. • Mentored and developed diverse global teams, fostering collaboration and innovation. • Spearheaded risk transformation initiatives, leveraging data-driven insights to improve decision-making and performance.These efforts have resulted in stronger governance, reduced risks, and enhanced compliance maturity, positioning the organization for secure, scalable growth across global markets.

Education

• SINHGAD INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY,LONAVLA

  Bachelor of Engineering (BE), Information Technology

  2005 — 2009

• Maharashtra State Board of Technical Education

  Polytechnic - 3 Year Diploma, Computer Technology

  2001 — 2005

• Savitribai Phule Pune University

  Engineering, Information Technology

  2005 — 2009

Skills

• Active Directory
• Unix
• Xp
• Windows Server
• Hardware
• Servers
• Itil
• Server Management
• Process Management
• IT Management
• Operating Systems
• Dhcp
• Virtualization
• Team Management
• IT Strategy
• Red Hat Linux
• Network Security
• Linux
• Windows Server 2008
• Vendor Management
• Vpn
• Service Delivery
• Windows Server 2003
• Technical Support
• IT Service Management
• IT Asset Management
• Computer Hardware
• Service Desk
• Remedy
• Microsoft Certified Professional
• IT Operations
• System Administration
• Microsoft Exchange
• Windows
• Project Planning
• Requirements Analysis
• Dns
• Incident Management
• Tcp/Ip
• Vmware