This month, we feature Assistant Vice President, Risk Management, Tim Medema. Read on for a day-in-the-life of the Enterprise Risk Management team.
Q: Describe your/your team’s role at BCS.
A: The Enterprise Risk Management (ERM) team is responsible for performing the risk assessment for BCS, monitoring the results and controls to ensure that the Company is prepared for each new challenge. We are also responsible for the company’s Quality Assurance (QA) / Internal Audit (IA) functions. In our QA/IA role we primarily monitor Compliance, Claims, Underwriting and Policy Administration activities at our outside business partners to provide support and insight to strengthen their operations. The ERM team also has many other responsibilities including several of our annual external audits, providing support in due diligence activities, and vendor management.
Q: What does a typical day at BCS look like for you?
A: Different – No day is the same because we interact with all functional areas within BCS. As you can imagine, the diverse range of responsibilities require quick thinking, collaboration, and an opportunity to make a difference.
Q: What do you like most about your job?
A: The fact that each day is truly different. I have a team of three direct reports who are dedicated, intelligent, and hard-working. Because the team and I interact with so many people within BCS, we are not pigeon-holed and never get bored.
Q: What skills does someone need to succeed in your role?
A: Good written and oral communication skills, attention to detail, dedication, strong subject matter knowledge and a sense of humor.
Q: Describe your department in three words.
A: Dedicated, cohesive and flexible.
Q: You assess risk for a living. What’s the biggest risk you’ve ever taken?
A: I am generally a risk-averse person and while I may be on the slightly wild side of conservative, I would have to say driving up IL Rte. 83 to and from work each day is more that enough risk for me.
