Chief Audit Executive
Innovation draws attention mainly on the front lines of banking. Paulette Mullings Bradnock has been making it happen more quietly in the back office, boosting efficiency while burnishing her team’s digital skills.
As chief audit executive at Bank of New York Mellon since 2015, Bradnock has spearheaded a range of initiatives to upgrade her department, from implementation of a customized internal audit workflow system to the build-out of an internal audit center of excellence in Poland.
Her most recent effort is the adoption of robotics to conduct audit testing and automate repetitive administrative tasks. While automation can often mean job elimination, for Bradnock it was an opportunity to meet the needs of the $442.3 billion-asset BNY Mellon.
“We are now required to review larger volumes of data without increasing our headcount,” said Bradnock, who manages a team of 380 auditors. “If we are not using new technologies to audit, we will not be able to recruit new talent. Nor we will be able to retain talent, as this is an area where there is an interest for professional development.”
After overseeing a successful pilot with a core group in the audit department, she is now working to ensure all of her team members can benefit from the technology.
As a leading voice on diversity and inclusion at BNY Mellon, Bradnock makes sure to consider candidates from diverse backgrounds when hiring, whether they are interns or full-time employees.
“I am passionate about this topic, and the importance of making significant progress is reinforced by the recent protests that unfortunately have devolved into riots in some cities, where people from all cultures and races are pushing for real change in the treatment of African Americans,” she said. “I am hopeful that change can happen, in a more peaceful manner, by having corporate leaders join with community leaders in driving the conversation.”
For the first time, American Banker's Most Powerful Women in Banking celebration is open to the whole financial community. Join us virtually October 6-8 to hear our 2020 honorees' stories and experiences.
