Executive Director, Group Head CDD Group, Financial Crime Middle Office

To support and coordinate with Client Onboarding Facilitation Group in arranging for meetings with Front Offices for prioritization of KYCs/ Client Onboarding cases.

Job Responsibilities

• Conduct due diligence on new and/or existing customers, including risk assessment, understand client i.e., ownership and deal structures, perform enhanced due diligence on high-risk customers, screening assessments.
• Conduct periodic and trigger reviews to ensure customer profiles are up to date and reflect risk factors correctly. Ensure conformity to AML/KYC policy/standards.
• Ensure that all customer KYC risk profiles are complete and accurately reflect the nature of the customer’s business and purpose of the relationship, including all screening hits have been adjudicated and mitigations have been established.
• Re-evaluate customer risk levels periodically and to action on any significant changes.
• Assess issues of potential non-compliance, provide recommendations and, together with the KYC Manager, Team Lead and/or senior KYC management, work with areas involved to resolve and implement improved controls.
• Work with CPDAP to determine the appropriate actions for identified red flags.
• Onboarding/Offboarding - collect and verify customer information and documentation for account opening/closure, liaise with customer/RM on account opening/closure matters, ensure uploading of client documentation into repository systems.
• Prioritize tasks and ensure adherence to timelines for completion of activities, ensure timely and accurate reporting, keep track on various MI to ensure no aging items.
• Manage and escalate issues on a precise, timely manner, identify root cause, and come up resolution.
• Pro-active follow up and manage expectation with different parties including Relationship Managers, Compliance etc.
• Prepare Risk Assessment memos – includes exceptional handling for KYC, trigger news/event and existing customers establishing new accounts/facilities
• Respond to (ad hoc) requests for Actimize alert, and information from Business areas regarding appropriate KYC documentation.
• Maintain adequate and proper records of KYC activities for audit and regulatory purposes.
• Coordinate and prepare the required management information reporting data as applicable.
• Continuously assess and improve KYC process to enhance efficiency, accuracy, and compliance.
• Work on data clean up initiatives, remediation, re-engineering projects and perform any required outreach to counterparties.
• Set clear objectives (including KPIs), define roles and responsibilities and ensure each team member aligns with the team’s vision. Support and guide team members to ensure they meet their individual targets and KPIs.
• Communicate expectations, goals and feedback to the group regularly and resolve any concerns or issues actively.
• Recognize and reward good performance, provide feedback and encourage professional development.
• Support team members’ professional development by providing opportunities for training and growth.
• Structurally communicate and interact within the group and with other stakeholders including Operation team, Shared Service team RMs, Management, HR, and managers within the group.
• Ensure all internal and external compliance policies and standards requirements are understood and met in full. Enforce any new AML policy/regulation and ensure a sound understanding of these changes within the team and stakeholders.
• Monitor capacity utilization within teams, optimize resources management, timely identify skill gaps, facilitate cross training, ensuring appropriate coverage for a sustainable throughput.
• Effectively manage risk and foster an environment where team is fully aware of operational risk management.
• Initiate and lead change management initiatives within the team.
• Ensures that there are no critical audit points because of external or internal audits.
• Communicates and interacts with other stakeholders including RMs, CPDAP, Management, and managers within the group.
• Understand complex deal structures.
• Conduct due diligence on new customers, including risk assessment, screening against applicable lists and identification of beneficial owners.
• Reviewing client profiles at on-boarding to ensure conformity to minimum AML/KYC policy/ standards, producing client document requirements and due diligence analysis

Job Requirements

• Minimum Bachelor’s Degree with  over 10 years of KYC onboarding experience in corporate banking and/or investment bank.
• Certifications in AML would be an added advantage. 
• Familiar with regulatory requirements pertaining to KYC/ AML (MAS Notice 626).
• Experience in conducting various due diligence checks, risk assessments and managing a team is essential.
• Possess strong leadership, analytical and communication skills to guide the team and to collaborate with internal stakeholders and possibly external customers.
• Able to work independently in a fast-paced and deadline driven environment.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office applications