Role Overview:
The Senior Vice President, Anti-Financial Crime (AFC) for Wholesale Banking is a key senior leadership role responsible for overseeing and managing KYC and Customer Due Diligence (CDD) processes within the Wholesale Banking segment. The role focuses on ensuring full compliance with Anti-Money Laundering (AML), Counter Financing of Terrorism (CFT), and Sanctions regulations, specifically for Business Banking (BB), Corporate and Investment Banking (CIB) segments, with a strong emphasis on Singapore markets.
This role requires an in-depth understanding of financial crimes risks and regulatory requirements, combined with strong leadership and operational management skills to drive compliance excellence and operational efficiency within AFC operations.
Key Responsibilities:
Leadership in KYC/CDD Compliance: Oversee teams of KYC and CDD personnel to ensure adherence to regulatory requirements and address financial crime concerns for Wholesale Banking customers. Manage the end-to-end onboarding and periodic review processes, ensuring compliance with Group and Local Compliance guidelines.
Timely Execution of Reviews: Ensure the timely and accurate completion of all KYC/CDD reviews within the prescribed SLA, ensuring alignment with both internal and external regulatory standards.
Risk Assessment & Control Measures: Continuously assess and monitor financial crime risks related to AML, CFT, and sanctions control measures across the Wholesale Banking segment. Act as a key control tower to ensure that risks are mitigated in alignment with the business's risk appetite.
Audit & Compliance Management: Oversee audit reviews, ensuring all findings are properly addressed and rectified. Work closely with audit and compliance teams to ensure robust risk management practices are in place.
Operational Governance: Lead the implementation of unified governance across policies and standards to drive consistency and efficiency in AFC operations across the Wholesale Banking segment.
Training & Development: Review and lead the development of AFC-specific training materials for KYC, CDD, and financial crime matters. Deliver training sessions to Business Units within Wholesale Banking as needed to ensure ongoing compliance and awareness.
Team Development: Collaborate with the Group Head of AFC Operations to develop the skills of COE teams, ensuring both technical and soft skill growth to enhance team performance and career progression.
Project & Committee Participation: Represent AFC Operations and Wholesale Banking in AML, CFT, and sanctions-related projects and committees. Contribute to ad-hoc initiatives as required to address emerging financial crime risks and regulatory challenges.
Key Qualifications & Skills:
Relevant Experience: Recognized degree with extensive experience in anti-financial crime compliance, particularly within Wholesale Banking or similar segments. Demonstrable experience handling KYC, CDD, AML, CFT, and sanctions processes.
Risk Management Expertise: Strong track record in identifying, assessing, and managing financial crime risks. Ability to identify potential risks and implement effective mitigation strategies.
Leadership & People Management: Proven leadership skills with experience managing teams, developing talent, and fostering a high-performance culture. Ability to coach and mentor teams to achieve operational excellence.
Stakeholder Engagement: Strong ability to communicate with senior stakeholders, providing confident and expert advice on KYC and financial crime risk outcomes. Skilled at influencing decision-making and guiding behaviors in alignment with compliance objectives.
Problem Solving & Judgement: Adept at raising sensitive or contentious issues in a constructive manner to drive appropriate solutions. Exercises prudent judgment while balancing risk management with commercial objectives.
Interpersonal & Communication Skills: Self-driven, team player with excellent interpersonal skills, capable of influencing and negotiating outcomes. Ability to effectively communicate complex compliance matters to a diverse audience.
Professional Certifications: Certification as an Anti-Financial Crime specialist (e.g., CAMS, Diploma in AML, Governance and Risk) from a recognized institution is highly desirable.
Core Competencies:
- Strategic risk management and mitigation
- Integrity and ethical decision-making
- Strong leadership and team development
- Exceptional communication and influencing skills
- Ability to manage complex regulatory and operational challenges
