Purpose of role: The Officer, AML Country Advisory serves as the local country representative for the management and execution of the Bank’s Anti-Money Laundering / Anti-Terrorist Financing (AML / ATF) programmes and supports AML / risk management matters in assigned country(s). The Officer ensures adherence to AML requirements and internal policies, maintaining effective systems and controls to identify, assess, and mitigate money laundering and terrorist financing risks. Working with the assigned Country leadership and Sanctions teams, the Officer supports the development and enhancement of AML / ATF activities, conducts risk assessments, oversees due diligence and transaction monitoring, investigates suspicious activity, and ensures timely reporting to regulators while promoting coordination and consistency in financial crime risk management in the country.
Main accountabilities: - Serves as the official representative for AML / ATF matters with regulators and other stakeholders, acting as an internal subject matter expert to guide the business on regulatory requirements, participate in key local meetings, deliver training and respond to questions / escalations, as needed to maintain strong, credible and cooperative relationships with external and internal stakeholders, instilling support, transparency and confidence in the various engagements/interactions.
- Executes the fulfilment / delivery of the components of the AML / ATF programme in alignment with AML regulatory and internal requirements and expectations, including report filing to ensure that adequate controls are in place to effectively mitigate financial crime risks in country.
- Identifies & manages AML / ATF risks arising from existing and new products and services, delivery channels and client segments to ensure that these risks are clearly understood, effectively managed and that the business remains compliant with AML / ATF regulatory requirements.
- Maintains & monitors ongoing awareness of changes in AML / ATF legislation, regulations and guidance, updating databases with product-specific regulatory information to remain current and ensures alignment with evolving AML requirements and databases updated.
- Undertakes enhanced due diligence reviews and process for high-risk clients, politically exposed persons (PEP), complex transactions, ensuring documentation and escalation procedures are followed to ensure that high risk relationships are properly vetted, documented and controlled reducing exposure to financial crime.
- Monitors client due diligence practices, ensuring that onboarding, periodic reviews and transaction monitoring are effectively executed and anomalies thoroughly investigated to establish early detection and prevention of illicit activity.
- Reviews internal reports of unusual or potentially suspicious activity ensuring timely escalation and submission to the relevant authorities while maintaining detailed records and audit trails to support the regulatory review and internal oversight to fulfil the Bank’s reporting obligations and deter AML / ATF activities
- Supports correspondent banking-related activities and the execution of regulatory requirements assigned to the Money Laundering Reporting Officers, including reporting, information gathering, coordination of responses, and other associated activities as required to support effective coverage within the advisory function, ensure timely and accurate completion of assigned deliverables, maintain responsive support for business and stakeholder requirements, and meet regulatory obligations.
Qualifications, experience & knowledge required: - 4-5 years’ experience in a banking environment, preferably with experience in AML, compliance or risk management.
- Demonstrated experience in supporting AML / ATF programmes, conducting risk assessments, and reporting.
- Good knowledge of the relevant legislation and regulations for assigned country.
- Experience in delivering high quality work in a fast-paced environment.
- Experience engaging with regulators, auditors and law enforcement agencies.
- Good understanding of Know Your Customer (KYC) requirements, suspicious activity reporting (SAR) processes and related compliance frameworks.
- Good knowledge of the operational elements in the banking environment.
- Good analytical, problem-solving ability.
- Bachelor’s degree in business and / or AML / ATF certification.
POSITION REPORTS TO: Senior Manager, AML Country Advisory & Help Desk