International Sanctions Compliance officer

Are you a highly skilled compliance professional with deep expertise in sanctions screening and financial crime prevention? Join our team as a Senior International Sanctions Compliance Officer, where you will play a pivotal role in safeguarding the bank against financial crime risks and ensuring full compliance with global regulatory requirements.

Key Responsibilities:

1. Sanctions Compliance Framework:

• Design, implement, and continuously enhance the bank’s sanctions compliance framework, ensuring strict adherence to local, regional, and international regulations.
• Develop risk-based approaches for sanctions compliance, ensuring effective controls are in place to mitigate risks across all banking operations.
• Serve as the primary decision-maker in sanction-related escalations, determining the appropriate course of action in high-risk cases.
• Lead the periodic review and enhancement of sanctions policies, procedures, and governance frameworks, aligning them with evolving regulatory expectations and industry best practices.

Sanctions Screening & Investigations:

• Oversee and manage real-time and retrospective sanctions screening processes for transactions, customers, vendors, and counterparties, ensuring timely and accurate decision-making.
• Conduct complex sanctions investigations, leveraging internal and external intelligence sources to assess potential violations.
• Lead the resolution of sanctions alerts, making decisive judgments on whether transactions should be blocked, rejected, or escalated.
• Collaborate with front-line teams to provide guidance on handling potential sanctions matches, ensuring compliance while maintaining business continuity.

Regulatory Compliance & Risk Management:

• Monitor and assess global regulatory developments, ensuring the bank proactively adapts to new and emerging sanctions requirements.
• Lead regulatory audits, internal reviews, and compliance testing related to sanctions compliance, ensuring adherence to all applicable laws.
• Oversee the development and implementation of enhanced due diligence (EDD) measures for high-risk clients and transactions.
• Prepare and present sanctions risk assessments, reports, and dashboards to senior management, regulators, and internal committees.
• Work closely with the Risk, Legal, and Compliance teams to establish a unified approach to sanctions compliance and financial crime prevention.

Qualifications & Experience:

• Bachelor’s or master’s degree in law, Finance, Business, International Relations, or a related field.
• 5+ years of experience in sanctions compliance, AML, or financial crime prevention within the banking or financial services sector.
• Deep knowledge of global sanctions regulations (OFAC, EU, UN, UK, and local frameworks) and industry best practices.
• Strong experience using sanctions screening tools and case management systems.
• Proven ability to make high-impact decisions in sanctions compliance, balancing regulatory obligations with business needs.
• Exceptional analytical, investigative, and risk assessment skills, with the ability to handle complex cases under pressure.
• Professional certifications such as CAMS, CGSS, ICA Sanctions Compliance, or equivalent are highly desirable.
• Strong stakeholder management and leadership skills, with experience engaging regulators, senior executives, and external auditors.

We are an equal opportunity employer. All applicants will be considered for employment without attention to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, or disability status.