Senior Vice President, SVP, Financial Crimes Middle East & Africa - Services

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Job Overview

Are you looking for a career move that will put you at the heart of a global financial institution? Then bring your skills in client management, problem solving and communication to Citi’s Financial Crimes team.

By Joining Citi, you will become part of a global organisation whose mission is to serve as a trusted partner to our clients by responsibly providing financial services that enable growth and economic progress.

Team/Role Overview:

This first-line role is responsible for supporting the Services businesses in managing and mitigating financial crime risks end-to-end for the MEA cluster, with a specific focus on ensuring proactive, effective, and sustainable financial crimes risk management. The successful candidate will lead the development and implementation of a comprehensive financial crimes strategy that integrates Sanctions, Anti-Money Laundering (AML), Fraud, Anti-Bribery and Corruption (ABC), Fraud and Reputational Risk management.

The Financial Crimes SVP is a hands-on role and will, among other, provide guidance, on-going support, and constructive challenge to the business teams to ensure appropriate & effective controls are introduced and maintained. Further, the Financial Crimes Risk SVP will help establish and maintain a robust Financial Crime control environment across the MEA cluster. Developing a proactive control approach, assisting management in achieving strategic objectives, promoting efficiency, reducing the risk of loss, and helps ensure compliance with corporate policies, procedures, laws, and regulations.  

The Financial Crimes Risk SVP will provide leadership, direction, governance, and oversight to ensure that implementation of controls is effective and consistent with Citi standards and applicable law in the MEA countries. The position will report to the Services global head of Financial Crime Risks.

What you’ll do:

• Understand business-owned products and services (payments, Baas, digital assets, custody, fund services, CC, LMS, trade finance…), as well as corresponding financial crimes-related controls, and processes (e.g., customer, relationship, and transactional screening).
• Provide financial crimes compliance/risk management subject matter expertise to the Services businesses in MEA to ensure the design and implementation of a coherent and effective control environment.
• Assess complex issues, structure potential solutions, and drive effective resolution with other senior stakeholders.
• Assess and help manage Financial Crime (AML, Sanctions, ABC & Fraud) as well as Reputational Risk across Services in MEA
• Assess existing control framework, identify potential compliance gaps.
• Drive execution ensuring compliance with applicable laws, rules, and regulations, as well as effectiveness of the control environment.
• Ensure adequate mapping of risk and processes and clear control ownership.
• Create & maintain a robust partnership with the business heads, operations, technology and the second line of defense.
• Ensure clear and timely escalation of control issues, while assisting their adequate management and internal reporting.
• Drive a consistent and holistic approach to Financial Crimes risk management across Services.
• Ensure early engagement on new business initiatives to ensure timely support of commercial priorities and full adherence to global, regional & local risk management policies and procedures.
• Conduct reviews of financial crimes processes and procedures to ensure that both controls and processes are in keeping with policy and business expectations.
• Assure that controls have been implemented consistently, with appropriate supporting documentation.
• Maintain current knowledge and understanding of product innovation, client needs and of changing regulatory requirements to continuously assess impact and changes needed to existing control environment.
• Serve as an escalation point for issues or emerging from Services in the MEA region.
• Maintain oversight through review of metrics, monitoring of activity, and tracking of corrective action plans.
• Prepare and provide regular updates to senior management and various governance committees on control issues and/or enhancements.
• Work with other Financial Crime Risk teams to ensure a consistent holistic approach to financial crimes risk management.
• Ensure robust and adequate reporting to senior management.
• Support the timely, robust and coherent response to regulatory inquiries and internal control functions ensuring adequate tracking and recording.
• Lead on significant Financial Crime initiatives within the business ensuring alignment to group policies.
• Assess impact of proposed changes to Financial Crimes policies/procedures/guidelines and work with Compliance to ensure the business operates in line with regulatory requirements.
• Participate actively in several senior management governance forums and produce high-quality reports and management information.
• Support the Business in internal or external reviews, including managing exam preparation and deliverables.
• Identify opportunities for streamlining processes and implement efficiencies that will lead to enhanced client experience.

What we’ll need from you:

• Bachelor’s/University degree required, master’s degree desirable
• 15+ years’ experience in financial crime compliance or risk management
• Financial Crime certification preferred (ACAMS, ACSS etc.)
• Strong understanding of international Sanctions
• Strong professional experience in Financial Services, in Financial Crime Compliance and/or Financial Crime Risk & Controls
• Knowledge and understanding of Payments, Securities, Custody, Digital Assets, Correspondent Banking, Trade, Working Capital, and Liquidity Management products
• Excellent interpersonal skills
• Able to work independently and deliver according to strict timelines and quality standards
• Demonstrated ability and confidence to challenge business management, escalate issues and press for change
• Good oral and written communications skills; must be articulate and persuasive with the judgement and authority to provide insightful commentary to senior stakeholders
• Able to drive change to business practices by working effectively across a global organization
• Self-starting with the ability to multitask and prioritize
• Project management and change capabilities are essential
• Capable of prioritizing and multi-tasking in a dynamic, fast paced environment
• Demonstrated analytical skills with follow-up and problem-solving capability
• Ability to analyze processes and recommend ways to improve quality, controls, and efficiency
• Collaboration and team-orientation abilities are a must

What we can offer you:

We work hard to have a positive financial and social impact on the communities we serve. In turn, we put our employees first and provide the best-in-class benefits they need to be well, live well, and save well.

Citi is committed to ensuring our workplace is where everyone feels comfortable coming to work as their whole self every day. We want the best talent around the world to be energized to join us, motivated to stay, and empowered to thrive.

#LI-PW1

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Job Family Group:

Risk Management

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Job Family:

In-Business Risk

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Time Type:

Full time

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Most Relevant Skills

Analytical Thinking, Controls Lifecycle, Credible Challenge, Governance, Policy, Procedure, and Regulation, Risk Management Lifecycle.

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Other Relevant Skills

For complementary skills, please see above and/or contact the recruiter.

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