Services Risk & Controls Director for Digital Assets

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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 analysis, problem solving and communication to Citi’s Services 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:

Serving clients in 95 countries, Services provides integrated payments and collections, liquidity management, short term financing and trade financing, Investor Services (including Custody, Fund Services and Execution Services) and Issuer Services solutions to multinational corporations, financial institutions, public sector organizations and increasingly mid-sized corporate clients with global needs. These services are supported by our extensive on-the-ground local market expertise, innovative technologies, customized data solutions and a wide range of solutions that can be tailored to meet clients’ needs.

Both the Controls and Regulatory Management team as well as the Financial Crime and Reputational risk team are responsible for ensuring proactive, effective, and sustainable risk management within the Services business which is one of Citi’s five interconnected businesses lines.

The Risk and Controls Director for Digital Assets is a first line role responsible for supporting the Services businesses in managing and mitigating financial crime (AML, Sanctions, ABC & Fraud), regulatory and reputational risks end-to-end. This role will work with the global and regional Products, Business Risk, Operations, Technology and Compliance teams to identify and assess emerging risks to ultimately ensure there is a control infrastructure in place can address them in a meaningful and effective manner. Equally, the incumbent will ensure adequate mapping and ongoing assessment of existing controls, focusing on their effectiveness, as well as adherence to existing groupwide and local policies and applicable regulation.  

The role will assist the prompt identification of control issues, root cause assessment, sustainable and robust issue resolution and appropriate escalation. The individual will also work with counterparts across other Citi lines of business to share control best practices, emerging risks and support management of financial crime and other regulatory risks holistically across the firm.

The role requires a broad and comprehensive understanding of digital assets and of the risks associated to this asset class, as well as effective means to mitigate them.  Requires solid conceptual/practical grounding in Risk Management, compliance, and operational controls, together with industry and peer best practices. 

What you’ll do:

• Understand business-owned products, services, as well as corresponding financial crimes-related controls, and processes (e.g., customer, relationship, and transactional screening).
• Provide financial crimes & regulatory compliance/risk management subject matter expertise to the Services businesses to ensure the design and implementation of a coherent and effective control environment.
• Support design and ongoing adaptations of the control framework to ensure effective and robust risk management.
• Drive execution ensuring compliance with applicable laws, rules, and regulations.
• 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 defence.
• Escalate, assist management and reporting of control issues.
• Drive a consistent and holistic approach to Financial Crimes, Reputational and Regulatory risk management across Services Digital Assets.
• Ensure early engagement on new business initiatives to provide timely support of commercial priorities and full adherence to global and regional risk management policies and procedures.
• Conduct reviews of control 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 and expand 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 Operations, and Technology.
• 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 Control and in-business risk teams to ensure a consistent holistic approach to risk management.
• Ensure robust and adequate reporting to senior management.
• Help identify opportunities for streamlining processes and implement efficiencies that will lead to enhanced client experience.
• Support the timely response to regulatory inquiries.

What we’ll need from you:

• Significant experience in financial crime/regulatory compliance or risk management in both a bank and VASPs.
• Financial Crime certification preferred (ACAMS, ACSS etc.).
• Strong professional experience in Financial Services, in Financial Crime and/or Compliance or Business/Product Operations and/or Risk & Controls with focus on Digital Assets.
• Knowledge and understanding of blockchain technology and digital assets (i.e. stablecoins, cryptocurrencies) and related financial crime risks.
• Understanding of Global Crypto Regulations and VASP Licensing & Compliance requirements.
• 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.
• Proven people and team management skills.
• 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 analyses a process and recommend ways to improve quality, controls, and efficiency.
• Bachelor’s/University degree or equivalent required; master’s degree desirable.

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.

By joining Citi London, you will not only be part of a business casual workplace with a hybrid working model (up to 2 days working at home per week), but also receive a competitive base salary (which is annually reviewed), and enjoy a whole host of additional benefits such as: 

• Generous holiday allowance starting at 27 days plus bank holidays; increasing with tenure
• A discretional annual performance related bonus 
• Private medical insurance packages to suit your personal circumstances
• Employee Assistance Program  
• Pension Plan 
• Paid Parental Leave 
• Special discounts for employees, family, and friends 
• Access to an array of learning and development resources 

Alongside these benefits 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. 

Sounds like Citi has everything you need? Then apply to discover the true extent of your capabilities.

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Job Family Group:

Risk Management

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Job Family:

Enterprise Risk

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Time Type:

Full time

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Most Relevant Skills

Analytical Thinking, Business Acumen, Constructive Debate, Escalation Management, Issue Management, Policy and Procedure, Policy and Regulation, Risk Controls and Monitors, Risk Identification and Assessment, Stakeholder Management.

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Other Relevant Skills

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

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