Services Operations Sanctions Director – Level 2 Payments Lead

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Job Overview

Services is a market leading, award-winning provider of cash management, cards, trade and custody solutions to financial institutions, public sector and corporate clients around the world. With a global network spanning 90+ countries, we are uniquely qualified to service clients with local and cross-border interests and provide integrated reporting and management. Services is a highly innovative organization with a strong digital agenda; new products and services are continuously being developed to meet our clients rapidly evolving treasury requirements and unlock new opportunities for growth.

The Services Operations Sanctions Director – function supports sanctions processes globally across Citi’s Services business. This function strives to a) Make Sanctions processes a competitive advantage; (b) Drive efficient, agile technology and processes (c) Full compliance to strategic operating model across Services lines of business (d) Build strong risk / controls focus, ensure minimal surprises and (e) Deliver on all targeted improvement programs.

This role serves as the senior Services Operations manager directly managing a team of circa 300+ (for payments) full time employees responsible for sanctions disposition processes for countries that are centralized in processing hubs globally. The Manager will be responsible to provide best-in-class service to clients while maintaining risk levels within the firm's risk appetite and protecting the franchise in a manner consistent with the Citi policies and risk framework.

Key Activities:

• Manage Level 2 Payments activities at Hubs globally and ensure all processes are performed in accordance with policies, procedures and exceed OKRs laid out by the Management.
• Manage staff performance and drive continuous improvement of quality of processes and productivity targets.
• Oversee quality reviews and results, budget, policy formulation, and planning.
• Lead and drive employee engagement and career development of teams in Level 2 teams and across Services Sanctions Operations.
• Operate in a fast-paced environment that requires management of work queues, either directly or through others.
• Continuously review processes and drive operational efficiency.
• Ensure a robust risk and control framework; work closely with Risk & Control and ICRM Sanctions partners to ensure management self-assessments, corrective action plans, and other Risk and Control deliverables are completed on time.
• Work with Client Service Teams to ensure client escalations are addressed timely and such instances are minimized over time.
• Resolve highly complex and varying issues that have substantial potential impact.
• Perform proactive reviews to prevent processing issues, failures in controls, identifies root causes of issues, oversees remediation efforts, and ensures sustainability of such efforts.
• Represent Services Sanctions Operations on critical sanctions matters as required. Serves as liaison with Internal Audit, and Compliance Assurance Teams on critical Compliance issues and oversee the implementation of related remediation.
• Collaborate with internal areas including: ICRM Sanctions, Control Functions, FinCrime Functions and In-Business Risk to address compliance issues which may impact Services business, products and procedures and ensures learnings are deeply embedded across Operations teams.
• Manage multiple teams including remote teams and provide support to peers in other processing centers.
• Staying abreast of relevant changes to Citi sanctions policies, identifies impact of such changes on Services procedures and proactively works with internal teams globally to adopt such changes in manner that is consistent with policies and is sustainable on the long run.

Education level and relevant experience:

• Experience in Transaction Banking products and handling regulatory / compliance matters; experience with influencing cross functional teams, experience in handling policies, issues and remediation.
• 10+ years of relevant regional and/or global experience in a financial institution.
• Bachelors’ degree in any subject would be preferred.
• An advanced degree (e.g. Masters, MBA) OR certification like ACAMS would be an advantage.

Knowledge and skills:

• Experience with and previous exposure to managing large teams, control / risk / compliance related functions.
• Demonstrated ability to synthesize information, prioritize business goals and drive results with a high sense of urgency.
• Strong interpersonal, influencing and written/verbal communications skills.
• Proven Analytical ability. Pragmatic problem solver, forward thinker with independence of thought.
• Ability to create support and buy-in across a wide range of stakeholders; create a strong network of relationships among peers, internal partners, and decision makers.
• Promotes a culture of collaboration and teamwork across organizational boundaries; willing to break down functional silos to optimize business results and to facilitate the overall growth of the franchise.
• Demonstrated success in driving and implementing process excellence.
• Demonstrable ability to interact with senior management and clients.
• Experience in performing complex problem solving and business trade off decisions.
• Ability to prioritize is key as is ability to juggle several tasks at once.
• Proven ability to meet new challenges, assimilate new information and to influence people through maturity of approach.
• Demonstrated success in Change Management / Process Re-engineering.

What we can offer you:

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 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:

Operations - Transaction Services

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Job Family:

Cash Management

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Time Type:

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Most Relevant Skills

Please see the requirements listed above.

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Other Relevant Skills

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

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