Manager, Compliance Operations

About the RoleWe are looking for an experienced compliance professional to join our team as a Manager, Compliance Operations. In this role, you will be responsible for managing a team of compliance specialists focused on entity due diligence. You will oversee the full lifecycle of onboarding and ongoing due diligence, ensuring that SWIFT’s regulatory requirements and internal standards are consistently met. You will also provide strategic leadership, guide complex risk assessments, and collaborate with senior leadership to drive continuous improvement across the compliance function.

What to Expect:

• Leadership & Team Management:

  • Lead, mentor, and manage a team of compliance operations specialists, ensuring high performance in meeting due diligence and compliance objectives.

  • Foster a culture of accountability, continuous learning, and proactive problem-solving within the team.

  • Manage resource allocation, team workload, and ensure timely completion of key deliverables.

  • Conduct regular team meetings, performance reviews, and provide development opportunities for team members.

• Strategic Oversight of Due Diligence:

  • Oversee comprehensive due diligence and risk assessments for onboarding corporate entities, ensuring that risks are properly mitigated and controls are effective.

  • Develop, maintain, and enhance compliance policies, procedures, and standards in line with SWIFT’s regulatory requirements.

  • Drive improvements to compliance workflows, ensuring consistency, efficiency, and compliance with regulatory changes.

• Regulatory Compliance & Risk Management:

  • Stay abreast of regulatory changes and industry best practices to ensure SWIFT’s compliance framework remains aligned with all applicable legal standards.

  • Act as the point of escalation for high-risk and complex compliance issues, providing guidance to the team and ensuring appropriate resolutions.

  • Monitor the effectiveness of existing compliance controls and recommend enhancements as needed.

  • Ensure ongoing monitoring and evaluation of high-risk clients in alignment with SWIFT’s risk appetite.

• Stakeholder Engagement & Collaboration:

  • Build and maintain strong relationships with internal stakeholders, including legal, finance, risk, and senior leadership, to ensure smooth cross-functional collaboration.

  • Act as the primary point of contact for regulatory inquiries related to due diligence and customer onboarding processes.

  • Collaborate with the business development and customer support teams to ensure the compliance function supports smooth client onboarding experiences.

  • Report regularly to senior leadership on team performance, emerging risks, and compliance program effectiveness.

• Process Improvement & Project Leadership:

  • Lead projects to enhance and optimize compliance processes, utilizing data-driven insights to identify opportunities for improvement.

  • Coordinate the development and implementation of new tools, systems, or procedures that improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the compliance operations function.

  • Ensure that the compliance team is fully trained on new regulations, policies, and processes.

  • Lead the creation of reports and presentations for internal and external stakeholders, including regulatory bodies as required.

What You Need to Be Successful:

• Experience:

  • Minimum 8 years of relevant experience in legal, compliance, KYC/CDD, or a related area.

  • Proven leadership experience with at least 5 years of managing and mentoring teams in a compliance function.

  • Extensive experience in conducting high-risk customer due diligence, risk assessments, and ensuring compliance with international standards.

• Technical Knowledge:

  • Strong understanding in compliance domains, including KYC (Know Your Customer), due diligence, customer onboarding, financial crime, AML (anti-money laundering), CTF (counter-terrorism financing), fraud detection, sanctions regulations, and related regulatory compliance requirements.

  • Thorough knowledge of the financial crime regulatory environment and industry best practices.

• Professional Certifications:

  • Relevant certifications such as ACAMS, ICA Diploma, CCEP, or CRCM are highly desirable.

• Communication & Leadership Skills:

  • Strong communication skills with the ability to clearly convey complex information to diverse audiences, including senior leadership.

  • Proven ability to lead a team, manage cross-functional relationships, and influence decision-making at higher levels.

• Detail-Oriented & Strategic Thinking:

  • Highly detail-oriented with the ability to manage multiple projects and deadlines simultaneously.

  • A strategic mindset, capable of identifying long-term goals and objectives for the compliance function.

• Educational Background:

  • Bachelor’s degree (preferably with a focus on legal, compliance, or business-related fields). A Master’s degree or relevant qualifications would be advantageous.

What we offer

We put you in control of career

We give you a competitive package

We help you perform at your best

We help you make a difference

We give you the freedom to be yourself

We give you the freedom to be yourself. We are creating an environment of unique individuals – like you – with different perspectives on the financial industry and the world. An environment in which everyone’s voice counts and where you can reach your full potential regardless of age, background, culture, colour, disability, gender, nationality, race, religion, or veteran/military status.