AML & Financial Crime Assistant Vice President

SMBC: A trusted partner for the long term

Here at SMBC Group, we want to help you find the next step in your career so read on to discover if this opportunity is the one for you. We like to recognise potential in our people, so we welcome your application even when your experience doesn’t perfectly align with the job description. Whilst we’ll always strive to be better, we’re proud of our inclusive culture, and encourage our applicants and colleagues to be their authentic, unique selves.

Who we are

United by a sense of purpose towards our customers – to be a trusted partner for the long-term – and our universal banking platform in EMEA, SMBC Group has an international growth agenda and award-winning products, meaning we provide exciting opportunities to work on a diverse range of projects and initiatives. We deliver a full suite of corporate finance products and solutions to our customers as well as investment banking and advisory services, and a range of innovative solutions in global capital markets. Read on to find out how you could enhance your skills and gain valuable experience, by joining us to support our clients transition to a sustainable future.

Role Summary

Is the next step in your career at SMBC Group EMEA?

We’re looking for an Transaction Monitoring AVP to join our Finanacil Crime Management Group team (part of OPPD).

The AVP will support the enhancement of the first-line Transaction Monitoring capability, including implementation, tuning, validation and ongoing effectiveness of AML monitoring platforms. The role will also support wider Financial Crime risk management, regulatory compliance and operating model improvements through collaboration with Operations, Technology, Change and Compliance.

Essential requirements of the role

• Support the implementation and enhancement of Transaction Monitoring platforms, including customer segmentation, rule configuration, tuning, model validation, system integration and production deployment.
• Monitor system and rule performance, risk coverage, compliance issues and audit findings, delivering remediation actions and continuous control improvements.
• Conduct data analysis and requirements gathering, translating business and regulatory needs into clear technical and functional specifications.

Candidate requirements

• Strong Transaction Monitoring and AML expertise, including risk and coverage assessments, customer profiling, rule configuration, tuning and system implementation, preferably involving Actimize SAM.
• Hands-on analytical and technical capability, including experience with SQL or Python and data visualisation tools such as Tableau or Power BI.
• Broad banking and Financial Crime experience across multiple products, jurisdictions and lines of defence, supported by strong communication, stakeholder management and problem-solving skills.

The anticipated salary range for this role is £54,000 - £81,000, with the final offer determined based on the candidate’s skills, experience, role scope, location, and relevant market factors. In addition to base salary, the role may be eligible for a discretionary incentive award and a competitive benefits package, including core benefits such as pension provision

Business Area

The Financial Crime Management Group (FCMG) helps protect SMBC by strengthening the systems, rules, controls and analysis that support financial crime risk management across EMEA. The team focuses on Transaction Monitoring, Sanctions, Fraud and Customer Due Diligence, ensuring detection frameworks remain effective, risk-aligned and continuously improving.

FCMG plays a critical role in SMBC EMEA’s First Line of Defence (1LoD). The Rules & List Management Utility (R&LMU) manages Financial Crime (FC) controls across key domains—Transaction Monitoring (TM), Sanctions, and Fraud—by maintaining and optimising automated detection systems. This includes rule design, configuration, and tuning to align with SMBC’s risk appetite and regulatory requirements across EMEA. The team strengthens SMBC’s FC capability by safeguarding client journeys throughout the lifecycle, leveraging analytics to identify emerging risks and behavioural patterns, and collaborating with Operations, Compliance, and Technology to ensure detection models remain robust and responsive.

In addition to TM, Sanctions, and Fraud, R&LMU supports Client Lifecycle Management (CLM) and Customer Due Diligence (CDD) processes, enhancing onboarding and due diligence controls. Responsibilities include monitoring and tuning CLM/CDD systems, resolving production issues, and acting as a liaison with technology teams to maintain system integrity. OPPD also oversees major transformation initiatives, including deployment of the new cloud-based CDD platform, driving continuous improvement and transparency across EMEA, safeguarding data quality and downstream reporting, and ensuring compliance frameworks support SMBC’s strategic growth objectives.

Beyond operational responsibilities, OPPD teams act as Financial Crime subject matter experts (SMEs) within 1LoD, working closely with Compliance and Internal Audit, our Second and Third Lines of Defence (2LoD and 3LoD) teams, to ensure SMBC’s strategy, policies, and standards are clearly interpreted and implemented in a pragmatic and compliant manner. This collaboration ensures alignment across all lines of defence and supports a strong, sustainable financial crime risk management framework, aligning with the widely accepted 3 Lines of Defence industry best practice.
The role forms part of the Financial Crime Management Group and supports the continued development of a sustainable data analytics, management information and reporting capability across financial crime.

Position Description

Accountabilities and responsibilities for the role include:

• Supporting the TM VP on the implementation of new TM Platforms including customer segmentation modelling
• Driving delivery of tuning, effectiveness, system upgrades, and integration
• Supporting IT and Change with production deployment
• Monitoring rule performance, risk, compliance, and audit findings, and leading the implementation of continuous improvements, remediation actions, and control uplifts
• Share knowledge and contribute to best practices within FCMG
• Keeping up to date with the latest technical developments within analytics and making sure that changes to industry best practices are adopted.
• Conducting analysis including data gathering and requirements specification in collaboration with business stakeholders.

Competencies

Customer FocusDriving ChangeDriving ResultsEmbraces DiversityEnterprise LeadershipJudgement and Decision MakingRisk ManagementStrategic and VisionaryTrust and Integrity

What we offer

For all the expertise and experience you bring to help us make a difference, it’s only sustainable if we support you to build your career and be your best self so we offer competitive company benefits, centred around promoting positive well-bring and work-life balance. We also believe in fostering a diverse and inclusive work environment, where all team members perspectives and contributions are valued. Initiatives in place which promote a diverse and inclusive culture and healthy work life balance include hybrid working, Sport & Social Clubs and Diversity and Inclusion networks.

As an employee of SMBC you have access to a host of both useful and exciting benefit offerings. See below some of the benefits on offer to you:

• Hybrid and flexible working
• Competitive paid leave days
• Benefits to support your physical wellbeing, including private medical insurance and life and invalidity insurance
• Various policies to support your mental wellbeing, including a robust behavioural health network with counselling and coaching services
• Access a wide range of learning and development opportunities and career progression opportunities
• Ambitious remuneration package

So, if you like a challenge and want to continuously grow and develop in a role where you will be supported along the way by a dynamic and diverse team, apply today!!

We recognise our role as a bank to support social change and welcome all applications, including those from groups often under-represented in financial services. We value the uniqueness of professional and personal, backgrounds and perspectives as they play a vital role in continuing the sustainable growth of our organisation. We’ll ensure reasonable adjustments to our recruitment process are offered due to a disability or long-term condition whenever requested.

We are committed to transparent and equitable pay practices. Compensation is determined using objective criteria, including skills, experience, and role responsibilities, and applied consistently throughout our recruitment processes. We do not request candidates' pay history and are committed to preventing unjustified pay disparities.