KYC Operations Manager (UAE Nationals Only)

Citi; Dubai; On-site; AED 300,000 - 520,000; Full time

Job summary

Citi in Dubai is seeking a senior KYC Operations leader to oversee KYC policies, control environment, and program management for BAU and Refresh initiatives. You will drive onboarding improvements, manage performance, and coordinate with Compliance, Business, and Senior Management on regulatory priorities.

The role requires strong leadership, risk awareness, and the ability to operate with limited supervision, delivering timely MIS to senior leadership and ensuring high standards of conduct and

Qualifications

• 5-8 years of experience in KYC or related compliance roles.
• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience required.

Responsibilities

• Manage and lead KYC operations in Citi compliance policies and oversee the KYC control environment.
• Lead and oversee program management of KYC BAU and Refresh processes, driving migration into the global operating model.
• Provide effective people leadership, including performance management, coaching, and development of team members.
• Serve as a liaison between Compliance, Business, and Senior Management on regulatory requirements and risk priorities.
• Oversee new client onboarding activities and drive process improvements for efficiency and controls.
• Deliver MIS reporting to senior management with insights on performance, risks and metrics.
• Ensure regulatory compliance, internal policies, and control standards while mitigating risks.
• Drive operational excellence through optimization and stakeholder engagement in KYC and client lifecycle management.
• Monitor daily account refresh activities to meet regulatory and documentation timelines.
• Conduct QA reviews of onboarding and refresh cases to ensure Citi policies and quality standards.
• Maintain the Book of Work for system releases and process enhancements with stakeholder alignment.
• Operate with limited supervision, showing initiative and accountability in day-to-day decisions.
• Demonstrate independence in managing complex cases and stakeholder interactions.
• Act as SME, guiding senior stakeholders and teams on KYC, regulatory and operational matters.
• Lead teams with accountability, collaboration, and high performance.
• Identify and manage risks in onboarding, maintenance, and KYC processes with proper escalation.
• Safeguard Citi and assets by complying with laws, policies, and ethical standards.
• Promote risk and control culture by escalating and reporting control issues to ensure oversight.
• Partner with Compliance, AML, Operations and Business teams to drive regulatory compliance and process improvements.
• Ensure delivery of team objectives, quality metrics, and SLAs while supporting strategic priorities.

Education

Bachelor’s degree/University degree or equivalent experience

Job description

Responsibilities

• Manage and lead KYC operations, including executing processes in accordance with Citi compliance policies and overseeing the KYC control environment
• Lead and oversee the program management of existing KYC Business-as-Usual (BAU) and Refresh processes, while driving the migration and integration of additional functions into the global operating model
• Provide effective people leadership, including performance management, coaching, and development of team members, while ensuring all service level agreements (SLAs) and operational standards are consistently met
• Serve as a key liaison between Compliance, Business, and Senior Management stakeholders, ensuring alignment on regulatory requirements, risk management priorities, and operational objectives
• Oversee new client onboarding activities and drive process improvement initiatives aimed at enhancing efficiency, strengthening controls, and improving the overall client onboarding experience
• Deliver accurate and timely Management Information System (MIS) reporting to senior management, providing insights into performance, risks, and key metrics, while ensuring delivery against BAU and Refresh Program targets
• Ensure compliance with regulatory requirements, internal policies, and control standards, while proactively identifying and mitigating operational, compliance, and reputational risks
• Drive operational excellence through continuous process optimization, stakeholder engagement, and implementation of strategic initiatives supporting the firm’s KYC and client lifecycle management objectives
• Monitor account refresh activities on a daily basis to ensure all regulatory, compliance, and documentation requirements are completed within established timelines
• Conduct quality assurance reviews of new client onboarding and periodic refresh cases, ensuring adherence to Citi policies, regulatory requirements, and established quality standards prior to case closure
• Maintain and manage the Book of Work for system releases, process enhancements, and infrastructure improvements, ensuring successful implementation and stakeholder alignment
• Demonstrate the ability to operate effectively with limited direct supervision, exercising sound judgment, initiative, and accountability in day-to-day decision‑making
• Exercise a high degree of independence, judgment, and autonomy in managing complex cases, operational issues, and stakeholder interactions
• Serve as a Subject Matter Expert (SME), providing guidance, training, and support to senior stakeholders and team members on KYC, regulatory, and operational matters
• Lead and manage teams effectively by fostering a culture of accountability, collaboration, continuous improvement, and high performance
• Proactively identify, assess, and manage risks associated with client onboarding, account maintenance, and KYC processes, ensuring appropriate escalation and resolution of issues
• Safeguard Citi, its clients, and assets by ensuring compliance with applicable laws, regulations, policies, and control requirements, while maintaining the highest standards of professional conduct and ethical behavior
• Promote a strong risk and control culture by transparently escalating, managing, and reporting control issues, ensuring effective oversight of team activities and accountability for maintaining established standards
• Partner with key stakeholders across Compliance, AML, Operations, and Business teams to drive regulatory compliance, operational excellence, and continuous process improvement initiatives
• Ensure delivery of team objectives, quality metrics, productivity targets, and service level agreements while supporting strategic business and regulatory priorities

Qualifications

• 5-8 years of experience

Education

• Bachelor’s degree/University degree or equivalent experience

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