Senior Manager Sanctions Operations

Bendigo Bank; Melbourne; Hybrid; AUD 180,000 - 260,000; Full time

Job summary

Bendigo Bank is seeking a Senior Manager, Sanctions Operations, to lead the sanctions screening, investigations and risk management activities within the AML/CTF & Sanctions Operations team. Located in Australia with hybrid work options, the role focuses on delivering strong regulatory compliance and operational excellence.

You will drive screening effectiveness, foster a high-performing team and ensure timely escalation of sanctions-related cases, while implementing strategic improvements

Qualifications

• Significant experience in sanctions screening and AML operations in financial services.
• Experience managing operational teams responsible for sanctions screening/investigations.
• Strong knowledge of sanctions regulations, screening processes and risk management.
• Excellent analytical and investigative abilities for complex financial crime activity.
• Strong stakeholder management across senior risk stakeholders.
• ACAMS/AFCS are desirable qualifications.

Responsibilities

• Lead the Sanctions Operations team to review, investigate and escalate alerts in a timely, risk-based manner.
• Drive operational excellence in screening and investigation processes.
• Contribute to strategy by planning to strengthen screening and investigations capability.
• Build and mentor a high-performing team with accountability and continuous improvement.
• Manage sanctions risks through screening, investigations and decision making in compliance.
• Identify emerging sanctions risks and support controls/mitigation strategies.
• Lead change initiatives to implement improvements across the function.

Skills

Sanctions screening

AML operations

Financial crime operations

Team leadership

Stakeholder management

Analytical skills

Education

Tertiary qualification in a relevant field

Financial crime qualification (ACAMS/AFCS) desirable

Job description

We've never been ‘just a bank'. Just like you should never be ‘just an employee'. We're united in our belief that in banking, better can be bigger, and together we're making it happen.

It starts here. With Bendigo Bank… and you.

About the opportunity

As part of our landmark transformation, we are seeking Senior Manager, Sanctions Operations, reporting to Head of AML/CTF & Sanctions Operations.

You will lead BEN's Sanctions Operations function, responsible for managing sanctions screening, investigations and risk management activities to protect BEN from regulatory, reputational and financial risks.

As a key member of the AML/CTF & Sanctions Operations leadership team, you will drive operational excellence, regulatory compliance and continuous improvement, ensuring the function delivers strong risk outcomes and meets BEN's sanctions regulatory obligations.

In this role you'll get to…

• Lead the Sanctions Operations team to ensure customer and payment screening alerts are reviewed, investigated and escalated in a timely, risk based and consistent manner in accordance with BEN's AML/CTF Program and sanctions regulatory obligations.
• Drive operational excellence across sanctions screening and investigation processes, ensuring activities are performed efficiently, consistently and in line with BEN's financial crime frameworks and service expectations.
• Support the delivery of the AML/CTF & Sanctions Operations strategy by developing and executing plans that strengthen BEN's sanctions screening and investigation capability.
• Build and lead a high performing team, fostering a culture of accountability, operational excellence and continuous improvement.
• Lead the management of sanctions risks through effective screening, investigation and decision making, ensuring compliance with applicable sanctions obligations and regulatory expectations.
• Identify emerging sanctions risks, trends and themes and support the implementation of effective controls and mitigation strategies across the Sanctions Operations function.
• Lead and support change initiatives impacting the Sanctions Operation function, ensuring successful implementation and adoption across the team.

What you'll bring to the role

• Significant experience in sanctions screening, AML operations or financial crime operations within financial services.
• Demonstrated experience managing operational teams responsible for sanctions screening and investigations.
• Strong knowledge of sanctions regulations, screening processes and sanctions risk management with an understanding of customer and payment screening systems and sanction typologies
• Excellent analytical and investigation skills with the ability to assess complex financial crime activity
• Strong stakeholder management and influencing capability across senior business and risk stakeholders.
• Tertiary qualification in a relevant field with Financial Crime Industry qualification such as ACAMS, AFCS highly desirable.

This is a permanent, full-time opportunity, ideally located in Melbourne, Bendigo or Adelaide but for an outstanding candidate other locations may be considered..

We offer flexible work options that put our people first, working in a hybrid model with a minimum local Head Office attendance requirement determined by your Leader, to find a rhythm that works best for you and your team. We believe that coming into the office some of the time is the best way to learn, stay connected and collaborate effectively, especially for key activities like team days, 1:1s, and town halls.

We believe a diverse workforce supported by an inclusive culture is central to our success and we actively encourage applications from those who bring diversity of thought to our business. We support candidate requests for adjustment to accommodate an illness, injury, or disability to equitably participate in the selection process.

Still in two minds?

Research suggests 60% of women and underrepresented groups might stop here, even after getting as far as drafting an application. We believe that diversity makes every team stronger, so even if you don't tick every box we still want to see your application!