Director of KYC Operations

emergiTEL Inc.; Montreal; Hybrid; CAD 120,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading financial institution is seeking a Director of KYC Operations to oversee KYC activities across global banking platforms. This high-profile role involves driving quality and compliance, managing cross-regional teams, and enhancing operational efficiency within a dynamic banking environment.

Benefits

Competitive compensation package

Hybrid work flexibility

Qualifications

• 11+ years of professional experience in KYC and client onboarding.
• Proven leadership in managing teams under tight timelines.
• Strong understanding of global regulatory compliance frameworks.

Responsibilities

• Lead and mentor KYC analysts, fostering a collaborative environment.
• Oversee KYC onboarding and periodic reviews.
• Drive process improvements and ensure compliance with regulations.

Skills

Bilingual: French and English

Excellent communication

Stakeholder management

Conflict resolution skills

Analytical mindset

Education

Bachelor's Degree or equivalent in Business, Finance, Law

Job description

A leading financial institution is seeking aDirector of KYC Operationsto oversee a cross-regional team supporting Know Your Customer (KYC) activities across global banking platforms. This leadership role is ideal for a KYC expert with a strong command of regulatory compliance, operational excellence, and team development in the context of Commercial and Investment Banking (CIB).

You’ll be responsible for driving quality, performance, and strategic alignment across KYC operations while collaborating with stakeholders from Front Office, Risk, Financial Security, and global data management teams. This is a high-visibility role with a critical impact on internal control, audit readiness, and compliance with regulatory frameworks.

Key Responsibilities

Leadership & Team Management

• Lead and mentor KYC analysts and checkers, fostering a collaborative and high-performance environment.
• Create a culture of accountability, trust, and continuous improvement.
• Set clear goals and ensure alignment with business priorities and compliance standards.
• Contribute to broader operational strategy as part of the leadership committee for the KYC/data governance function.

Operational Excellence

• Oversee the delivery and quality of KYC onboarding and periodic reviews.
• Ensure consistent processes, roles, and communications across teams and regions.
• Coordinate with stakeholders across Front Office, Risk, Compliance, and Support Functions to align expectations and resolve issues.

Process Improvement & Data Management

• Drive process improvements and automation to enhance productivity and reduce risk.
• Oversee data quality initiatives and the local referential for client and financial instrument data.
• Manage change implementations stemming from regulatory or policy updates.

Project Management & Change Leadership

• Lead cross-functional projects and contribute to transformation initiatives related to KYC and data governance.
• Manage resource planning, budgeting, and forecasting in collaboration with department heads.

Compliance, Controls & Audit Readiness

• Maintain strong internal control frameworks and support audit processes.
• Partner with Risk and Compliance teams to ensure operations meet legal and regulatory standards.
• Serve as the primary point of contact for internal control committees and audit stakeholders.

Qualifications & Experience

Required:

• Bachelor's Degree or equivalent in Business, Finance, Law, or a related field.
• 11+ years of professional experience, including:
  • Significant experience in KYC, GRM, or Client Onboarding functions
  • Background in Commercial or Investment Banking environments
• Proven leadership in managing teams under tight timelines and quality controls
• Strong understanding of global regulatory requirements and compliance frameworks

Desirable:

• Experience with market data creation (e.g., bond, equity, and rates data)
• Project management or change leadership experience in financial operations

Skills & Competencies

Essential:

• Bilingual: French and English (spoken and written)
• Excellent communication, stakeholder management, and conflict resolution skills
• Strong analytical mindset and ability to influence decision-making
• Ability to develop individuals and build cohesive teams
• Familiarity with Canadian, U.S., and global regulatory KYC requirements

Nice to Have:

• Experience working across multicultural teams or global hubs
• Exposure to financial instrument referential systems

Why Join?

• Influence mission-critical compliance functions at the core of a global banking operation
• Lead cross-border teams and partner with senior stakeholders across risk, compliance, and front office
• Drive innovation and operational excellence in a high-impact leadership role
• Competitive compensation package and hybrid work flexibility