Senior AML / KYC Specialist

Hollybank Trustees Ltd; Toronto; Hybrid; CAD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

PAYALLY GLOBAL is seeking a detail-oriented Senior AML/KYC Analyst to support client onboarding, ongoing due diligence and quality-control across the group. This global role covers Canada and multiple jurisdictions, with a hybrid schedule in downtown Toronto.

You will conduct customer reviews, apply CDD/EDD measures, perform sanctions and adverse media screening, and prepare risk assessments while coordinating with Sales, Compliance and Relationship Management teams.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of experience of KYC/KYB, customer onboarding and/or financial crime compliance experience including experience with higher-risk clients and complex corporate ownership structures.
• Experience within payments, banking, fintech, MSBs or other regulated financial-services businesses (FINTRAC-regulated).
• Experience managing complex onboarding cases while balancing regulatory requirements, risk and customer experience.
• Preference will be given to candidates with CAMS, CFCS, CAMLi, or other equivalent.
• Strong knowledge of customer due diligence, beneficial ownership requirements. Sanctions, PEP/RCA screening, adverse media and enhanced due diligence.
• Experience conducting and documenting customer risk assessments.
• Strong analytical and investigative skills, with the ability to identify inconsistencies, gaps and financial crime risks.
• Sound decision-making skills and the ability to make clear, defensible recommendations.
• Experience identifying potentially suspicious activity and escalating matters for consideration of SAR/STR reporting.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• A hands-on, proactive approach with the ability to take ownership and drive cases through to completion.
• Comfortable working with stakeholders across different countries and time zones.
• Ability to work independently during extended North American coverage hours while remaining closely aligned with the wider KYC team.
• Experience with speaking in front of committees and various groups of stakeholders.
• Experience providing guidance, training or mentoring colleagues is an asset.

Responsibilities

• Overseeing Customer Onboarding and ongoing due diligence for individuals and corporate entities across multiple jurisdictions.
• Review and evaluate information, corporate documentation, and supporting evidence required for customer identification, and identity verification.
• Ensure documentation is complete, current, valid and appropriate for the applicable client and jurisdiction.
• Prepare requests for additional information, explanations and supporting documentation through the established Sales and Relationship Management workflow.
• Apply appropriate CDD, ODD and EDD measures according to the client risk classification and identified risk factors.
• Perform and/or evaluate sanctions, PEP/RCA and adverse media screening during onboarding and ongoing monitoring. Prepare and document Customer Risk Assessments, identifying relevant financial crime and regulatory risks and recommend appropriate mitigating measures (if applicable).
• Assess whether a business relationship may be established, maintained, restricted, or terminated and elevate the case in accordance with established approval procedures.
• Prepare cases and provide clear, evidence-based recommendations for final approval or escalation.
• Identify unusual or potentially suspicious actively and elevate concerns to the MLRO in accordance with established procedures. Perform quality control reviews of onboarding and ongoing due diligence cases and identify inconsistencies, deficiencies an opportunity for improvement.
• Support the review and continuous improvement of AML/CTF, KYC/KYB procedures, onboarding checklists, risk mythologies and related controls.
• Apply jurisdiction specific regulatory requirements where necessary while operating within the Group’s global KYC framework.
• Support efficiency handover and continuity of cases between European and North American working hours.
• Provide guidance to Sales and Relationship Management teams regarding KYC documentation and onboarding requirements.
• Participate in training, knowledge transfers and continuous process improvement across the KYC function.
• Undertake other operational KYC responsibilities as required.

Skills

KYC/KYB

AML

Customer onboarding

Regulatory compliance

Sanctions screening

PEP/RCA

Enhanced due diligence

CAMS

Analytical skills

Job description

Location: Hybrid / Toronto, ON, Canada
job type: Permanent / Full-time
Sector and subsector: Banking & Financial Services | Compliance
Salary: Negotiable salary

The Role

We are looking for a detail-oriented, analytical and experienced Senior AML/KYC Analyst to support client onboarding, ongoing due diligence and quality-control across PAYALLY GLOBAL. This is a global KYC role supporting clients across multiple jurisdictions, including Canada.

You will work closely with the wider KYC, Compliance, Sales and Relationship Management teams and will be responsible for conducting customer reviews, identifying financial crime risks, applying appropriate due diligence measures and ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements and internal policies.

The role is hybrid and the successful candidate will be expected to attend our offices in downtown Toronto twice per week.

Key Responsibilities

• Overseeing Customer Onboarding and ongoing due diligence for individuals and corporate entities across multiple jurisdictions.
• Review and evaluate information, corporate documentation, and supporting evidence required for customer identification, and identity verification.
• Ensure documentation is complete, current, valid and appropriate for the applicable client and jurisdiction.
• Prepare requests for additional information, explanations and supporting documentation through the established Sales and Relationship Management workflow.
• Apply appropriate CDD, ODD and EDD measures according to the client risk classification and identified risk factors.
• Perform and/or evaluate sanctions, PEP/RCA and adverse media screening during onboarding and ongoing monitoring. Prepare and document Customer Risk Assessments, identifying relevant financial crime and regulatory risks and recommend appropriate mitigating measures (if applicable).
• Assess whether a business relationship may be established, maintained, restricted, or terminated and elevate the case in accordance with established approval procedures.
• Prepare cases and provide clear, evidence-based recommendations for final approval or escalation.
• Identify unusual or potentially suspicious actively and elevate concerns to the MLRO in accordance with established procedures. Perform quality control reviews of onboarding and ongoing due diligence cases and identify inconsistencies, deficiencies an opportunity for improvement.
• Support the review and continuous improvement of AML/CTF, KYC/KYB procedures, onboarding checklists, risk mythologies and related controls.
• Apply jurisdiction specific regulatory requirements where necessary while operating within the Group’s global KYC framework.
• Support efficiency handover and continuity of cases between European and North American working hours.
• Provide guidance to Sales and Relationship Management teams regarding KYC documentation and onboarding requirements.
• Participate in training, knowledge transfers and continuous process improvement across the KYC function.
• Undertake other operational KYC responsibilities as required.

Key Requirements:

• 5+ years of experience of KYC/KYB, customer onboarding and/or financial crime compliance experience including experience with higher-risk clients and complex corporate ownership structures.
• Experience within payments, banking, fintech, MSBs or other regulated financial-services businesses (FINTRAC-regulated).
• Experience managing complex onboarding cases while balancing regulatory requirements, risk and customer experience.
• Preference will be given to candidates with CAMS, CFCS, CAMLi, or other equivalent.
• Strong knowledge of customer due diligence, beneficial ownership requirements. Sanctions, PEP/RCA screening, adverse media and enhanced due diligence.
• Experience conducting and documenting customer risk assessments.
• Strong analytical and investigative skills, with the ability to identify inconsistencies, gaps and financial crime risks.
• Sound decision-making skills and the ability to make clear, defensible recommendations.
• Experience identifying potentially suspicious activity and escalating matters for consideration of SAR/STR reporting.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• A hands-on, proactive approach with the ability to take ownership and drive cases through to completion.
• Comfortable working with stakeholders across different countries and time zones.
• Ability to work independently during extended North American coverage hours while remaining closely aligned with the wider KYC team.
• Experience with speaking in front of committees and various groups of stakeholders.
• Experience providing guidance, training or mentoring colleagues is an asset.

About PAYALLY GLOBAL

PAYALLY GLOBAL is a group of financial institutions that provides comprehensive and tailored financial solutions for businesses and private clients with global ambitions.

As the financial industry becomes increasingly automated, PAYALLY GLOBAL remains committed to maintaining a personal approach. Each client is supported by a dedicated Relationship Manager who ensures precision, trust, and consistency in every interaction.

As a principal member of Visa and Mastercard, PAYALLY GLOBAL offers a fully integrated suite of financial services designed to meet the complex needs of international operations. The company’s global infrastructure enables seamless cross-border payments in 39 currencies, ensuring efficiency, compliance, and transparency across all transactions.

Its services include international and local payments, multi-currency accounts, foreign exchange, debit cards, card issuing, and payment gateways, all managed within one secure environment.

PAYALLY GLOBAL combines global reach with human precision to deliver financial solutions that inspire confidence and support sustainable growth.