Senior Manager, Quality Assurance and Financial Crime Operations - Canada

Sun Life Assurance Company of Canada; Toronto; On-site; CAD 110,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

Sun Life Assurance Company of Canada is seeking a Senior Manager in Canada Financial Crime Compliance to lead the quality assurance framework for operations, including name screening, transaction monitoring and EDD activities. You will provide independent challenge, drive process improvements and coordinate with key stakeholders to ensure effective regulatory compliance.

Reporting to the Director, Financial Crime Operations, you will develop QA methodologies, track remediation, and support

Responsibilities

• Lead risk-based QA reviews of name screening, transaction monitoring alerts, EDD reviews, FIU investigations and regulatory reporting practices.
• Define and apply risk-based sampling, evaluation criteria and documentation standards; record findings with evidence.
• Provide independent challenge on investigative conclusions, customer-risk decisions, escalation outcomes and regulatory determinations.
• Escalate material quality concerns and control deficiencies to stakeholders for remediation.
• Own and maintain QA framework, procedures, templates and sampling methodologies to reflect regulatory and process changes.
• Analyze QA results for recurring errors and root causes; recommend practical corrective actions and track remediation.

Job description

You are as unique as your background, experience and point of view. Here, you'll be encouraged, empowered and challenged to be your best self. You'll work with dynamic colleagues - experts in their fields - who are eager to share their knowledge with you. Your leaders will inspire and help you reach your potential and soar to new heights. Every day, you'll have new and exciting opportunities to make life brighter for our Clients - who are at the heart of everything we do.

At Sun Life, we're driven by our Purpose: helping our Clients achieve lifetime financial security and live healthier lives. Our values shape how we work: caring, authentic, bold, inspiring, and impactful.

When you join Sun Life, you'll work with passionate colleagues and empowering leaders who support your growth and celebrate your contributions, so you can make a meaningful difference in our Clients' lives.

Discover how you can make a difference in the lives of individuals, families and communities around the world.

Job Description

The Senior Manager, Quality Assurance and Financial Crime Operations is a senior individual contributor role within Canada Financial Crime Compliance, reporting to the Director, Financial Crime Operations, Enterprise Financial Crime Compliance (EFCC). The role leads and maintains the quality assurance framework for Canada Financial Crime Operations, provides independent, risk-based challenge across Name Screening, Transaction Monitoring, Enhanced Due Diligence activities, regulatory reporting and related operational controls, and supports ad hoc Financial Crime Compliance operational activities.

What will you do?

1. Quality Assurance Reviews
   • Lead consistent, risk-based quality assurance reviews of name screening and transaction monitoring alert decisions, EDD reviews, FIU investigations, regulatory reporting practices and related controls, to assess accuracy, completeness, timeliness and adherence to established requirements.
   • Determine and apply risk-based sampling methodologies, evaluation criteria and documentation standards when selecting and assessing samples of alerts, EDD reviews, FIU investigations and regulatory reports. Document findings, observations and recommendations clearly, with sufficient supporting evidence.
   • Provide independent challenge regarding investigative conclusions, customer-risk decisions, escalation outcomes and regulatory reporting determinations, including whether decisions are reasonable and supported by the available information.
   • Escalate material quality concerns, control deficiencies and potential compliance issues to the appropriate stakeholders.
2. QA Methodology, Procedures and Continuous Improvement
   • Own and maintain the Canada FC Operations QA Framework, develop and maintain QA procedures, review templates, sampling methodologies and evaluation criteria to reflect changes in regulations, policies, processes, systems and operational risks.
   • Analyze QA results to identify recurring errors, quality trends, root causes, control weaknesses and opportunities for improvement.
   • Recommend and drive practical corrective actions and process enhancements based on QA findings.
   • Track findings through closure, assess whether corrective actions adequately address identified root causes and elevate overdue or ineffective remediation
   • Support calibration activities to promote consistent interpretation of procedures, quality standards and adjudication expectations.
   • Maintain current knowledge of AML/ATF requirements, sanctions programs, regulatory reporting obligations and relevant financial crime trends.
3. QA Feedback, Reporting and Stakeholder Support
   • Provide clear, constructive and actionable feedback to the Canada Financial Crime Compliance team based on QA findings.
   • Provide coaching based on QA findings to clarify expectations and support consistent application of procedures and quality standards.
   • Produce management-level QA reporting and analysis covering quality performance, material errors, systemic themes, remediation status and residual risk within agreed timelines.
   • Present quality results, material errors, recurring themes, remediation status, emerging risks and matters requiring management attention.
   • Provide authoritative advice and constructive challenge to the Canada Financial Crime Compliance team, operational leaders and other stakeholders to clarify expectations and support effective, consistent outcomes. Maintain appropriate objectivity when reviewing operational decisions and outcomes.
   • Support regulatory examinations, internal audit, compliance testing and management reviews relating to Canada AML operational quality.
4. Financial Crime Compliance Operations
   • Coordinate operational priorities with the Senior Manager, FIU and the Senior Manager, EDDU, considering risk, service expectations, capacity and regulatory obligations.
   • Assign name screening and transaction monitoring alerts based on established priorities, capacity and opera