Senior Compliance Lead – AML & Onboarding (CEE)

vontobel; Zürich, Thalwil; On-site; CHF 120,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

Vontobel in Zurich invites a Senior Compliance Officer to join the Client Lifecycle Compliance team within the Legal and Compliance Function. You will advise Relationship Managers on AML and compliance, support onboarding and reviews for Central and Eastern European clients, and deliver training to first line.

This role focuses on risk-based assessments, PEPs, sanctions screening, and ex-ante monitoring. You will act as SME for the CEE markets, challenge risk judgments, and prepare materials for

Qualifications

• University degree and compliance related certifications.
• At least 5 years of experience in Swiss private banking covering client onboarding and reviews for Central and Eastern European clients.
• Strong stakeholder management and collaboration skills.
• Eloquent and capable of analyzing, summarizing and presenting information succinctly, both in writing and verbally.
• Fluent in English and German; knowledge of Russian, Ukrainian or other Slavic languages would be an advantage.
• Affinity for Artificial Intelligence (AI) and a willingness to embrace AI-enabled tools and ways of working.

Responsibilities

• Independently handling complex client cases and performing quality assurance reviews within the Lifecycle Compliance CEE team.
• Ensuring Compliance oversight throughout the entire client lifecycle for Central and Eastern European clients, including onboarding, periodic reviews, event-driven reviews and ad-hoc client assessments.
• Conducting risk-based Compliance assessments for client onboardings, including KYC, due diligence, sanctions screening, adverse media reviews and reputational risk assessments.
• Performing Compliance assessments related to periodic and event-driven client reviews, with a particular focus on politically exposed persons (PEPs), high-risk clients, sanctions-related matters and other sensitive client relationships.
• Acting as Subject Matter Expert for Central and Eastern European markets, advising first-line stakeholders, providing second-line expertise and collaborating with relevant control functions on compliance, AML, sanctions, regulatory, reputational risk and client lifecycle-related matters.
• Independently challenging risk assessments and escalating material compliance concerns where appropriate.
• Preparing Compliance assessments and case presentations for senior management and governance committees to facilitate decision-making on high-risk and complex client relationships.
• Monitoring and assessing high-risk and restricted transactions on an ex-ante basis.
• Conducting internal controls, quality assurance reviews and monitoring activities to ensure adherence to regulatory requirements and internal policies.

Skills

Compliance

Stakeholder mgmt

KYC

AML

English

German

PEP

AI awareness

Education

University degree

Compliance certifications

Job description

Vontobel in Zurich invites a Senior Compliance Officer to join the Client Lifecycle Compliance team within the Legal and Compliance Function. You will advise Relationship Managers on AML and compliance, support onboarding and reviews for Central and Eastern European clients, and deliver training to first line.

This role focuses on risk-based assessments, PEPs, sanctions screening, and ex-ante monitoring. You will act as SME for the CEE markets, challenge risk judgments, and prepare materials for