AVP - KYC

First Abu Dhabi Bank (FAB); Paris; On-site; EUR 80,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

FAB France is seeking a KYC AVP to lead independent reviews of KYC files at onboarding and during periodic reviews, ensuring compliance with French/EU laws and group policies. The role emphasizes end-to-end CDD/EDD, screening for PEPs, sanctions, and adverse media, and overseeing QA across the hub model to deliver timely, accurate risk assessments.

The KYC AVP will manage day-to-day KYC analyst activities, ensure documentation completeness, and maintain governance standards in line with FAB

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or higher in a relevant field (Banking/Finance).
• Certification in Compliance, KYC/AML/CFT or Financial Crime is preferred.
• Experience in regulatory and financial crime domains is required.

Responsibilities

• Review KYC files on onboarding and periodic reviews.
• Conduct end-to-end Customer Due Diligence for new & existing clients.
• Perform PEP, sanctions and adverse media screening.
• Verify account opening forms for completeness.
• Ensure CDD/EDD information is up to date and compliant.
• Escalate gaps and control weaknesses to Compliance.

Skills

KYC/AML

Regulatory compliance

Financial crime

Risk assessment

MS Office

Education

Bachelor's degree in Banking

KYC/AML/CFT certification

Tools

MS Office

Job description

Ensures that the KYC activities for non-individual and individuals and process are performed in full compliance with French and European banking laws, as well as Group and local policies and procedures, and remain up to date with any regulatory or internal changes.

The KYC AVP will perform independent reviews of KYC files at the time of client on-boarding, trigger base and KYC periodic reviews.

The KYC AVP will perform the Customer Due-Diligence following the AML-CFT Risk Rating and ensure that the KYC files are complete in terms of required KYC information / documentation in accordance with bank’s policies / procedures and local regulatory expectations, while ensuring that AML / CTF / Sanctions risks associated with the clients are appropriately identified, assessed and mitigated before a decision is taken to on board or retain bank clients and the Group CDD standards are adhered and enforced.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Business As Usual

• Manage the day-to-day KYC analyst activities of reviewing KYC files and performing all required checks and controls to ensure completeness and readiness of the file for final review and approval.
• Conduct end to end required Customer Due-Diligence measures, for New to bank onboarding, trigger events or periodic reviews and vendors.
• Perform manual screening for PEP detection, sanctions, asset freeze and adverse media/negative news.
• Verify account opening forms are duly completed adequately.
• Review AML and Sanctions Questionnaires, where applicable.
• Perform Customer Risk Assessment including risk scoring and justification where applicable.
• Ensure appropriate checks and controls within the team to ensure files are processed correctly.
• Ensure compliance with local regulations and FAB bank policies/ procedures related to CDD, AML/CTF, PEPs and Sanctions.
• Ensure CDD/EDD information and documentation are complete, up-to-date and compliant with bank policies, procedures and local regulatory requirements.
• Ensure compliance with GCDD, local SOPs, dedicated checklists and process notes.
• Always ensure adherence to all internal policies / procedures and external regulatory requirements.
• Prepare detailed Customer Due Diligence Control sheet, Financial Crime referral forms and deviation justification where applicable.
• Prepare and maintain KYC documentation in line with Bank GCDD and local process.
• The KYC AVP shall assist the Head of Middle-Office:
• to the continuous improvement of KYC processes, controls, and documentation, including feedback following audits or reviews and the implementation of corrective actions for issues/challenges identified.
• Promote a culture of quality, risk awareness and compliance within the KYC team.
• Analyze the information and documentation provided with the customer profile, with particular attention to revenues and wealth, ensuring that all materials and data are relevant and accurate.
• Verify the authenticity of documents to confirm they are not fraudulent or falsified.

Process, Governance & Controls

• Ensure KYC processes, procedures, and controls remain up to date in line with regulatory developments, internal policy updates, and Group instructions.
• Escalate identified gaps, inconsistencies, high-risk cases, or control weaknesses to Compliance in a timely manner.
• Prioritization – maintain the discipline in partnership with the local business. Communicate consistency to internal and external stakeholders to ensure that the KYC cases are accepted through the approved channels and expectations are managed appropriately.
• Follow defined RCSA requirements and identify, document and escrow relevant KRIs (where applicable).
• Perform maker reviews and send the file for approval to Head of Middle Office.
• Ensure that 100% of files receive a Quality Control review prior to sign-off, as applicable.

Key Accountabilities in a Hub Operating Model

• Oversee the execution and coordination of KYC activities delivered through the HO/Hub model, covering New-to-Bank onboarding, Periodic Reviews, Trigger Reviews, and related customer/account data maintenance activities, ensuring alignment with FAB France procedures, local regulatory requirements, Group standards, and agreed service expectations.
• Monitor Hub performance, case progression, service levels, productivity, volumes, pending items, and escalations, ensuring timely follow-up with the Hub, Business, Compliance, and other France stakeholders.
• Provide operational oversight, guidance, training inputs, and process clarifications to the Hub, including updates on regulatory expectations, internal policies, procedures, system parameters, and local process requirements.
• Manage and support escalation handling for operational issues, high-risk matters, non-responsive customers, deferrals, waivers/deviations, customer exits, and decisions requiring FAB France review or intervention.
• Support the development, review, maintenance, and approval of KYC-related SOPs, procedures, controls, governance documentation, and process improvements to ensure effective service delivery and regulatory compliance.
• Participate in governance forums and working groups with the Hub and internal stakeholders, providing status updates, reviewing risks/issues, monitoring service performance, and supporting corrective actions where required.
• Prepare, review, and coordinate KYC MI, dashboards, trackers, regulatory reports, adverse referral reporting, overdue/extension reporting, FATCA/CRS reporting, RCSA, BCP/BIA inputs, and committee materials for FAB France governance forums.
• Ensure proper monitoring and evidence of Hub-delivered KYC activities, including audit trails, documentation retention, productivity reporting, service-level tracking, issue logs, deferrals/waivers, and remediation follow-up.

Relationship Management, Stakeholder and Client Interaction

• Develop and manage positive working relationships with all stakeholders across business lines and supporting functions including HO KYC, Business (RMs).
• Support line manager, and other enablement functions through providing timely assistance and solutions, on need basis.
• Resolve conflicts and provide effective solutions to the stakeholders.
• Efficient coordination with key stakeholders to get the job done in timely manner.
• Contact the client, designated SPOCs and external agencies to obtain missing information or documentation.
• Prioritize workload in partnership with the local business and communicate consistently with internal and external stakeholders to ensure KYC cases follow approved channels and expectations are appropriately managed.

Reporting & Audit

• Ensure all departmental trackers are timely maintained.
• Preparation of KYC reviews/process related presentations and dashboards on ad-hoc basis.
• Interact with stakeholders and help the KYC teams achieve KPI’s.
• Perform FATCA/CRS regulatory reporting.
• Assist Compliance department (and other departments) in performing regulatory and internal reportings and interactions.
• Ensure proper audit trail, documentation retention, and evidence availability for internal, Group and regulatory reviews.
• Support Internal audits, Compliance reviews, independent assessment and regulatory inspections remediation actions related to KYC.

Generic

• Manage ADHOC & administrative activities as deemed appropriate and assigned by line managers.
• Develop and manage positive working relationships with all stakeholders across business lines and supporting functions including HO KYC, Business (RMs), Compliance.
• Support line manager and other enablement function, timely assistance and solutions, on need basis.
• Resolve conflicts and provide effective solutions to the stakeholders.
• Efficient coordination with key stakeholders to get the job done in timely manner.
• Functions within the framework and boundaries of Group policies as well as overall Organisational and Governance frameworks.
• Authorised to take decisions as per the approved authorisation matrix.

REQUIREMENTS / QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor’s degree or higher in Management, Banking, Finance, preferably with certification in Compliance, KYC/AML/CFT, Financial Crime or Risk Management.
• Minimum of 6-8 years of experience in a reputed Bank or similar function.
• At least 5 years’ technical experience across various aspects of Regulatory and Financial Crime. Compliance (e.g., local and international requirements.
• Relevant experience (Compliance, AML-CFT, /KYC, CDD/EDD, FATCA/CRS, PEP) with the understanding KYC requirements.
• Sound Microsoft Office applications knowledge.
• Pro-active and business oriented with proven ability to prioritize, manage conflicting demands and ability to assess.