Head of Investment Bank CDD Program

Barclays; City Of London; On-site; GBP 100,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading financial institution in London is seeking a Head of IB CDD/KYC to oversee the strategic leadership of CDD/KYC programs. This role ensures compliance with regulatory standards and enhances the detection of financial crime risks. The ideal candidate has a strong track record in financial crime management and people leadership, fostering cross-functional collaborations while driving efficiency improvements within a high-performing team.

Benefits

Leadership development programs

Comprehensive health benefits

Competitive salary package

Qualifications

• Extensive knowledge of CDD/KYC frameworks.
• Experience in leading teams and driving improvements.
• Expertise in compliance and regulatory adherence.

Responsibilities

• Design and implement the CDD/KYC framework.
• Own the CDD/KYC strategy and ensure consistency.
• Drive automation and efficiency in KYC processes.

Skills

Strategic leadership

Financial crime risk management

Cross-functional collaboration

Data-driven mindset

People management

Job description

Purpose of the role

The Head of IB CDD/KYC is responsible for the strategic leadership, oversight, and continuous enhancement of the Investment Banks CDD/KYC programs within the first line of defence. This role ensures effective detection and mitigation of financial crime risks in line with regulatory expectations, internal policy, and global best practices.

The individual will act as a delegate for the Head of IB Financial Crime, representing the function in senior forums and leading strategic initiatives as required. Additionally, the role includes oversight of outsourced and third-party service providers conducting CDD/KYC activities on behalf of the Investment Bank, ensuring quality, regulatory compliance, and performance standards are met.

Accountabilities

• Design, implement, and maintain the CDD / KYC framework for the Investment Bank
• Own the CDD/KYC strategy and roadmap, ensuring consistency across products, business lines, and jurisdictions
• Monitor CDD quality and timeliness, driving remediation or process improvement where needed
• Report on CDD/KYC program performance, risks, and remediation progress to senior management.
• Drive automation and efficiency (e.g., using KYC utilities, AI-based screening, workflow tools).
• Coordinate system and data enhancements for better CDD/KYC recordkeeping and analytics
• Data‑driven mindset; experience with CDD systems and workflow automation is a plus
• Lead, mentor, and develop a high‑performing team of Financial Crime professionals.
• Foster strong cross‑functional relationships with Compliance, Risk, Technology, Operations, Legal, and Business Units.
• Influence key stakeholders to drive improvements and maintain a strong financial crime control environment.

Director Expectations

• To manage a business function, providing significant input to function‑wide strategic initiatives. Contribute to and influence policy and procedures for the function and plan, manage and consult on multiple complex and critical strategic projects, which may be business wide
• They manage the direction of a large team or sub‑function, leading other people managers and embedding a performance culture aligned to the values of the business. Or for an individual contributor, they lead organisation‑wide projects and act as deep technical expert and thought leader, identifying new ways of working and collaborating cross‑functionally. They will train, guide and coach less experienced specialists and provide information affecting long term profits, organisational risks and strategic decisions
• Provide expert advice to senior functional management and committees to influence decisions made outside of own function, offering significant input to function‑wide strategic initiatives.
• Manage, coordinate and enable resourcing, budgeting and policy creation for a significant sub‑function.
• Escalates breaches of policies / procedure appropriately.
• Foster and guide compliance, ensure regulations are observed that relevant processes in place to facilitate adherence.
• Focus on the external environment, regulators, or advocacy groups to both monitor and influence on behalf of Barclays, when appropriate.
• Demonstrate extensive knowledge of how the function integrates with the business division / Group to achieve the overall business objectives.
• Maintain broad and comprehensive knowledge of industry theories and practices within own discipline alongside up‑to‑date relevant sector / functional knowledge, and insight into external market developments / initiatives.
• Use interpretative thinking and advanced analytical skills to solve problems and design solutions in often complex/ sensitive situations.
• Exercise management authority to make significant decisions and certain strategic decisions or recommendations within own area.
• Negotiate with and influence stakeholders at a senior level both internally and externally.
• Act as principal contact point for key clients and counterparts in other functions/ businesses divisions.
• Mandated as a spokesperson for the function and business division.

All Senior Leaders are expected to demonstrate a clear set of leadership behaviours to create an environment for colleagues to thrive and deliver to a consistently excellent standard. The four LEAD behaviours are: L - Listen and be authentic, E - Energise and inspire, A - Align across the enterprise, D - Develop others.

All colleagues will be expected to demonstrate the Barclays Values of Respect, Integrity, Service, Excellence and Stewardship - our moral compass, helping us do what we believe is right. They will also be expected to demonstrate the Barclays Mindset - to Empower, Challenge and Drive - the operating manual for how we behave.