Lead Sanctions Manager

Metro Bank Plc; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A prominent banking institution in Greater London is seeking a Senior Sanctions Expert to influence strategic decisions and ensure compliance with regulatory frameworks. The ideal candidate will have over 10 years of leadership experience, a strong grasp of global sanctions regimes, and the ability to balance regulatory needs with operational efficiency. This role comes with a competitive salary, discretionary bonus, and various benefits including generous holidays and internal progression opportunities.

Benefits

Competitive salary

Discretionary annual bonus

Generous holiday allowance

Attractive pension scheme

Healthcare

Life assurance

Colleague discounts

Qualifications

• 10+ years of leadership experience in second-line sanctions roles.
• Extensive regulatory engagement experience.
• Strong understanding of global sanctions regimes.
• Proven ability to design risk-based sanctions frameworks.
• Experience leading sanctions transformation programs.

Responsibilities

• Advise senior stakeholders as a trusted sanctions expert.
• Embed sanctions risk across enterprise risk management.
• Maintain and update the sanctions regulatory impact matrix.
• Monitor global regulatory developments and emerging typologies.
• Lead the development and enhancement of the sanctions compliance programme.

Skills

Leadership skills

Regulatory engagement experience

Strategic thinking

Problem solving skills

Communication skills

Job description

At Metro Bank, we believe the best banking experience starts with people who genuinely care. We’re not just delivering banking services - we’re building trust through authentic connections. Here, our people come first; our colleagues are part of a team that values individuality, collaboration, and long-standing relationships. We are also all about balance so most of our jobs offer the opportunity for hybrid working built around your role and home life, wherever possible.

What you will do:

• Advise senior stakeholders as a trusted sanctions expert, influencing strategic decisions and representing the sanctions function across governance forums.
• Embed sanctions risk across enterprise risk management through strong cross-functional collaboration and clear, actionable guidance.
• Maintain and update the sanctions regulatory impact matrix, ensuring ongoing compliance with global legislative and regulatory requirements.
• Monitor global regulatory developments and emerging typologies, providing timely insights that shape policy, strategy, and risk mitigation.
• Interpret complex sanctions laws and deliver practical advisory support to business areas, ensuring proportionate, risk based decisions.
• Lead the development and continuous enhancement of the bank’s sanctions compliance programme and data-driven RBA frameworks.
• Provide sanctions oversight, challenging MI, breaches, waivers, incidents, and remediation while escalating significant issues appropriately.
• Enhance sanctions controls, including training delivery, analysing MI for trends, and contributing to robust FC risk methodologies and assessments.
• Oversee sanctions systems and tools, including optimisation, calibration, AI solutions, and strategic input into procurement and design.
• Lead and develop the sanctions team, promoting high performance, strong capability, and a proactive approach to risk management.

And... we are a bank so risk is a part of everything we do. We love people who take responsibility, do the right thing for customers, colleagues and Metro Bank and have the ability to call out any concerns.

What you will need

• 10+ years of leadership experience in second-line sanctions roles.
• Broad exposure to diverse business models, products, customer segments, geographies, and distribution channels.
• Extensive regulatory engagement experience, including with the FCA and other global regulators.
• Strong understanding of global sanctions regimes and related regulatory expectations.
• Proven ability to design and apply proportionate, risk based sanctions frameworks aligned to regulatory requirements and risk appetite.
• Demonstrable experience balancing regulatory expectations with operational efficiency and fair customer outcomes.
• Experience leading sanctions transformation and remediation programmes.
• Expertise in leveraging automation and AI to optimise financial crime and sanctions controls.
• Excellent written and verbal communication, including producing high quality material for senior executives and regulatory audiences.
• Strong strategic thinking, problem solving skills and ability to work independently under pressure and manage competing priorities.

Our promise to you…

• We will make sure that you are well‑rewarded by providing you with a competitive salary, discretionary annual bonus, and a wide range of benefits, including generous holiday allowance, attractive pension scheme, healthcare, life assurance, and a number of colleague discounts!
• We will give you the training to ensure you succeed in your role and plenty of internal opportunities to progress your career (around 40% of our recruitment comes from internal promotions!

Diverse teams really are the best teams. We know that candidates (especially women, research tells us) may be put off applying for a job unless they can tick every box. We also know that ‘normal’ office hours aren’t always doable, and while we can’t accommodate every flexible working request we are happy to be asked. So if you are excited about working with us and think you can do much of what we are looking for but aren’t sure if you are 100% there yet… why not give it a whirl? Please note that sometimes we may close a job earlier for applications if we are inundated with amazing candidates.. Good luck!