Sanctions Screening Lead - VP

Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group; City of Westminster; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading global financial services firm in London is seeking a professional to oversee sanctions investigations and compliance. The role requires a deep understanding of sanctions regulations and the ability to manage risk effectively. You'll monitor customer activities, oversee alert reviews, and collaborate with teams to ensure compliance with regulatory requirements. The ideal candidate has proven sanctions experience, strong analytical skills, and the ability to work under pressure.

Qualifications

• Proven experience in and understanding of Sanctions.
• Strong knowledge of and experience in banking.
• Good understanding of Banking and Investment products.
• Strong financial sanctions and payments knowledge, especially OFAC, EU, and UK regulations.

Responsibilities

• Monitor and investigate customer activity for sanctions exposure.
• Oversee sanctions alert review activities.
• Ensure effective risk management and compliance.
• Collaborate with global sanctions colleagues to apply requirements.

Skills

Sanctions knowledge

Banking experience

Financial crime risk understanding

Analytical skills

Stakeholder management

Communication skills

Job description

Overview

The Financial Crimes Office for EMEA (FCOE) in London is part of the Global Financial Crimes Division (GFCD) headquartered in New York. FCOE works to ensure the organisation conducts its business in such a way that we protect our reputation, our business, and our clients within the regulatory and legal framework. It is responsible for the establishment and maintenance of effective systems and controls to protect clients' assets and to mitigate the risk that MUFG might be used to further financial crime. The Regional EMEA Sanctions Team is structured across three core pillars: (i) EMEA Sanctions Investigations, (ii) EMEA Sanctions Advisory, and (iii) EMEA Sanctions Programs. This role sits within the EMEA Sanctions Investigations pillar. The Sanctions investigation pillar is responsible for both a) Trade Finance Investigations and b) overseeing the sanctions screening and investigations processes which are operated by established teams. This role is responsible for the sanctions screening and investigations process the majority of which is outsourced. The role holder is responsible for overseeing the processes and providing subject matter expertise to ensure ongoing compliance with applicable regulatory requirements, internal policies, and the firm's risk appetite. The role requires a high degree of autonomy and a strong understanding of sanctions regulations and associated risks.

Key Responsibilities

• Monitor and investigate customer activity and transactions to identify potential exposure to sanctioned parties.
• Oversee Level 1 and Level 2 Sanctions Alert Review activities performed by outsourced operations teams.
• Ensure effective risk management, appropriate decision-making, and the overall effectiveness of sanctions screening and alert review processes.
• Provide day-to-day process oversight, governance and issue management, training and oversight of review teams, and the development, maintenance, and enhancement of sanctions alert review procedures and documentation.
• Oversee the sanctions screening and investigation processes across transactions and customers for EMEA, working with outsourced screening and investigations teams to identify, assess, and manage potential sanctions exposure.
• Safeguard the bank against sanctions breaches by ensuring alert adjudication processes and teams operate as intended.
• Manage operational effectiveness, KPI/KRI adherence, volume and SLA management, staff supervision, training, and robust alert review documentation.
• Contribute to system data integrity, watchlist and customer data updates, and the optimisation of sanctions screening and investigation processes.
• Collaborate with global and regional sanctions colleagues, relevant business lines and compliance stakeholders to apply sanctions requirements consistently.
• Support informed decision-making on higher-risk transactions and customer relationships.
• Drive process improvements to reduce false positives and enhance control effectiveness.
• Provide accurate management information and reporting on sanctions alert volumes, investigation outcomes, key risk indicators, and emerging trends.
• Ensure implementation and compliance with MUFG's Global Policies, Standards, and Procedures governing the financial crime control framework across EMEA.
• Align team practices with evolving regulatory requirements to ensure compliance and manage sanctions risk effectively.
• Collaborate with regional sanctions SMEs; manage sanctions risk; resolve sanctions issues in a timely and effective manner.

Qualifications & Personal Requirements

• Proven experience in and understanding of Sanctions.
• Strong knowledge of and experience in banking.
• A good understanding of Banking and Investment products.
• Good understanding of financial crime risk in banking.
• An excellent understanding of the concepts of risk management and control.
• Strong analytical and decision-making skills; excellent interpersonal and communication skills, both written and verbal.
• Strong financial sanctions and payments knowledge, in particular OFAC, EU and UK regulations.
• Ability to operate with urgency and prioritise work accordingly; strong decision-making and sound judgment; stakeholder management in a matrixed environment.

Personal Attributes

• Solution oriented and results driven with a strong sense of accountability.
• Excellent communication skills; organized with a proactive, motivated approach.
• Ability to manage large workloads and tight deadlines; excellent attention to detail and accuracy.
• A structured and logical approach to work with creative and innovative thinking; calm under pressure.

We are open to considering flexible working requests in line with organisational requirements. Discover your opportunity with Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group (MUFG) and join a global leader in financial services, with a commitment to talent, technology, and sustainable growth.