Sanctions Officer

AXA XL; Bengaluru; On-site; INR 2,000,000 - 3,200,000; Full time

Job summary

AXA XL in Bengaluru, India, is seeking a Sanctions Officer to provide risk-based advice on trade and economic sanctions for underwriting, claims and operations. Based in India, you will analyse EU/India/US sanctions, prepare assessments and support Group Sanctions and Legal teams.

You will advise on transactions, counterparties, countries, goods, and routes with potential sanctions exposure, and help maintain the sanctions compliance programme, including governance, controls, and training for

Qualifications

• Substantial professional experience advising on trade and economic sanctions or related fields.
• Experience interpreting sanctions laws and regulations across multiple jurisdictions.
• Ability to communicate complex regulatory issues to non-specialist stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Provide clear, timely sanctions advice for insurance and reinsurance activities.
• Analyse sanctions laws across EU, India, Singapore, HK, Australia, UK and US.
• Review high‑risk transactions for sanctioned or sensitive parties and jurisdictions.
• Advise on ownership, asset-freeze restrictions, licensing and wind‑down provisions.
• Prepare documented assessments and escalation memoranda for complex matters.
• Identify needs for external legal advice or regulatory engagement.

Skills

Sanctions advisory

Export controls

Financial crime compliance

Regulatory interpretation

Sanctions screening

Education

Law / International relations degree

Tools

Sanctions screening systems

Job description

Bangalore, Karnataka, India

The Sanctions Officer – India is responsible for providing expert, risk-based advice on trade and economic sanctions and for supporting the effective operation of the sanctions compliance programme and screening framework. Based in India, the role has responsibility for analysing and applying the sanctions laws and regulations of the European Union, India, Singapore, Hong Kong and Australia, together with relevant United Nations, United Kingdom and United States measures and AXA Group standards. The role combines sanctions advisory work, complex-case assessment, operational oversight and control enhancement. The postholder will advise underwriting, claims, operations and other business functions on transactions, counterparties, countries, goods, services, routes, currencies and contractual provisions that may create sanctions or export-control exposure. The postholder will also work closely with the Financial Crime screening team, local and regional Legal and Compliance colleagues, Group Sanctions, technology teams and business stakeholders to ensure sanctions risks are identified, escalated, documented and managed consistently.

What You’ll Be DOING

What will your essential responsibilities include?

Trade Sanctions Advisory

• Provide clear, timely and commercially practical advice on the application of trade and economic sanctions to insurance and reinsurance activities, including underwriting, claims, payments, recoveries, ceded reinsurance and third-party relationships.
• Analyse sanctions issues under the laws and regulations of the European Union, India, Singapore, Hong Kong and Australia, as well as understanding the sanctions laws and regulations of the United Kingdom and United States.
• Review higher-risk transactions involving sanctioned or sensitive countries, designated or potentially designated parties, state-owned entities, restricted sectors, controlled goods, dual-use items, vessels, aircraft, ports, routes, currencies and financial institutions.
• Advise on ownership and control, asset-freeze restrictions, sectoral measures, trade prohibitions, licensing, exemptions, wind-down provisions, circumvention risks and territorial or personal jurisdiction.
• Prepare documented legal and compliance assessments, recommendations, conditions of approval and escalation memoranda for complex or material matters.
• Identify matters requiring external legal advice, regulatory engagement, licence applications or escalation to senior management or Group Sanctions.

Governance, Policy And Controls

• Support the maintenance of an effective sanctions compliance programme that meets applicable local requirements, AXA Group policy and documented risk appetite.
• Draft, review and update sanctions policies, procedures, standards, guidance, sanctions clauses, referral protocols and control documentation.
• Maintain a clear understanding of the entities, branches and activities within the scope of the sanctions programme and support periodic risk assessments and gap analyses.
• Monitor legal and regulatory developments across the relevant jurisdictions, assess their business impact and coordinate timely implementation of required changes.
• Support sanctions compliance monitoring, control testing, management information, issue tracking and remediation, including preparation for internal audit, Group review and regulatory enquiries.
• Help ensure business-continuity arrangements, delegation and appropriate back‑up coverage for critical sanctions activities.

Stakeholder Engagement And Business Partnership

• Act as a trusted sanctions adviser to Underwriting, Claims, Operations, Finance, Ceded Reinsurance, Procurement and other relevant functions.
• Work closely with Legal and Compliance colleagues in India and across APAC and Europe, including relevant contacts in Singapore, Hong Kong and Australia.
• Provide concise briefings to senior management and governance forums on significant cases, regulatory developments, control performance and remediation priorities.
• Build constructive working relationships while maintaining resilient judgement and the ability to difficult decisions where sanctions risk is not adequately understood or controlled.

Team Capability And Continuous Improvement

• Provide technical coaching and subject‑matter guidance to junior colleagues within the Financial Crime team and other colleagues, including support on complex investigations and borderline cases.
• Develop and deliver risk‑based sanctions training and awareness for screening teams, higher‑risk business functions and senior stakeholders.
• Identify opportunities to improve workflows, data quality, automation, controls and management information without compromising legal or regulatory compliance.
• Promote a culture of ownership, sound judgement, accurate record‑keeping and timely escalation.

You will report to Senior Legal Counsel, Sanctions & Financial Crime.

What You Will BRING

We’re looking for someone who has these abilities and skills:

Required Skills And Abilities

• Substantial professional experience in advising on trade and economic sanctions, export controls, financial crime compliance or a closely related legal or regulatory discipline.
• Demonstrable experience interpreting and applying sanctions laws and regulations, with robust knowledge of the European Union regime, United States sanctions and practical experience relating to India, Singapore, Hong Kong and Australia.
• Experience assessing complex cross‑border transactions, preferably in insurance, reinsurance, financial services, international trade, shipping, aviation, energy or another sanctions‑sensitive sector.
• Robust understanding of ownership and control analysis, sectoral sanctions, trade restrictions, licensing and circumvention risk.
• Experience preparing defensible written assessments and communicating complex legal or regulatory issues to non‑specialist stakeholders.
• Experience with sanctions‑screening systems, case‑management tools and operational control frameworks is highly desirable.
• A good degree in law, history, or international relations or a related discipline, or equivalent relevant professional experience. A legal qualification would be advantageous.

Desired Skills And Abilities

• Excellent analytical judgement and attention to detail.
• Ability to distinguish legal requirements, regulatory expectations, internal policy and risk appetite.
• Clear, concise and persuasive written and verbal communication.
• Assured working self‑supported on sensitive matters and escalating appropriately.
• Outstanding stakeholder‑management skills across jurisdictions, cultures and functions.
• Ability to manage competing priorities and deliver high‑quality advice within demanding deadlines.
• Commitment to integrity, professional scepticism, composed and accurate record‑keeping.

Who WE are

AXA XL, the P&C and specialty risk division of AXA, is known for solving complex risks. For mid‑sized companies, multinationals and even some inspirational individuals we don’t just provide re/insurance, we reinvent it.

How? By combining a comprehensive and efficient capital platform, data‑driven insights, leading technology, and the best talent in an agile and inclusive workspace, empowered to deliver top client service across all our lines of business − property, casualty, professional, financial lines and specialty.

With an innovative and flexible approach to risk solutions, we partner with those who move the world forward.

Learn more at axaxl.com

What we OFFER

Inclusion

AXA XL is committed to equal employment opportunity and will consider applicants regardless of gender, sexual orientation, age, ethnicity and origins, marital status, religion, disability, or any other protected characteristic. At AXA XL, we know that an inclusive culture and enables business growth and is critical to our success. That’s why we have made a strategic commitment to attract, develop, advance and retain the most inclusive workforce possible, and create a culture where everyone can bring their full selves to work and reach their highest potential.

It’s about helping one another — and our business — to move forward and succeed.

• Five Business Resource Groups focused on gender, LGBTQ+, ethnicity and origins, disability and inclusion with 20 Chapters around the globe.
• Robust support for Flexible Working Arrangements
• Enhanced family‑friendly leave benefits
• Named to the Diversity Best Practices Index
• Signatory to the UK Women in Finance Charter

Learn more at axaxl.com/about-us/inclusion-and-diversity. AXA XL is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Total Rewards

AXA XL’s Reward program is designed to take care of what matters most to you, covering the full picture of your health, wellbeing, lifestyle and financial security. It provides competitive compensation and personalized, inclusive benefits that evolve as you do.

We’re committed to rewarding your contribution for the long term, so you can be your best self today and look forward to the future with confidence.

Sustainability

At AXA XL, Sustainability is integral to our business strategy. In an ever‑changing world, AXA XL protects what matters most for our clients and communities. We know that sustainability is at the root of a more resilient future. Our 2023‑26 Sustainability strategy, called “Roots of resilience”, focuses on protecting natural ecosystems, addressing climate change, and embedding sustainable practices across our operations.

Our Pillars

• Valuing nature: How we impact nature affects how nature impacts us. Resilient ecosystems - the foundation of a sustainable planet and society – are essential to our future. We’re committed to protecting and restoring nature – from mangrove forests to the bees in our backyard – by increasing biodiversity awareness and inspiring clients and colleagues to put nature at the heart of their plans.
• Addressing climate change: The effects of a changing climate are far‑reaching and significant. Unpredictable weather, increasing temperatures, and rising sea levels cause both social inequalities and environmental disruption. We're building a net zero strategy, developing insurance products and services, and mobilizing to advance thought leadership and investment in societal‑led solutions.
• Integrating ESG: All companies have a role to play in building a more resilient future. Incorporating ESG considerations into our internal processes and practices builds resilience from the roots of our business. We’re training our colleagues, engaging our external partners, and evolving our sustainability governance and reporting.
• AXA Hearts in Action: We have established volunteering and charitable giving programs to help colleagues support causes that matter most to them, known as AXA XL’s “Hearts in Action” programs. These include our Matching Gifts program, Volunteering Leave, and our annual volunteering day – the Global Day of Giving.

For more information, please see axaxl.com/sustainability.