Lead - Sanctions Screening

Sadapay Private Limited; Karachi Division, Lahore, Islamabad; Hybrid; PKR 16,602,000 - 24,903,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

USD-Denominated Salary

Hybrid Work Culture

Flexible Leave Policy

Comprehensive Insurance Coverage

Provident Fund Contributions

Technology and Resources

Job summary

SadaPay is seeking a Lead - Sanctions Screening to protect users from financial crime, oversee screening against local and international lists, and drive the effectiveness of our sanctions framework.

You will manage alerts, conduct investigations, coordinate with Product and Engineering, and ensure regulatory reporting to SBP and FMU, while maintaining documentation and vendor relationships.

Qualifications

• 3-5 years of relevant AML/sanctions screening experience.
• Understanding of local and international sanctions regimes (NACTA, UN, OFAC, UK, EU).
• Hands-on experience in screening alerts, investigations, and STR filings.

Responsibilities

• Lead and oversee customer name screening during onboarding and periodic screening.
• Review and disposition sanctions matches with a risk-based approach.
• Oversee PEP screening and escalation of high-risk cases.
• Prepare and file STRs with the FMU and assist SBP/regulatory reporting.
• Maintain data quality, watchlists, and vendor relationships.
• Collaborate with Product/Engineering to improve integrations.

Skills

AML & sanctions screening

PEP screening

Regulatory compliance

Analytical ability

Communication skills

Tools

Screening systems

Watchlist management

FMU reporting

Job description

SadaPay is transforming financial services in Pakistan with a digital-first experience that makes managing money simple, transparent, and hassle-free. With over three-quarters of the population still unbanked, we believe financial services need a radical shift. With SadaPay, all you need is a CNIC, a phone number, and a smartphone to get started; no paperwork, no long waits. Our 3 million+ users have left behind their worst banking frustrations, no hidden fees, free local transfers, and a payment experience that’s actually enjoyable. Pair that with friendly customer service and a vibrant debit card, and suddenly, finance doesn’t just work; it feels fun!

Why is this role important?

As a Lead - Sanctions Screening, you will play a critical role in protecting SadaPay and its users from financial crime, sanctions, terrorist financing, and other regulatory risks. You will be responsible for overseeing the effectiveness of our sanctions and PEP screening framework, ensuring that customers, transactions, and relevant counterparties are screened against applicable local and international sanctions lists.

From managing potential matches and investigating alerts to maintaining screening controls and coordinating regulatory reporting, your work will directly impact SadaPay's ability to meet regulatory obligations and maintain effective financial crime controls. You will also work closely with internal teams and external screening vendors to continuously improve our screening capabilities as the business scales.

As a Sadanaut, you will:

• Lead and oversee customer name screening during onboarding and periodic screening of the existing customer portfolio.
• Ensure effective screening against applicable local and international sanctions lists, including UN, OFAC, UK, EU, NACTA and relevant Pakistani and international regulatory lists.
• Review, investigate, and disposition potential sanctions matches using a risk-based approach, including name variations, aliases, transliteration, and other identifying information.
• Oversee PEP screening and ensure appropriate identification, assessment, and escalation of Politically Exposed Persons.
• Ensure timely identification and escalation of confirmed sanctions matches and other high-risk cases in line with regulatory requirements and internal policies.
• Prepare and file Suspicious Transaction Reports (STRs) with the Financial Monitoring Unit (FMU), wherever applicable.
• Prepare and assist in regulatory reporting to the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP), including periodic, quarterly, annual, and ad hoc submissions.
• Ensure accurate collection, validation, and maintenance of customer information and screening-related data required for regulatory reporting and investigations.
• Manage and maintain internal sanctions, negative, and watchlists, ensuring timely updates in line with changes in applicable regulatory lists.
• Oversee sanctions list management, including the review of list updates, data quality, screening configurations, and coverage.
• Manage relationships with external sanctions screening vendors, including performance monitoring, issue resolution, periodic reviews, and service delivery.
• Work with Product and Engineering teams to improve screening integrations, automate processes, and strengthen sanctions and PEP screening capabilities.
• Conduct periodic quality assurance and effectiveness assessments of screening processes, including false-positive and potential false-negative analysis.
• Identify gaps in existing screening controls and recommend practical improvements to strengthen the overall financial crime framework.
• Maintain proper documentation, audit trails, and records of screening decisions, escalations, and case dispositions.
• Support internal and external audits and regulatory inspections by providing relevant screening records, evidence, and explanations.
• Develop and improve internal SOPs, procedures, and training materials relating to sanctions and PEP screening.
• Stay updated on changes to local and international sanctions regimes, regulatory requirements, and industry best practices.

What it takes to become a Sadanaut:

• 3 -5 years of relevant experience in AML, sanctions screening, PEP screening, or financial crime compliance, preferably within a bank, fintech, or regulated financial institution.
• Strong understanding of local and international sanctions regimes (NACTA, UN, OFAC, UK, EU), AML/CFT regulations, FATF recommendations, and SBP guidelines.
• Hands-on experience in customer name screening, PEP screening, sanctions alert investigation, match disposition, escalation, and STR filings with the FMU.
• Familiarity with sanctions screening systems, watchlist management, regulatory reporting, screening quality assurance, and managing external screening vendors.
• Strong analytical, investigative, and communication skills, with the ability to identify control gaps, maintain accurate documentation, work independently, and handle confidential information responsibly.

Perks of being at SadaPay:

• USD-Denominated Salary: Your salary is fixed in PKR and denominated in USD to help protect against currency fluctuations. The USD-denominated amount is converted and paid in PKR and remains subject to all applicable taxes and deductions. If the USD depreciates against the PKR, you will always receive at least your fixed PKR salary.
• Hybrid Work Culture: In locations where we have an office, our teams follow a hybrid work model with 2 days in the office and 3 days remote each week, balancing collaboration, flexibility, and focused work.
• Flexible Leave Policy: We offer a flexible leave policy to support a sustainable work-life balance. We trust our Sadanauts to manage their work and leave responsibly.
• Comprehensive Insurance Coverage: Every team member, regardless of grade, receives Medical Insurance (covering both outpatient and inpatient care), including immediate family and parents.
• Provident Fund Contributions: We provide provident fund contributions to all team members to support their financial growth.
• Technology and Resources: Each team member receives a laptop and additional resources (relevant to their role) to help them work efficiently and comfortably.

Equal Opportunity Provider:

At SadaPay, we are committed to fostering an inclusive environment where everyone feels welcome and valued. We strive to make every team member feel comfortable and respected in the workplace. Discrimination of any kind has no place here; instead, we promote a culture of respect and mutual support among Sadanauts. Our recruitment process is built on fairness and equality for all, irrespective of race, age, gender, color, religion, social status, disability, or ethnicity.

SadaPay is registered as Sadapay Private Limited with the Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (No. 0136598), is regulated by the State Bank of Pakistan, and is a wholly-owned subsidiary of SadaPay Technologies Ltd., registered in the Dubai International Financial Center under commercial fintech license #3263.SadaPay Mastercard debit cards issued pursuant to a license by Mastercard Asia/Pacific Pte. Ltd.

Offices

SadaPay Head Office

SadaPay UAE Office

Unit GA-00-SZ-L1-RT-208, Level 1 Gate Avenue - South Zone, Dubai International Financial Centre, PO Box 507211, Dubai, UAE

SadaPay UK Office

86-90 Paul Street London, EC2A 4NE,
United Kingdom