Assistant Vice President, Specialist-Sanctions Advisory & Investigations

Maybank; Singapore; Hybrid; SGD 80,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading bank in the region seeks an AVP, Specialist – Sanctions Advisory & Investigations in Singapore. This hybrid role focuses on hands-on sanctions investigations and advisory functions. Candidates should possess a Bachelor's degree and have 4-6 years in sanctions compliance, ideally with ACAMS certification. Responsibilities include reviewing sanctions alerts, onboarding high-risk clients, and ensuring compliance with global sanctions regulations. Strong analytical and communication skills are essential for explaining complex issues to stakeholders.

Qualifications

• 4-6 years of experience specifically in sanctions compliance.
• ACAMS certification is desirable.
• Strong understanding of global sanctions regimes.

Responsibilities

• Review alerts related to sanctions and conduct investigations.
• Assist with onboarding high-risk clients from a sanctions perspective.
• Support enhancements to sanctions screening tools and processes.
• Liaise with internal audit and regulators on sanctions matters.

Skills

Sanctions compliance

Analytical skills

Investigative skills

Problem-solving skills

Communication skills

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Law, Business, or related field

Job description

Overview

We are seeking an AVP, Specialist – Sanctions Advisory & Investigations to join our Financial Crime Compliance team. This hybrid role combines hands-on sanctions investigations with advisory responsibilities, ensuring our bank complies with global sanctions regulations while supporting the business in practical, operational terms.

Responsibilities

• Review alerts generated by the bank’s name screening systems related to sanctions, conduct investigations on potential sanctions risks, and actively engage with business units to provide practical guidance.
• Assist with onboarding high-risk clients or products from a sanctions perspective.
• Support enhancements to sanctions screening tools, alert workflows, policies and procedures.
• Review and investigate alerts from sanctions screening systems (payments, trade finance, client onboarding, Periodic Reviews and Event Trigger Review).
• Analyse customer and transaction information to determine potential sanctions exposure.
• Escalate high-risk or complex cases to senior compliance for decision-making.
• Maintain accurate investigation documentation for audit and regulatory purposes.
• Monitor alert trends, metrics, and control effectiveness.
• Assist with regulatory, internal management, and Group Sanctions reporting.
• Liaise with internal audit and regulators on sanctions-related matters.
• Collaborate with other compliance teams to strengthen controls and processes.
• Perform other duties as assigned to support the team or compliance function.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Law, Business, or a related field.
• 4–6 years of experience specifically in sanctions compliance, with exposure to AML or financial crime investigations.
• ACAMS certification is desirable.
• Hands-on experience with sanctions screening, investigations, and alert resolution.
• Strong understanding of global sanctions regimes (OFAC, UN, EU, UK, MAS).
• Excellent analytical, investigative, and problem-solving skills.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to explain complex sanctions requirements to business units.
• Experience with banking operations, including payments, trade finance, and correspondent banking, is a plus.
• Able to communicate complex sanctions compliance issues clearly to senior management and business stakeholders.