Client Onboarding Team Lead

Julius Baer; Singapore; On-site; SGD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Julius Baer Singapore seeks a Client Onboarding Team Lead to manage a team reviewing AML/KYC risk for standard and medium risk client relationships. You will ensure compliance with MAS 626, sanctions, and regulatory requirements while guiding Front Office submissions.

You will partner with COO, Legal, Compliance and Risk Management, coach 5-8 officers, and drive process improvements to uphold the bank's high standards of integrity and client service.

Qualifications

• At least 8 years’ experience in either KYC Onboarding or AML, preferably in Private Banking.
• A good degree of understanding of the Private Banking and Wealth Management industry.
• Strong knowledge of MAS 626 Notice & Guidelines.
• A good degree of understanding of the private banking or trust industry.
• Experience in preparing reports and strong Excel skills.
• Prior people management experience preferred.

Responsibilities

• Review and approve the onboarding of new client relationships and accounts for various entity types and ensure compliance with bank policies and MAS guidelines.
• Review and assess the adequacy of Source of Wealth narratives and corroboration submitted by Front for new to bank prospects and existing clients.
• Review and assess risk of opaque legal structures.
• Provide advice to Front employees on KYC/CDD-related matters and to management on AML/CFT risk.
• Coaching and development of onboarding professionals and managing resource allocation.
• Collaborate with Head Office and overseas offices to input on account opening and risk management.

Skills

KYC Onboarding

AML Knowledge

Private Banking

MAS 626 Knowledge

Excel Skills

People Management

Stakeholder Mgmt

Education

Bachelor's degree

Tools

Excel

Job description

At Julius Baer, we celebrate and value the individual qualities you bring, enabling you to be impactful, to be entrepreneurial, to be empowered, and to create value beyond wealth. Let’s shape the future of wealth management together.

General Description

The Client Onboarding Team Lead is part of the COO Division of Julius Baer Singapore (BJBS) in the Client Onboarding Team. The Client Onboarding Team Lead is responsible for managing a team reviewing and assessing AML/KYC risk for Standard and Medium Risk client relationships booked in BJBS. The role provides oversight and challenge to Front Office submissions, ensuring adherence to AML, KYC, tax, sanctions, and regulatory requirements. The incumbent will manage a team of onboarding specialists, drive process excellence, and serve as a key stakeholder across COO, Front Office, Legal, Compliance, and Risk Management teams.

KEY FEATURES OF THE POSITION

Business Management

• Review and approve the onboarding of new client relationships and accounts for Individuals, Domiciliary Companies, Legal Entities, Financial Institutions, Trusts, Fund, External Asset Managers, and ensure compliance with the Bank’s policies & procedures, MAS 626 Notice and Guidelines, and to mitigate risks (legal, regulatory and/or reputational) for the Bank
• Review and assess the adequacy of the Source of Wealth narrative and corroboration submitted by the Front for new to bank prospects and existing clients opening new accounts
• Review and assess the risk of opaque legal structures
• Address true matches for Sanctions and other AML/CFT risks identified during the Bank’s Name Screening process at client onboarding
• Provide advice to Front employees on KYC/CDD- related matters
• Provide advice to the management and local risk committees on the AML/CFT risk of a client relationship
• Strong commitment to quality service and a desire to drive continuous process improvement initiatives

People Management

• Lead a team of 5-8 Client Onboarding Officers
• Support Senior Management in ensuring client relationships onboarded comply with regulations and internal policies, thus actively manage operational, regulatory and reputational risks

Client Management (internal & external)

• Build strong relationships with key stakeholders such as the BJBS Front Office, Legal, Compliance and Risk Management teams
• Assess AML/KYC risk and approve or reject new account opening applications for Standard and Medium Risk client relationships in accordance with internal policies and procedures. Where applicable, elevate higher risk client relationships to Compliance for review
• Work closely with Head Office and overseas offices (particularly Hong Kong, Dubai, and Thailand) to provide input on account opening

Regulatory Responsibilities &/OR Risk Management

• Demonstrate appropriate values and behaviours, including but not limited to standards on honesty and integrity, due care and diligence, fair dealing (treating customers fairly), management of conflicts of interest, competence and continuous development, adequate risk management, and compliance with applicable laws and regulations
• Ensure that KYC/CDD issues are adequately identified, assessed, and documented
• Where KYC/CDD measures cannot be completed, ensure that the client relationship is not established, and there is timely escalation to AML Controls where suspicious activity/conduct noted
• Ensure timely assistance and cooperation is rendered to MAS or law enforcements’ request for information

Supervisory Responsibilities

• Coach and develop a team of client onboarding professionals
• Allocate resources effectively to manage onboarding volumes and service level commitments
• Manage first level escalations from the team and assess if further escalation to Head of Client Onboarding required
• Conduct quality checks on approved accounts on a quarterly basis to assess if there are knowledge or systemic gaps to review with the team
• Promote strong risk culture across the team

YOUR PROFILE

Skills Requirements Of The Position

Professional and Technical

• At least 8 years’ experience in either KYC Onboarding or AML, preferably in Private Banking
• A good degree of understanding of the Private Banking and Wealth Management industry
• Strong knowledge of MAS 626 Notice & Guidelines
• A good degree of understanding of the private banking or trust industry
• Experience in preparing reports and strong excel skills
• Prior people management experience preferred

Personal and Social

• Strong personality with good organisational skills
• Excellent communication skills
• Ability to effectively manage internal and external stakeholders
• Ability to prioritize and work on multiple assignments concurrently
• A strong sense of responsibility and impeccable integrity
• Strong analytical skills
• Excellent command of spoken and written English, other languages are an advantage