Head of Front KYC Advisory Team, Singapore

About the job

Dynamic and experienced leader to strengthen the effectiveness and quality of client due diligence (CDD) and know-your-customer (KYC) frameworks. The leader will be responsible for implementing strategic improvements and initiatives in KYC reviews to ensure regulatory compliance, operational excellence, and sustainable risk management.

Tasks

• Establish KYC verification and quality management frameworks in accordance with local regulations and guidelines
• Lead a team of KYC co-creators who support RMs in creating source-of-wealth (SOW) and source-of-funds (SOF) narratives to ensure clear justification and traceability.
• Support front-office management/RM/RAs by providing guidance and training on KYC requirements
• Create risk reports in appropriate risk and management forums, escalate identified issues and the status of remediation
• Contribute to process improvements, projects, initiatives, and knowledge sharing within the onboarding and KYC teams

Employee management and cooperation

• Partner with key stakeholders, including front office, compliance, and onboarding teams, to implement high-quality CDD processes
• Sharing regional knowledge and best practices with HK counterparts
• Educate front office staff about KYC standards and promote a culture of risk ownership
• Communicate clear requirements, critical issues, and progress reports to senior management as necessary
• Act as a contact person for 2LOD, internal/external auditors, and regulatory authorities, if necessary

Management and leadership

• Lead and inspire a high-performing team of KYC specialists
• Set clear goals, implement performance measurement frameworks, and foster a culture of risk ownership.
• Effectively manage team capacities, including recruitment, coaching, and handling performance issues to maintain strong execution momentum

Requirements

• Excellent analytical, conceptual, problem-solving, and interpersonal skills, as well as a high degree of flexibility and adaptability to change
• Strong personality with a robust ethical compass and consistency in handling challenging situations
• University degree or equivalent education in banking and/or finance
• At least 10 years of professional experience in KYC/CDD, AML, compliance, financial crime remediation, including large remediation or enhancement programs
• Strong ability to build trusted partnerships with senior management, provide informed opinions, and present relevant solutions
• Strong technical knowledge of KYC risk assessment, SOW/SOF correlation, and financial crime compliance standards
• Strong leadership skills with the ability to set and prioritize goals and tasks