Director, Head of High-Risk Client Activity, Financial Crimes Risk – Services

Overview

In this role you lead Citi’s Services Financial Crimes Risk efforts for high-risk clients, guiding a small team of SMEs to manage AML, sanctions, ABC, and reputational risks across Services products. You’ll collaborate with product, sales, risk, and compliance functions to design effective controls and keep risk within appetite. You will influence governance through committees, escalate issues, and drive improvements in processes, KYC, and monitoring across a global remit. This is a hands-on, impact-driven leadership role at a leading global bank.

Pay / Benefits

• Generous holiday allowance starting at 27 days
• Discretional annual performance bonus
• Private medical insurance
• Pension Plan
• Paid Parental Leave
• Employee Assistance Program

Responsibilities

• Monitor client portfolio against defined risk appetite
• Maintain documentation of control processes and ensure timely client assessments
• Support committee secretariats for client approvals and escalations
• Track actions to resolution with stakeholder engagement
• Collaborate with ICRM to interpret requirements
• Assess policy changes and implement with stakeholders
• Coordinate with Compliance Assurance and Internal Audit to resolve issues
• Oversee metrics, monitoring, and corrective action plans
• Prepare governance-grade presentations on risks and controls
• Escalate urgent matters through proper channels
• Maintain a robust Manager’s Control Assessment (MCA)
• Track and resolve KYC delinquencies
• Analyze activity reviews and apply findings broadly
• Propose follow-up actions from reviews and escalations
• Promote balanced, proportionate risk management
• Support business with client engagement as required

Key requirements

• Significant experience in financial crime, regulatory compliance, or risk management within a financial institution
• Excellent understanding of obligations related to banking services for FI and NBFI including VASPs
• Strong background in payments systems risk
• Professional financial crime certification preferred (ACAMS, ACSS)
• Knowledge of blockchain and digital assets and related financial crime risks
• Understanding of global cryptocurrency regulations and VASP licensing
• Excellent interpersonal skills for engagements with clients and senior stakeholders
• Ability to work independently and meet strict timelines and quality
• Confidence to challenge management and advocate for change
• Strong oral and written communication; credible with senior stakeholders
• Proven ability to drive change across a global organisation
• Self-motivation, multi-priority management
• Proven people and team management
• Project and change management skills
• Ability to prioritize in a dynamic environment
• Strong analytical and problem-solving approach
• Ability to critically assess processes and improve quality and controls
• Bachelor’s degree; master’s desirable

• Excellent interpersonal and stakeholder management
• Clear and persuasive communication
• Ability to challenge and influence at senior levels
• AML and Sanctions knowledge
• Regulatory compliance experience
• Financial crime risk management

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