Associate Director, Group Sanctions Regional Team, Europe & Americas | London, UK

Standard Chartered; London; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 100,000

Job description

Associate Director, Group Sanctions Regional Team, Europe & Americas

Job Summary
The Associate Director, Group Sanctions Regional Team (GSRT), Europe & Americas, reports to the Head of Sanctions for Europe, and is responsible for the provision of high-quality advice to 1st and 2nd line teams on matters pertaining to the Group's sanctions policies and standards, and where required, relevant sanctions laws and regulations. The role holder is a sanctions subject matter expert, with a particular focus on EU and UK sanctions regulations and is accountable as a primary point of escalation and advice for complex sanctions-related queries.

In addition, the role holder is expected to consult on all other aspects of the sanctions programme, as needed, such as preparation of MI and reports to senior management, regulatory and audit engagement, review and approval of high-risk clients, design and delivery of tailored training and communications, input into design of sanctions controls, and supporting ad-hoc global and regional business or financial crime compliance driven projects that require sanctions SME input. Where necessary, the role holder will act as a delegate for the Head of Sanctions for Europe at internal committees and external industry engagements.

Key Responsibilities
Strategy

• Promote the culture and practice of Compliance, Financial Crime & Conduct Risk (CFCR) standards.
• Contribute to the sanctions effectiveness agenda; strategic plans and alignment with risk appetite with respect to sanctions risks.
• Where required, act as delegate in representing the Europe sanctions team in relevant committees for sanctions strategy, risks, and performance.
• Prepare or contribute to sanctions related materials to regulators, internal and external audit, 1st line businesses and other 2nd line colleagues.
• Contribute to the sanctions compliance function around the CFCR vision and strategic intent.
• Contribute to the enhancement of data and analytics capability to drive greater insight into sanctions risk identification and management and migration of good practices into the first line of defence.

Business

• Provide strategic advice to relevant stakeholders on the interpretation and application of EU and UK sanctions, best practices, and Group Sanctions Policy and Procedures. Provide transactional advice on relevant sanctions risks in all lines of business.
• Analyse the comprehensive impact of anti-financial crime related regulatory matters on relevant business area(s) and its operations.
• Ensure key changes (to laws, rules, regulations) are implemented (in region/country), in coordination with Group communications.
• Drive business enablement through the effective and creative design of control frameworks so that financial crime compliance becomes a strategic advantage.

Processes

• Engage with all stakeholders on sanctions requirements, the Group's Sanctions Policy and Standards, and support client teams in reviewing high risk clients for sanctions purposes within KYC processes. Provide views on client retention, strategies to manage or ringfence client sanctions risk, and escalate for approval where required.
• Address queries related to business activities covered by the Group's Sanctions Policy and Standards in a time efficient manner through the Advisor Connect tool. Provide approval for matters covered under Permitted Activity by assessing relevant regulatory permissions, exceptions, and licences issued by sanctions authorities.
• Assist Europe Head of Sanctions in preparing the OFSI Annual Report of Frozen Assets, filing breach reports to disclose regulatory breach events, as well as other communication with UK or EU sanctions authorities.
• Input into the development of Sanctions Policies and Standards to maintain effective compliance with EU and UK sanctions regulations.
• Accountable for the annual review of any dispensations against the the Group's Sanctions Policies and Standards.
• Represent the EA GRST at relevant risk and client forums, including the Sanctions Programme Working Group ("SPWG"). Where required, represent the Head of Sanctions, Europe at external events, such as industry roundtables.
• Review and provide commentary for UK and Germany sanctions MI dashboards.
• Where required, contribute to and deliver targeted sanctions training for 1st line teams.
• Represent the EA Sanctions Compliance function on project and change engagement as needed.
• Support the Sanctions ACT team with advisory queries arising from Transaction Screening, Name Screening, or Sanctions Risk Events.
• Provide subject matter expert input into Potential Circumvention Attempt cases, including by providing contemporary examples of emerging circumvention typologies identified through industry or regulatory communications.

Skills and Experience

• Highly advanced English (verbal & written)
• Strong knowledge of UK law and regulations
• Strong knowledge of sanctions and financial crime regulations
• ACAMS or CISI
• Business awareness
• Geopolitical awareness
• Presentation and soft leadership skills
• Organisation and prioritisation
• Education and degree in Law or Economics