Assistant Vice President - KYC Client Support Group

Role Summary

The Client Services Group (CSG) in India is an integral part of the broader APAC team, responsible for executing critical KYC functions for the bank. As a "Maker" team, they perform end-to-end KYC due diligence for both new client onboarding and periodic reviews. The team covers a wide range of jurisdictions, including Hong Kong, Singapore, China, Malaysia, Australia, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, India, and the Middle East.

This KYC Team Manager will lead the APAC extended team in India responsible for safeguarding the bank against financial crime and reputational risk. This Role Reports to APAC CSG head, and dotted line into APAC Team Managers,

Key Responsibilities

Team Responsibilities :

1.1 People Leadership & Development:

· Lead, mentor, and manage a team of 25-40 KYC professionals across Client Onboarding, Periodic Review, and Client Lifecycle Management functions.

· Foster a high-performance, collaborative culture. Drive team engagement, set clear objectives, and support the career development and training of all team members.

1.2 Operational & Risk Management:

· Oversee the team's execution of KYC due diligence, ensuring adherence to policy and quality standards while meeting productivity targets.

· Act as the primary escalation point for complex cases, providing expert guidance on issues related to PEPs, adverse media, and intricate ownership structures.

· Ensure timely and effective escalation to local Compliance and Head Office Financial Security teams when required.

· Guarantee the integrity of client data within core banking systems and oversee the production of accurate MIS for senior management.

1.3 Stakeholder Engagement & Projects:

• Ensure seamless collaboration between the KYC team, Front Office, and other Client Services teams to facilitate efficient document collection and issue resolution.
• Represent the team in strategic projects, system enhancements, and User Acceptance Testing (UAT) initiatives.
• Manage ad-hoc requests, screenings, and other duties as assigned by senior leadership.

Management Responsibilities

3.1 Drive Operational Excellence: Take full ownership of the team's workflow, managing the "Book of Work" from allocation to completion. You will be responsible for optimizing team capacity, driving productivity, and upholding stringent quality annd control standards.

2.1 Lead and Develop People: Mentor, coach, and manage a team of KYC professionals. Set clear performance expectations, provide constructive feedback, and support the career development of your team members to build a high-performance culture.

2.2 Own Stakeholder Relationships: Serve as the primary escalation point, resolving complex issues swiftly to ensure a smooth and efficient process for our business partners. You will communicate proactively with CSG leadership, providing data-driven insights on team performance, risks, and operational health.

2.3 Foster Business Partnership: Actively partner with front-office and CRM teams to understand their priorities and challenges. Ensure your team provides expert guidance and responsive service that supports the bank's commercial objectives.

2.4 Champion Continuous Improvement: Continuously assess team processes, identify opportunities for efficiency gains, and lead initiatives to improve performance, reduce errors, and enhance the stakeholder experience.

Qualifications and Education Requirements

• Educational Background: Bachelor's degree in Finance, Business, or a related field is required. Advanced degree (e.g., MBA, MSc) or a professional certification such as CAMS (Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialist).
• Industry Experience: A minimum of 12 years of progressive experience within the financial services industry, with a strong focus on KYC (Know Your Customer) and AML (Anti-Money Laundering) operations and compliance.

Skills and Competencies

• Leadership & Management: Proven experience in a leadership role, with the ability to manage, mentor, and develop a team of KYC analysts.
• Communication Skills: Exceptional communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to articulate complex issues clearly and concisely to both internal teams and senior stakeholders.
• Technical Proficiency: Expertise in the Microsoft Office Suite (Excel, PowerPoint). Demonstrated experience with data analytics and visualization tools such as Alteryx and Tableau is highly desirable.
• Analytical & Problem-Solving Skills: Strong analytical mindset with the ability to interpret data, identify trends, and solve complex problems efficiently.
• Project Management: Solid project management and organizational skills, with a track record of delivering projects on time and within scope.
• Data Analysis Tools : Direct experience with data analytics and workflow tools like Alteryx and Tableau.
• Experience leading process improvement or technology implementation projects within a KYC function.
• Experience managing remote team members.
• Personal Attributes: A self-motivated and results-oriented individual with a proactive, "can-do" mindset and the ability to thrive in a fast-paced environment.