Global KYC / AML Lead, London
Posted 4 days 10 hours ago by Partners Capital
We are seeking a highly experienced and strategic KYC/AML Specialist with approximately 10+ years of operational expertise in leading global KYC/AML compliance initiatives. This role is critical in ensuring our firm's client onboarding and due diligence processes meet regulatory requirements and internal policies across jurisdictions. This role will partner closely with our global Client Onboarding team, managing all KYC/AML processes during client onboarding and delivering a seamless experience to new clients. The ideal candidate will have a proven track record in driving change, delivering remediation projects, leading process improvements, and confidently engaging with both clients and regulators.
Key responsibilities include, but are not limited to, the below.
KYC/AML Operations & Oversight- Provide oversight of the end-to-end KYC lifecycle process, including onboarding, periodic reviews, and event-driven reviews.
- Lead, mentor, and manage a global team of KYC/AML specialists across multiple offices.
- Manage account opening pipeline, ensuring timely completion of milestones while maintaining high service standards.
- Demonstrate multi-jurisdiction KYC/AML expertise to support business growth and regulatory compliance.
- Ensure compliance with global AML and KYC regulatory requirements, including FATF, BSA/AML, UK FCA, MAS, SEC, and other applicable regulations.
- Ensure continuous training and upskilling of staff on evolving regulatory requirements and internal policies.
- Maintain up-to-date knowledge of relevant policies and implement appropriate controls and procedures.
- Act as a subject matter expert and escalation contact for all client-facing KYC/AML queries during onboarding and ongoing review processes.
- Build trusted relationships with internal client teams, legal, compliance, and technology departments.
- Lead complex client escalations, providing guidance and recommendations on KYC matters.
- Lead and participate during regulatory inspections, audits, and external reviews on KYC/AML matters.
- Prepare and lead presentations and responses to regulatory queries in coordination with Compliance and Legal teams.
- Maintain a strong audit trail of KYC documentation and compliance activity.
- Lead global initiatives to optimise and automate KYC workflows and reduce operational risk.
- Develop dashboards to monitor workload, quality control, and turnaround times across regions.
- Drive standardisation and consistency of KYC practices across regions.
- Collaborate with technology teams to implement effective digital solutions and policy-driven automation.
- Manage large-scale remediation projects including data cleansing, client outreach, and documentation updates.
- Perform root cause analysis and proactively remediate issues identified during QA, audits, or regulatory reviews.
- Ensure high-quality outcomes through development and implementation of quality controls.
- Approximately 10+ years of progressive experience in AML/KYC operations within financial services, preferably within asset management, investment banking, or wealth management.
- Deep understanding of global AML/KYC regulations and best practices.
- Experience working in multi-jurisdictional environments with exposure to APAC, EMEA, and North America.
- Proven ability to drive strategic change, manage projects, and implement process improvements.
- Exceptional stakeholder management skills with experience in regulatory and client-facing roles.
- Strong analytical, communication, and problem-solving abilities.
- Professional certifications such as CAMS, ICA, or equivalent are strongly preferred.
- Strategic and operational thinker with attention to detail.
- Comfortable operating in a fast-paced, high-pressure environment.
- Able to influence and collaborate across functions and geographies.
- Ethical, accountable, and results-oriented.
- Familiarity with tools such as World-Check, LexisNexis, Refinitiv, Dow Jones Risk Compliance, or similar (desirable).
- Experience with onboarding tools or workflow platforms like DealCloud, Salesforce, Fenergo, or Appian (desirable).
Partners Capital is committed to being a great place to work. We are focused both on wellbeing and professional growth. You can expect professional development and career progression opportunities, competitive compensation, strong benefits, and a flexible "results-focused" working model. The Firm also supports global philanthropy via a charity program and volunteer day. In addition, we champion a variety of wellness and social events.