Compliance Sanctions Officer

Are you a seasoned compliance professional with expertise in international sanctions and a passion for financial crime prevention? We are seeking a Sanctions Compliance Officer to join our Financial Security team in London (Financial Crime), supporting the bank’s mission to uphold the highest standards of regulatory compliance and integrity.

About the Role:

As part of the Financial Security (FS) Department, you will play a critical role in ensuring the bank’s compliance with UK, EU, OFAC, and other international sanctions regulations. You will support the Sanctions Compliance Director in overseeing sanctions controls, and act as a subject matter expert for sanctions-related matters across the UK branch.

Key Responsibilities:

• Provide expert analysis and risk-based decisions on transactions and clients from a sanctions perspective.
• Act as a final escalation point for payment filtering and customer screening alerts.
• Lead the annual sanctions risk assessment and implement local actions.
• Develop and deliver sanctions-related management information and training.
• Liaise with internal stakeholders and external bodies such as OFSI and OTSI and file regulatory reports, as required.
• Maintain and enhance local sanctions policies and contribute to Group policy feedback.
• Support horizon scanning for emerging regulatory changes, including performing gap analysis of new regulations.

Candidate criteria

Minimal education level

Bachelor Degree / BSc Degree or equivalent

Academic qualification / Speciality

Degree within relevant discipline

Experience

• Proven experience in a sanctions compliance function, ideally within investment banking.
• Strong knowledge of UK, EU, OFAC sanctions regimes and SWIFT payment messages (MT103, 202, 7XX).
• Understanding of the UK Proceeds of Crime Act (POCA), the UK Money Laundering Regulations, the Joint Money Laundering Steering Group), FCA guidance and the EU Money Laundering Directives.
• Experience in trade finance or financial crime advisory roles.
• Presentational and training experience.
• Relevant qualifications in financial crime, AML, or sanctions compliance.

Required skills

• Ability to assess complex sanctions matters and escalate appropriately.
• Excellent analytical, decision-making, and communication skills.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively across teams.

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