Sanctions Advisory Lead - Vice President

Job title: Sanctions Advisory Lead

Corporate Title: Vice President

Department: Financial Crime Compliance

Location: London

Company overview

Nomura is an Asia-based financial services group with an integrated global network spanning over 30 countries. By connecting markets East & West, Nomura services the needs of individuals, institutions, corporates and governments through its three business divisions: Retail, Asset Management, and Wholesale (Global Markets and Investment Banking). Founded in 1925, the firm is built on a tradition of disciplined entrepreneurship, serving clients with creative solutions and considered thought leadership. For further information about Nomura, visit www.nomura.com

Role Overview:

As Sanctions Advisory lead, you will:

• Be the initial point of contact in relation to sanctions compliance, managing sanctions escalations from operations teams (including level 1 analysts) and queries from all parts of the firm.
• Provide responses and decisions on these escalations and queries, unless input or a decision from senior management is required.
• If senior management input is required, inform their thinking by clearly summarising the relevant concerns and analysis performed to date.

• Provide sanctions advice and expertise covering external sanctions developments, and the firm's policies and sanctions risk appetite to stakeholders, including:
  • Front office and other components of the first line of defence;
  • Corporate functions, including Compliance and Legal; and
  • Operations teams, including those dealing with client due diligence and onboarding.
• When requested, review potential and existing clients and transactions for sanctions and related reputational risk, and agree further actions with front office or Operations teams or refer the matter to Financial Crime senior management for decision.

• Be responsible for reviewing and updating the firm's Sanctions Policy, both on a periodic basis and in response to regulatory developments.

• Use your subject matter expertise to provide senior management with informed suggestions for the design of the firm's Sanctions control framework.

• Manage and oversee the operation of the firm's sanctions screening and filtering controls, including:
  • Control design, with senior management approval of any changes;
  • Control configuration, e.g. tuning, fuzzy matching logic etc.;
  • Issue management and reporting any significant control failures to Financial Crime senior management; and
  • Oversight of processes to manage and update sanctions and other watchlists.

• Conduct regular sample-based QA review of the work of level 1 sanctions analysts in Operations, including periodically reviewing and updating the sampling and review methodology to ensure it continues to provide an accurate picture of operations teams' performance.
• Produce timely and accurate management information for Financial Crime senior management, based on metrics from operations and other relevant information.

• Manage the development and delivery of training on Sanctions to all relevant stakeholders and the wider business.

• Using input from the business and operational data to draft the annual Sanctions Risk Assessment and obtain sign-off from Financial Crime senior management.

• Prepare and submit regular filings for relevant regulatory bodies, e.g. OFSI.
• Participate in and work with relevant industry bodies and groups as a sanctions SME.

The successful candidate will bring the following experience and competencies:

• Experience: The position requires experience of managing sanctions risk in a Financial Services environment, including the sanctions implications of complex wholesale financial products and transactions, and sanctions risk arising from complex client structures. Experience of overseeing key sanctions controls including payment filtering, client screening and watchlist management would be desirable. Proven track record of managing relationships across all three lines of defence.
• Sanctions knowledge: First class technical sanctions advisory skills coupled with understanding of current regulation, services, processes, and systems, including:
  • Strong international Sanctions expertise;
  • Experience of a similar function in financial services: an understanding of what 'good' looks like;
  • Strong analytical skills;
  • Business/Market knowledge and understanding in the wholesale banking sector;
  • Clear understanding of the current global regulatory environment for sanctions, and insight into possible future developments.
• Communication & Stakeholder management: Excellent oral and written communication skills, able to articulate complex problems and solutions clearly to non-experts, and adapt their style for different audiences. A proven track record in building effective relationships with stakeholders at all levels of the firm, across all three lines of defence.
• Mindset and attitude: Pragmatic, outcome focused, able to 'hold the line' in conflict situations. Self sufficient and able to make decisions without constant senior management oversight. Has demonstrated the judgement required to escalate effectively when necessary. Collaborative and motivated by working in close partnership with colleagues from across the firm. Resilient and adaptable.

Nomura competencies

Trusted Partner

• Understand clients' needs and issues, and provide solutions utilizing Nomura Group company's resources, earn the clients' trust
• Acquire a wide range of knowledge as an employee of Nomura, instead of focusing only on one's own area of expertise; play a part in improving the company's services level and corporate value

Entrepreneurial leadership

• Take on new challenges for improvement and cultivate a corporate culture of challenge by driving change in business operations

Teamwork

Collaboration

• Ensure views are not biased, accept different opinions and perspectives, and collaborate with other members to create common values

Influence

• Provide appropriate guidance to others and act in a manner that places emphasis on the performance and growth of the organization

Integrity

• Improve further the understanding and awareness of corporate philosophy, professional ethics, compliance risk management, and code of conduct, and make decisions and take actions from a management position

Right to Work
The UK Government have taken steps to reduce net migration to the UK by limiting the number of overseas workers coming to the UK for employment. Please note that whilst we are able to consider applications from overseas workers from outside the UK (who require a Tier 2 Skilled Worker visa) we can only employ them if we can provide evidence that this is a genuine vacancy for a qualified role.

Diversity & Inclusion

Nomura is an equal opportunity employer. We value diversity and are committed to ensuring we best reflect the diversity of the communities we serve creating an inclusive environment for all our employees. We welcome all applications and do not discriminate on the basis of age, disability, gender identity and gender expression, pregnancy and maternity, marriage and civil partnership, race, religion or belief, sex or sexual orientation.

If you require any assistance or reasonable adjustments due to a disability or long-term health condition, please do not hesitate to contact us.