Customer Due Diligence Manager

We are seeking a detail-oriented and proactive Customer Due Diligence (CDD) Manager to join our Financial Crime team on a fixed-term basis. In this role, you will be responsible for conducting thorough customer due diligence and ensuring compliance with AML/CTF regulatory requirements. You will play a critical role in identifying and mitigating financial crime risks across the customer lifecycle.

Key Accountabilities and main responsibilities

Strategic Focus

• Contribute to the continuous improvement of Customer Due Diligence (CDD) and KYC processes by identifying opportunities to enhance efficiency, quality, and risk outcomes.
• Support remediation programs, backlog reduction initiatives, and regulatory uplift projects to ensure alignment with evolving AML/CTF obligations.
• Assist in embedding best practice financial crime controls through participation in process reviews, procedural updates, and change initiatives.

Operational Management

• Perform Customer Due Diligence (CDD) and Enhanced Due Diligence (EDD) reviews in accordance with regulatory requirements and internal policies.
• Conduct sanctions, Politically Exposed Persons (PEP), and adverse media screening, ensuring alerts are investigated, resolved, and documented appropriately.
• Analyse customer profiles to assess ML/TF risk and assign accurate risk ratings.
• Review and verify customer identification documentation, beneficial ownership structures, and control persons.
• Conduct ongoing customer monitoring, including periodic KYC/CDD refresh reviews in line with regulatory cycles.
• Re-assess and update customer risk profiles, ensuring information remains accurate and up to date.
• Perform screening refreshes and investigate new or updated alerts arising from periodic reviews.
• Identify trigger events (e.g. changes in ownership, activity, or jurisdiction) requiring off-cycle reviews.
• Support the preparation and documentation of Suspicious Matter Reports (SMRs), ensuring accurate and timely escalation to Financial Crime teams.
• Identify, assess, and escalate potential financial crime risks, including suspicious or unusual activity, in line with AML/CTF obligations.
• Develop, review, and maintain CDD procedures, work instructions, and guidance materials to ensure consistency and regulatory alignment.
• Engage with internal stakeholders and customers to obtain required documentation and resolve CDD/KYC issues.

People Leadership

• Collaborate effectively with internal stakeholders including operations, risk, and Financial Crime teams to resolve CDD issues and support decision-making.
• Provide guidance and support to junior team members where required, contributing to knowledge sharing and capability uplift within the team.
• Promote a culture of compliance, accountability, and continuous improvement across the team.

Governance & Risk

• Ensure all activities are conducted in accordance with regulatory requirements, internal policies, and compliance standards.
• Maintain accurate and complete records with clear audit trails and documented rationale for decisions.
• Support updates to processes in response to regulatory change, audit findings, and control improvements.
• Escalate high-risk or complex cases to senior analysts or compliance teams as required.

Experience & Personal Attributes

• Prior experience in CDD/KYC, AML/CTF, or financial crime compliance (ideally within banking or financial services)
• 5+ years experience in financial crime / AML / KYC
• Strong experience with complex structures (trusts, companies, partnerships, layered entities)
• Ability to perform Enhanced Due Diligence (EDD) independently
• Provides guidance to junior analysts and supports escalations
• Strong understanding of AML/CTF regulations and risk frameworks
• High attention to detail with strong analytical and investigative skills
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Ability to manage competing priorities and meet deadlines
• Familiarity with financial crime systems and screening tools is desirable