AML / KYC Compliance Specialist - Contract

Role Overview

This role is responsible for translating regulatory requirements into actionable AML/KYC compliance processes, providing subject matter expertise across audits, regulatory reviews, quality assurance, and remediation oversight. The ideal candidate brings deep technical knowledge of financial crime compliance and the ability to operate at both strategic and operational levels.

Key Responsibilities

1. AML/KYC Regulatory Framework

. Interpret and translate applicable AML/KYC regulatory requirements (e.g., FATF recommendations, local financial intelligence unit directives, BSA/AML, MAS Notice, AMLA) into clearly defined internal policies, procedures, and process documentation.

. Conduct gap analyses between current operational practices and evolving regulatory expectations develop remediation roadmaps with measurable milestones.

. Advise business lines and operations teams on the practical application of AML/KYC obligations, ensuring requirements are embedded in day-to-day workflows.

. Monitor legislative and regulatory developments and assess their impact on existing frameworks, escalating material changes to senior stakeholders.

2. Audit & Regulatory Review Support

. Serve as the primary compliance point of contact for internal audit engagements, regulatory examinations, and external reviews related to AML/KYC.

. Coordinate end-to-end audit logistics, including document collation, interview preparation, walkthrough facilitation, and management response drafting.

. Liaise between internal stakeholders (operations, legal, technology, senior management) and external parties (regulators, external auditors) to ensure consistent and accurate information flow.

. Track and manage audit findings and regulatory observations through to closure, providing periodic status reporting to governance committees.

3. Thematic Review & Quality Assurance

. Design and execute thematic reviews across AML/KYC programme components, including Customer Due Diligence (CDD), Enhanced Due Diligence (EDD), transaction monitoring, and Suspicious Activity Reporting (SAR).

. Develop QA frameworks, sampling methodologies, and testing scripts to assess the effectiveness and consistency of frontline compliance controls.

. Analyse QA findings to identify systemic issues, root causes, and trends prepare actionable reports for management and relevant governance forums.

. Collaborate with process owners to implement corrective actions and validate their effectiveness through follow-up testing cycles.

4. Scope of Work (SOW) Remediation Oversight

. Provide oversight and governance over remediation programmes arising from regulatory findings, internal audit observations, or management-initiated reviews.

. Define remediation scope, agree on deliverables and timelines with accountable owners, and track progress against agreed milestones.

. Challenge and validate the quality of remediation outputs, ensuring solutions address root causes rather than symptoms.

. Prepare concise and accurate management information packs for escalation to senior leadership and board-level risk committees as required.

5. Training & Capability Building

. Develop and deliver AML/KYC training programmes tailored to distinct audiences - from frontline staff to senior management - ensuring content is current, engaging, and aligned with regulatory requirements.

. Identify training needs through QA outcomes, audit findings, and regulatory updates maintain a training calendar and track completion rates.

. Evaluate training effectiveness through assessments and feedback mechanisms continuously improve content based on results.

. Champion a culture of financial crime awareness by embedding AML/KYC principles into onboarding, periodic refreshers, and change management initiatives.

Qualifications & Experience

. Minimum 8 - 10 years of progressive experience in AML/KYC compliance within a financial institution, regulatory body, or Big 4 professional services environment.

. Deep working knowledge of global AML/CFT regulatory frameworks (FATF, BASEL, local jurisdictional requirements).

. Demonstrated experience leading or supporting regulatory examinations, internal audits, and compliance programme reviews.

. Proven ability to design and execute QA frameworks, thematic reviews, and control testing programmes.

. Strong project management skills with experience overseeing multi-workstream remediation programmes.

. Excellent written and verbal communication skills able to present complex compliance topics clearly to senior and non-technical audiences.

. Relevant professional certifications are an advantage (e.g., CAMS, CGSS, ICA Diploma in AML, CFE).