Head of Operations, Anti-Money Laundering (AML)

Key Responsibilities

• Own the execution and continuous improvement of the AML operating model across APAC, driving standardized, efficient delivery of Enhanced Due Diligence (EDD), Transaction Monitoring (TM), and Screening to strengthen both regulatory compliance and operational performance.
• Partner on AML-related data governance, setting and maintaining data quality standards that improve accuracy, completeness, and traceability to support risk identification and regulatory reporting.
• Lead operational efficiency initiatives — process re-engineering, automation adoption, and cross-functional collaboration — to streamline AML workflows, reduce operational risk, and speed up response times.
• Build and maintain AML quality control mechanisms, including regular audits, KPI tracking, and issue closure management, to keep operational quality consistently on target.
• Track regulatory developments across APAC markets, assess their operational impact, and lead the internal process changes and training needed to stay compliant.
• Work closely with Compliance, Risk, Technology, Legal, and Business teams to keep AML operations aligned with the Group's strategy and risk appetite.

Role Requirements

• Bachelor's degree or above in Finance, Law, Economics, Accounting, Risk Management, or a related field; CAMS, CFE, CIA, or CISA certification preferred.
• 5+ years of experience in AML/Compliance Operations, including at least 3 years in a management or team lead capacity, with a track record of leading EDD, TM, or Screening workflows at international financial institutions, banks, or FinTech/PayTech firms.
• Strong working knowledge of APAC AML regulatory frameworks (e.g., Singapore MAS Notice 626/Payment Services Act, Malaysia AMLA 2001, Hong Kong SFO/AMLO and HKMA requirements), with experience implementing localized compliance solutions; prior collaboration with teams in Singapore, Malaysia, or Hong Kong is a plus.
• Proven ability in process optimization, data governance, KPI management, and cross-functional collaboration; experience driving operational efficiency projects and automation adoption; experience building or restructuring operations from the ground up is a plus.
• Fluency in English & Chinese is required, as the role involves regular coordination with internal stakeholders and business partners who communicate primarily in Mandarin.
• Strong stakeholder management skills, with the ability to communicate risk and operational insights clearly to senior leadership.
• Familiarity with mainstream AML systems (e.g., Actimize, SAS, Quantexa, Socure) and data tools (e.g., SQL, advanced Excel, Power BI/Tableau), with the ability to apply data analysis to guide team performance.