KYC Onboarding Specialist (Japanese-speaking)

The team serves as the primary client-facing unit responsible for fulfilling Know Your Client (KYC) requirements, including onboarding, periodic reviews, and remediation activities. The team works closely with Global Corporate and Investment Banking, Global Markets Sales, Operations, and Global Financial Crimes Risk teams to ensure compliance with the Bank's global regulatory standards and internal policies related to Client Due Diligence (CDD) documentation.

The team is responsible for establishing and maintaining strong client relationships, proactively engaging client representatives to obtain required KYC documentation, and acting as the central coordination point to resolve client- and jurisdiction-specific documentation issues efficiently.

Beyond day-to-day documentation engagement, team members stay informed of evolving global regulatory requirements, assess potential impacts to existing processes, and identify opportunities to improve operational efficiency and enhance the overall client experience.

The KYC Onboarding Specialist (KOS) operates as part of the Front Line Unit (FLU), directly engaging clients across business lines and regions to ensure timely completion of KYC onboarding, supporting new business initiatives and meeting critical deal timelines.

Responsibilities

• Partner with Bankers, Operations, and other relevant stakeholders to identify and define KYC requirements for client onboarding
• Proactively contact clients to request, collect, and follow up on required KYC documentation
• Act as the primary point of contact for clients, as well as for internal stakeholders including Bankers, Operations, Risk, and other control functions
• Track and manage KYC onboarding populations in collaboration with coverage and relationship teams
• For time-sensitive onboarding cases, actively remove obstacles and guide cases through to completion to meet execution and signing deadlines
• Ensure assigned KYC client portfolios are appropriately covered across business lines and regions, in line with internal governance frameworks and FLU operating standards
• Identify, assess, and understand risks and potential impacts arising from non-compliance with KYC processes, including account restrictions, closures, and implications for business growth
• Collect client feedback on policies, documentation requirements, and jurisdiction-specific nuances to support continuous process improvement
• Implement and adhere to process changes and procedural updates driven by regulatory changes, policy updates, technology enhancements, and internal control remediation
• Escalate process inefficiencies and propose improvements that collectively enhance client outcomes
• Collaborate closely with Banking, Sales, FLU COOs, FLU Change, FLU Business Controls, Operations, cross-regional teams, and other internal partners as required
• Ensure timely and complete collection of all required client documentation, including ongoing follow-up where necessary
• Advocate for the client perspective while maintaining strict adherence to applicable laws, regulations, policies, and internal standards
• Meet defined performance metrics and resolve any exceptions within prescribed timeframes
• Develop strong expertise in Customer Due Diligence (CDD) requirements and guide clients through compliance expectations
• Support the collection and review of Enhanced Due Diligence (EDD/ECDD) documentation when required
• Safeguard non-public information obtained through KYC activities in accordance with the Bank's data privacy and information security policies
• Contribute to a collaborative, results-driven, and client-focused team culture

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent relevant professional experience
• Minimum of 4 years experience in a client-facing role within financial services or a related industry
• Preferred: Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialist (CAMS) certification
• Strong knowledge of AML and CDD policies, industry standards, and best practices, including exposure to global legal entity structures and cross-jurisdictional requirements
• Demonstrated commitment to delivering a high-quality client experience
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to collaborate, influence, and motivate stakeholders
• Professional demeanor, characterized by patience, composure, and a positive attitude
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making capabilities, including the ability to evaluate issues, apply prior experience, and develop effective solutions
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a dynamic environment, adapting quickly to change and new approaches to improve efficiency and effectiveness
• Proactive mindset with a self-starter attitude, identifying process improvements and working independently with minimal supervision
• Strong organizational skills with a high level of attention to detail and the ability to prioritize competing deliverables
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Office applications, particularly PowerPoint, Excel, and Word

• Japanese language proficiency at a minimum B2 level in order to liaise with Japanese speaking stakeholders.