Senior Transaction Monitoring & Sanctions Specialist

Job Purpose

You will be responsible for overseeing transaction monitoring activities, investigating suspicious transactions, and ensuring compliance with MAS regulations, AML/CFT requirements, and sanctions obligations. The role also involves providing guidance to analysts and business units, improving transaction monitoring controls, and supporting regulatory and audit engagements.

Key Responsibilities

• Review, investigate and assess transaction monitoring alerts to identify potential money laundering, terrorism financing, or other financial crime risks.

• Handle and resolve escalated alerts from analysts, ensuring investigations are thorough, well-documented, and completed within agreed timelines.

• Review and clear sanctions-related alerts, including enhanced due diligence where required.

• Prepare, review and submit Suspicious Transaction Reports (STRs) to the relevant authorities.

• Liaise with business units to obtain information, provide transaction monitoring advisory, and support case investigations.

• Handle production orders, seizure orders, and related requests from local authorities.

• Conduct quality assurance reviews, including periodic sample checks on alert clearance and documentation standards.

• Review and recommend enhancements to transaction monitoring thresholds, scenarios, and parameters.

• Establish, review and update transaction monitoring policies, procedures, and controls in line with MAS Notices and Guidelines.

• Perform gap analysis on new or updated MAS regulatory requirements and support implementation.

• Provide training, guidance and ongoing support to analysts and relevant business units.

• Respond to queries from MAS, auditors, and other external stakeholders.

• Participate in audits, regulatory inspections, and internal control reviews.

• Carry out any other duties as assigned by the Team Lead, Head of Department, or Management.

Job Requirements

Education

• Recognised Bachelor's degree or above, preferably in Business, Finance, Accounting, or a related discipline.

Experience

• Minimum 4 years of experience in the banking or financial services industry.

• At least 2 years of hands-on experience in Transaction Monitoring or AML investigations.

Knowledge & Skills

• Strong understanding of transaction monitoring, AML/CFT risks, and banking fund flows.

• Working knowledge of sanctions screening and trade finance enhanced due diligence is preferred.

• Experience in investigation, case documentation, and STR preparation.

• Exposure to transaction monitoring threshold or parameter tuning is an advantage.

• Strong analytical and investigative skills with excellent attention to detail.

• Good written communication skills, particularly in report writing.

• Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a fast-paced environment.

• Strong interpersonal and stakeholder management skills.