Vice President - WKO Screening & Escalations Transformation

Champion change across Wholesale KYC Operations by modernizing how Screening and AML Escalations are documented, assessed, and governed—improving consistency, efficiency, and risk outcomes. Identify process gaps, streamline decisioning, and partner with stakeholders to deliver a clear transformation roadmap with measurable impact.

As a WKO Screening & Escalations Transformation Vice President, you are an individual contributor supporting the Screening and AML Escalations team within Wholesale KYC Operations (WKO). In this role, you will optimize processes and identify transformation opportunities across the function, strengthening operational practices for documenting and assessing Politically Exposed Persons (PEPs), Financial Crime Media, Internal Watchlists, and AML escalations. Based on your assessments, you will deliver strategic recommendations to leadership and develop a clear implementation roadmap to drive measurable, sustainable change.

Job Responsibilities

• Champion a continuous improvement mindset—identify themes, root causes, and control/process optimization opportunities; lead initiatives that improve quality, efficiency, and control effectiveness.
• Develop and execute strategies for process re-engineering and transformation within the Screening and AML Escalations functions.
• Define and manage the roadmap for implementing process improvements and transformation initiatives.
• Establish and monitor key performance indicators (KPIs) to track the success of process improvements and transformation efforts.
• Set execution standards and ensure consistent delivery against internal policies, regulatory expectations, and agreed service levels.
• Drive risk-based decisioning and timely escalation of material findings/issues; ensure clear documentation and rationale.
• Conduct thorough assessments of PEPs, Financial Crime Media, Internal Watchlists, and AML Escalations to ensure compliance and mitigate risks.
• Influence and align cross-functional partners (Front Office, Operations, Onboarding, Compliance, checker/quality functions) to remove blockers and deliver high-quality outcomes.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams and stakeholders to align transformation initiatives with business objectives.
• Provide actionable recommendations to senior leadership based on data-driven insights and assessments.

Required Qualifications, Skills and Capabilities

• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to assess complex processes and identify transformation opportunities.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to present findings and recommendations to senior leadership.
• Strong presentation skills, with the ability to present effectively and appropriately to a wide array of audiences.
• Experience in project management, including the ability to define implementation roadmaps and manage multiple initiatives simultaneously.
• Understanding of KYC, AML, and related regulatory requirements and industry standards.
• Strong client focus and ability to partner with various internal groups.
• Independent, self-motivated with an ability to adapt and be flexible in a team environment.

Preferred Qualifications, Skills and Capabilities

• Ability to prioritize across competing demands and remain effective in a dynamic environment.
• Comfortable operating through change and ambiguity, with a bias toward action and improvement.
• BA/BS degree or equivalent work experience in financial services.