Head of Data Governance - Financial Crime Risk & Core Compliance

Discover your opportunity with Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group (MUFG), one of the world’s leading financial groups. Across the globe, we’re 150,000 colleagues, striving to make a difference for every client, organization, and community we serve. We stand for our values, building long-term relationships, serving society, and fostering shared and sustainable growth for a better world.

With a vision to be the world’s most trusted financial group, it’s part of our culture to put people first, listen to new and diverse ideas and collaborate toward greater innovation, speed and agility. This means investing in talent, technologies, and tools that empower you to own your career.

Join MUFG, where being inspired is expected and making a meaningful impact is rewarded.

MUFG, one of the world’s most respected financial groups, is seeking a Head of Data Governance – Financial Crime Risk and Core Compliance to join its London office. This pivotal leadership role offers you the opportunity to shape and implement data governance strategies that underpin the integrity and security of MUFG’s operations across EMEA. As part of a global network with over 150,000 employees and a legacy spanning more than three centuries, MUFG is committed to nurturing talent, fostering shared growth, and building a fair, transparent, and honest workplace. You will be at the forefront of safeguarding the organisation against financial crime by ensuring robust data quality and compliance frameworks are in place. With direct influence over both Bank and Securities business lines, this position provides an exceptional platform for you to collaborate with senior stakeholders, drive cultural change around data literacy, and make a lasting impact on the future of financial services.

• Play a key leadership role in developing and implementing data governance strategies that directly support MUFG’s mission to be the world’s most trusted financial group, working within a highly collaborative and supportive environment.


• Work closely with executive leaders across multiple departments to ensure data quality, regulatory compliance, and risk mitigation are embedded into every aspect of financial crime prevention and core compliance activities.


• Benefit from MUFG’s global reach, inclusive culture, commitment to professional development, and opportunities to work on complex projects that have real-world impact across EMEA.

As Head of Data Governance – Financial Crime Risk and Core Compliance at MUFG in London, you will play an instrumental role in shaping how the organisation manages its most valuable asset: data. Your day-to-day responsibilities will see you collaborating with senior leaders across Compliance, Technology, Operations, Audit, and other functions to ensure that robust frameworks are in place for managing sensitive information related to financial crime prevention. You will lead a dedicated team focused on embedding best practices in data quality management while driving cultural change towards greater data literacy throughout the business. By building strong relationships with stakeholders at all levels—including those in EMEA Systems Office (ESO), Planning Department (EPD), European Operations Division (EOD), Global Financial Crimes Division (GFCD), as well as Bank and Securities business lines—you will ensure that MUFG remains at the forefront of regulatory compliance. Your expertise will be crucial in supporting both ongoing operations (“run the bank”) and transformation initiatives (“change the bank”), making this an exciting opportunity for someone passionate about using their knowledge to protect clients’ assets while enabling sustainable growth.

• Define, develop, and implement comprehensive data governance strategies tailored to financial crime risk and core compliance requirements across EMEA.


• Lead a regional team responsible for overseeing all aspects of data governance within Compliance, including Anti-Money Laundering (AML), Sanctions, Anti-Bribery & Corruption (ABC), Trade Surveillance, and related areas.


• Ensure adoption of global data governance policies by creating or adapting standards suitable for local regulatory environments while providing strategic oversight for their implementation.


• Oversee processes for managing data quality and lineage to guarantee accuracy, consistency, and reliability of critical compliance-related information.


• Identify potential data-related risks within the organisation and proactively mitigate them by ensuring full adherence to relevant laws and regulations.


• Serve as a champion for global standards by promoting buy-in from internal stakeholders through effective communication and training initiatives.


• Build strong partnerships with system owners, business process owners, application managers, technology partners, internal audit teams, and other key stakeholders to foster a culture of accountability around data stewardship.


• Support regulatory or internal audit requests by providing timely information on data governance practices and ensuring continuous readiness for reviews.


• Oversee technical implementation of data governance tools such as data dictionaries and key data elements (KDEs), assessing impacts on systems and processes to maintain high standards of compliance monitoring.


• Continuously identify opportunities for improvement by staying abreast of emerging trends in data management technologies and refining policies to meet evolving business needs.

To excel as Head of Data Governance – Financial Crime Risk and Core Compliance at MUFG you will bring extensive experience from previous roles where you have managed large-scale programmes focused on improving organisational resilience against financial crime. Your background should include deep familiarity with industry-standard tools for managing complex datasets alongside practical knowledge of regulatory frameworks governing banking operations. You will possess exceptional analytical abilities combined with strong numeracy skills—enabling you to interpret intricate patterns within large volumes of information while maintaining rigorous attention to detail. Your approach is collaborative; you thrive when working closely with others towards shared objectives while demonstrating empathy for different perspectives. A natural communicator who can translate technical concepts into actionable insights for non-technical audiences is vital. In addition to your technical acumen you are known for your dependability—colleagues trust your judgement when navigating challenging situations because you consistently act with integrity. Your passion for nurturing talent means you enjoy mentoring others; helping them grow professionally so they too can contribute meaningfully towards MUFG’s vision.

• Substantial experience in a senior-level data governance or data management role within highly regulated environments such as banking or financial services.


• Proven track record leading complex projects involving cross-functional teams focused on risk management or compliance technology solutions.


• Deep understanding of core principles including data architecture, modelling, lifecycle management, quality tools (such as Collibra or Informatica), SQL databases, enterprise warehouses, and back-end functions.


• Extensive experience implementing frameworks for financial crime risk management—covering KYC (Know Your Customer), sanctions screening, transaction monitoring, surveillance systems, case management platforms—and ensuring alignment with regulatory requirements.


• Demonstrated ability to interact effectively with executive committees as well as subject matter experts across control functions; excellent stakeholder engagement skills are essential.


• Strong project management capabilities coupled with outstanding organisational skills; able to manage multiple priorities under tight deadlines while maintaining attention to detail.


• Exceptional interpersonal communication skills; able to build consensus among diverse groups while promoting a culture of shared responsibility around data stewardship.


• Bachelor’s or master’s degree in Computer Science, Information Management, Business Administration or another relevant technical/business discipline.


• Experience mentoring or coaching staff members; proven ability to inspire teams towards achieving common goals through supportive leadership approaches.


• Preferred: Experience working with external vendors on technology implementations or audits.

MUFG stands out as one of the world’s largest—and most trusted—financial institutions thanks not only to its impressive scale but also its unwavering commitment to ethical conduct. With roots stretching back nearly 350 years MUFG has built an inclusive culture where people from all backgrounds are encouraged to share ideas openly; diversity is celebrated because it drives better outcomes for clients society at large. Employees benefit from access to international networks cutting-edge resources ongoing training opportunities generous pension contributions flexible working arrangements—all designed so everyone can achieve their full potential both personally professionally. The company’s focus on long-term relationships extends beyond customers: it invests heavily in employee wellbeing offering support structures that promote work-life balance mental health resilience career progression alike. At MUFG you’ll find yourself surrounded by knowledgeable colleagues who genuinely care about making finance safer fairer more transparent—a mission that resonates throughout every level organisation.

If you are ready to take your career further by joining an organisation where your expertise will truly make a difference we encourage you to explore this unique opportunity today.

Apply today by clicking on the link provided—your next rewarding challenge awaits at MUFG.

We are open to considering flexible working requests in line with organisational requirements.

MUFG is committed to embracing diversity and building an inclusive culture where all employees are valued, respected and their opinions count. We support the principles of equality, diversity and inclusion in recruitment and employment, and oppose all forms of discrimination on the grounds of age, sex, gender, sexual orientation, disability, pregnancy and maternity, race, gender reassignment, religion or belief and marriage or civil partnership.

We make our recruitment decisions in a non-discriminatory manner in accordance with our commitment to identifying the right skills for the right role and our obligations under the law.