Financial Crime and Sanctions Compliance, Analyst in Belfast

The Financial Crime and Sanctions Compliance Analyst plays a key role in the Governance, Risk and Compliance Team and in identifying and mitigating certain financial crime, anti money laundering (AML) and sanctions risks at CME Group. The Analyst conducts comprehensive financial crime customer risk assessments, including making independent judgements and risk based decisions related to KYC requirements and sanctions screening findings for new and existing customers and third parties across CME Group, in line with CME Group’s Global Financial Crime Compliance program and external regulatory bodies/legislation.

Principal Accountabilities

• Conduct end-to-end Know Your Customer Due Diligence ("CDD"), including Enhanced Due Diligence ("EDD") where required, on new and existing customers, using a risk‑based approach and in accordance with UK Money Laundering Regulations 2017, Joint Money Laundering Steering Group (JMLSG) Guidance and/or other relevant regulations (FinCEN, MiFID, etc).
• Perform and document Customer AML risk assessments, taking into account numerous factors including entity type, regulatory status, country of incorporation, ownership and structure, findings from screenings, rationale for business relationship, and other factors as appropriate and based on the specific circumstances.
• Provide high quality and fact‑based recommendations for the customer’s overall AML risk profile and risk rating.
• Complete escalations, as appropriate, to mitigate and manage any risks posed, ensuring AML standards are maintained in accordance with legal and regulatory obligations.
• Complete Sanctions, PEP, Regulatory and adverse media screening for both new and existing clients of CME Group, in accordance with the UK Money Laundering Regulations, JMLSG Guidance, sanctions regimes including but not limited to the UN, EU, OFAC and HMT, and/or other relevant regulations.
• As part of the screening risk assessment, clearly document the rationale for conclusions on whether a match is false or positive, the assessment and impact of the findings, proposed recommendations on next steps, and complete required escalations.
• Communicate and collaborate with CME Group’s Legal and Compliance functions and various other cross‑functional teams within CME Group in relation to Financial Crime and Sanctions Compliance.
• Maintain and leverage effective relationships with key stakeholders to lead and drive progress identifying resolutions to day‑to‑day key Financial Crime and Sanctions Compliance related topics in an efficient and timely manner.

Skills & Software Requirements

• Knowledge of the UK Money Laundering Regulations 2017, JMLSG Guidelines, MiFID II, applicable FCA rules and sanctions regimes including but not limited to the UN, EU, OFAC and HMT.
• Knowledge of computer software (e.g. Google Suite, Excel), AML and screening software and tools (e.g., Fenergo, Moody’s, WorldCheck), and ability to learn new software systems quickly.
• Excellent analytical skills and the ability to discern the practical application of regulatory and legal requirements.
• Risk‑minded and the ability to conduct thorough risk assessments taking into account a variety of factors.

Experience

• A minimum of 3-5 years experience in the following:
• Good understanding of the KYC/AML Lifecycle process.
• Working within a team, with both internal and external stakeholders.
• Analysing information to make or inform decisions.
• Communicate and influence assertively, clearly and concisely, both in writing and verbally, strong attention to detail and accuracy.
• Highly professional, courageous, and diplomatic in interactions, demeanor and presentation.
• Day‑to‑day hands‑on experience conducting financial crime risk assessments, creating a comprehensive summary to support the assessment, risk‑rating and ultimate recommendations for Management consideration.

Problem Solving

The Analyst undertakes key customer risk assessment activities making independent judgements to solve problems related to KYC due diligence compliance requirements for new and existing customers across CME Group, in line with CME Group’s Global Financial Crime Compliance program and regulatory bodies/legislation. The Analyst also performs screening risk assessments making independent judgements to solve problems by understanding the risks presented in relation to Sanctions, Regulatory & Legal Enforcements and PEPs. In addition, the Analyst interacts with numerous processes, technologies and colleagues, where regular challenges may come up and resolutions may be required.

Working Relationships

This role sits within the Financial Crime and Sanctions Compliance team, which forms part of the Governance, Risk & Compliance (GRC) Department, supporting the overall CME Group Compliance and Ethics Program. In this role the analyst will have close working relationships with numerous internal teams including Legal, Compliance, Sales, Business Management and Global Account Management. This close collaboration helps the analyst in completing the principal accountabilities for the onboarding and KYC review of new/existing clients, sanctions match resolutions, termination of sanctioned parties, and the on‑screening of new and existing parties. The role will work with external client contacts on a regular basis, in order to undertake customer risk assessment activities in relation to KYC due diligence requirements for new and existing customers across CME Group. This includes gathering documents from client contacts and asking them for clarification or responses to questions. The role will also interact with external vendors, such as our KYC tool vendor, Fenergo, our sanctions screening tool provider, World Check One (Refinitiv/LSEG), our entity data provider, Moodys, and our Country Risk information provider, KnowYourCountry.

Education & Certifications

Degree educated or equivalent preferred. Relevant industry certifications such as ACAMS preferred.

CME Group: Where Futures are Made CME Group is the world’s leading derivatives marketplace. But who we are goes deeper than that. Here, you can impact markets worldwide. Transform industries. And build a career by shaping tomorrow. We invest in your success and you own it – all while working alongside a team of leading experts who inspire you in ways big and small. Problem solvers, difference makers, trailblazers. Those are our people. And we’re looking for more. At CME Group, we embrace our employees' unique experiences and skills to ensure that everyone’s perspectives are acknowledged and valued. As an equal‑opportunity employer, we consider all potential employees without regard to any protected characteristic.

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