Vice President – Transformation (Sanctions) in London

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 and established financial groups, is seeking a Vice President Transformation Sanctions to join their London-based Financial Crimes Office EMEA. This is an exceptional opportunity for you to play a pivotal role in shaping and delivering transformative change across MUFG’s global sanctions programme.

As part of a collaborative and knowledgeable team, you will be at the forefront of safeguarding the organisation’s reputation and supporting its commitment to integrity, transparency, and responsible banking. With a rich heritage spanning over 350 years and a presence in more than 50 countries, MUFG offers unparalleled opportunities for professional growth, exposure to complex international projects, and the chance to make a meaningful impact on the future of financial crime risk management.

You will benefit from working within a supportive environment that values shared success, continuous learning, and flexible working opportunities.

• Join MUFG’s renowned Financial Crimes Office EMEA in London and contribute directly to the evolution of global sanctions programmes across multiple jurisdictions, ensuring robust protection against financial crime risks.
• Be part of a diverse, inclusive, and highly skilled team where your expertise in transformation and compliance will be valued as you collaborate with regional and global stakeholders on high-impact initiatives.
• Enjoy access to extensive training opportunities, supportive leadership, and the resources of one of the world’s largest financial institutions committed to nurturing talent and fostering long-term career development.

What you’ll do:

• As Vice President Transformation Sanctions at MUFG in London, you will play an instrumental role in driving forward critical change initiatives within the Financial Crimes Office EMEA. Your day-to-day activities will involve collaborating with colleagues across regions to design and implement robust action plans that address emerging risks and regulatory expectations.
• You will manage complex projects from inception through delivery—ensuring that new controls are embedded effectively into existing frameworks—while providing expert guidance on sanctions-related matters.
• Success in this position requires you to build trusted relationships with stakeholders at all levels, maintain meticulous oversight of project milestones, communicate progress transparently, and foster an environment where compliance is prioritised.
• Your ability to balance strategic vision with operational detail will be essential as you help shape MUFG’s approach to financial crime risk management.
• Drive the creation, execution, and monitoring of action plans designed to implement key initiatives that enhance efficiency and close identified gaps within the sanctions programme.
• Collaborate closely with cross-functional teams across Financial Crimes to ensure seamless implementation of new controls and process improvements throughout MUFG entities globally.
• Manage the delivery of varied projects and strategic initiatives related to sanctions compliance, ensuring alignment with regulatory requirements and internal standards.
• Identify potential risks or issues proactively during project delivery, escalating them appropriately while maintaining clear communication with all relevant stakeholders.
• Oversee action owners in developing comprehensive plans by consulting with appropriate stakeholders to ensure effective execution of deliverables.
• Provide timely status updates and detailed reporting on project progress in line with agreed timelines, ensuring transparency for senior management and other key parties.
• Support ongoing change initiatives by embedding new processes into business-as-usual operations while maintaining a focus on continuous improvement.
• Foster strong working relationships with both regional and global Financial Crimes teams to share knowledge, best practices, and drive consistent application of policies.
• Champion a culture of compliance by acting as an approachable advisory hub for sanctions queries within the EMEA region, ensuring advice is clear, informative, and consistent.
• Contribute to maintaining effective systems and controls that protect client assets while mitigating the risk that MUFG might be used to further financial crime.

What you bring:

• To excel as Vice President Transformation Sanctions at MUFG, you will bring substantial experience gained from roles focused on financial crime prevention—ideally within major banks or consultancies—where you have successfully managed complex transformation projects.
• Your background should reflect not only technical expertise in sanctions compliance but also an ability to work collaboratively across cultures and geographies.
• You are adept at building consensus among diverse teams while maintaining rigorous standards for quality and timeliness.
• Your interpersonal skills enable you to navigate sensitive situations diplomatically; your analytical mindset ensures that solutions are both practical and sustainable.
• A passion for continuous improvement combined with resilience under pressure will allow you to thrive in this fast-evolving field.
• Your commitment to ethical conduct aligns seamlessly with MUFG’s values as you help safeguard clients’ interests while supporting organisational goals.
• Demonstrable experience in financial crime roles within a financial services firm, consultancy firm, regulatory agency or law firm where you have contributed meaningfully to transformation or change management projects.
• Comprehensive understanding of banking operations as well as financial crime risk—including deep familiarity with sanctions frameworks—and associated working practices.
• Proven track record managing multi-jurisdictional projects involving diverse stakeholder groups across different regions or business units.
• Strong grasp of risk management principles, compliance obligations, and control environments relevant to large-scale financial institutions operating internationally.
• Exceptional communication skills enabling you to convey complex information clearly when interacting with senior stakeholders or providing advisory support.
• Advanced proficiency in MS Office applications for project tracking, reporting, documentation, and presentation purposes.
• Experience delivering results efficiently by managing priorities effectively under tight deadlines without compromising attention to detail or accuracy.
• Ability to identify process improvements proactively while communicating recommendations constructively within collaborative teams.
• Preferred: In-depth knowledge or hands-on experience implementing financial crime controls (processes) within banking environments or similar regulated sectors.
• Preferred: Degree-level education or relevant professional qualification demonstrating your commitment to ongoing learning.