Senior Sanctions Advisory Lead — Escalations & Payments

Role Overview

This role drives the implementation of MUFG Bank’s financial crime risk appetite, policies, and standards by managing a dedicated sanctions advisory escalation hub within the Sanctions Advisory team. The Level 3 Escalations and Payment Transformation Team handles payment and client‑related escalations and queries across the EMEA region, ensures sanctions and payment regulations are fully understood and adhered to, and delivers clear, consistent, and informed advice. It also ensures payment transformation projects are executed effectively, safeguarding the bank’s compliance obligations.

Key Responsibilities

• Regulatory expertise: Stay current with all relevant sanctions laws and regulations and ensure compliance across processes and initiatives.
• Team leadership: Lead and develop the Level 3 Escalations and Payment Transformation Team, ensuring adherence to regulatory requirements and service level agreements while partnering with the business to manage expectations.
• Escalation management: Oversee Level 3 investigations for sanctions alerts identified as true risk after initial screening. Conduct regulatory analysis, determine appropriate actions, and ensure timely resolution.
• Payment transformation & advisory: Provide subject‑matter expertise and guidance on payment‑related initiatives and transformation projects to maintain compliance with sanctions regulations and payment scheme requirements.
• Transaction and client advisory: Review transactions, payments, relationships, and trade finance deals to identify sanctions or payment concerns and implement appropriate measures to ensure compliance.
• Systems & project engagement: Ensure MUFG systems comply with sanctions regulations and represent FCOE Sanctions as a subject‑matter expert in payment‑related projects at regional and group levels.
• Stakeholder engagement: Communicate with senior regional and global stakeholders, exercise delegated authority to make risk decisions, and represent EMEA Sanctions at governance forums.
• Case oversight & reporting: Manage investigations, escalating issues to senior management and Global Sanctions Advisory, and coordinate follow‑up actions with compliance stakeholders across the region.
• Management information & continuous improvement: Maintain accurate MI on case status, provide updates on regulatory changes, policies, and processes, and drive continuous improvement and efficiency initiatives.

Skills and Experience

• Proven experience in and understanding of sanctions.
• Proven experience in payments.
• Strong knowledge of and experience in banking.
• A good understanding of banking and investment products.
• Good understanding of financial crime risk in banking.
• An excellent understanding of the concepts of risk management and control.

Specifics of the Role

• Strong analytical skills.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, both written and verbal.
• Strong financial sanctions and payments knowledge in particular OFAC, EU and UK regulations.
• The ability to operate with urgency and prioritise work accordingly.
• Strong decision‑making skills, the ability to demonstrate sound judgement.
• Strong relationship‑building and management skills.

Personal Requirements

• Results driven, with a strong sense of accountability.
• Excellent communication skills.
• A proactive, motivated approach.
• Strong organisational skills.
• The ability to operate with urgency and to manage large workloads and tight deadlines.
• Excellent attention to detail and accuracy.

Performance and Duties

The role holder will be assessed in accordance with their employing entity’s performance framework and process with relevant input obtained from the dual hatting entity as relevant. As duties and responsibilities change, the job description will be reviewed and emended in consultation with the role holder. The role holder will carry out other duties within the scope, spirit and purpose of the role as requested by their line manager or Department Head.

Managing Conflicts of Interest

The role holder will have responsibilities for both MUFG Bank and MUFG Securities EMEA plc. The role holder will be required to perform their duties and responsibilities on an entity‑neutral basis, without favour. The role holder is required to follow regulatory requirements applicable to ensure each business is appropriately supported and to maintain the legal entity integrity of each of MUFG Bank and MUFG Securities EMEA plc. The role holder will have responsibility for identifying and resolving where there may be a difference or conflict in needs between MUFG Bank and MUFG Securities EMEA plc, escalating to their manager where required.

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.