Sanctions Advisory Manager | Risk & Compliance Lead

Sanctions Advisory Manager | S3 | Economic Crime Risk & Control, CCB | Multiple Locations Country: United Kingdom

IT STARTS HERE

Santander is evolving from a global, high-impact brand into a technology-driven organisation, and our people are at the heart of this journey. Together, we are driving a customer-centric transformation that values bold thinking, innovation, and the courage to challenge what’s possible. This is more than a strategic shift. It’s a chance for driven professionals to grow, learn, and make a real difference. Our mission is to contribute to help more people and businesses prosper. We embrace a strong risk culture and all our professionals at all levels are expected to take a proactive and responsible approach toward risk management.

Retail & Commercial Banking is a global business integrating all our retail and commercial banking activities to better serve our customers, improve efficiency and drive value creation.

THE DIFFERENCE YOU MAKE

Santander is looking for a Sanctions Advisory Manager based out of Milton Keynes, London or Glasgow on a 12 month fixed term contract. This role sits at the heart of Santander’s Financial Crime framework, acting as a trusted advisor to the business on complex sanctions matters. You’ll play a key role in protecting the bank, its customers, and the wider financial system by ensuring robust compliance with UK and global sanctions regimes. This is an opportunity to operate as a subject matter expert, influencing senior stakeholders, shaping risk decisions, and contributing to the evolution of Santander’s sanctions capability. You’ll work across a diverse range of products, clients, and geographies, helping the business grow responsibly within a strong risk appetite.

We’re shaping the way we work through innovation, cutting-edge technology, collaboration and the freedom to explore new ideas. To succeed in this role, you will be responsible for:

• Providing expert sanctions advisory support to 1LOD stakeholders across CCB, ensuring alignment with UK and Group Sanctions Policy
• Managing complex sanctions cases, including customer, payment and trade-related escalations, delivering clear and risk-based decisions
• Overseeing sanctions breaches, waivers and exceptions, including regulatory disclosures and requests for information
• Supporting horizon scanning and impact assessments for new and evolving sanctions regimes, ensuring timely implementation across the business
• Producing high-quality MI and insight to senior management, contributing to governance forums and risk committees
• Leading or contributing to strategic and regulatory change initiatives relating to sanctions risk management
• Building strong relationships with internal stakeholders and external industry bodies to influence best practice and policy development
• Supporting training and awareness initiatives to embed a strong sanctions risk culture across the organisation

WHAT YOU’LL BRING

Our people are our greatest strength. Every individual contributes unique perspectives that make us stronger as a team and as an organisation. We’re enabling teams to go beyond by valuing who they are and empowering what they bring. The following requirements represent the knowledge, skills, and abilities essential for success in this role. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Professional Experience

• Experience in sanctions advisory, investigations, or financial crime compliance within financial services (Required)
• Proven ability to manage complex sanctions cases and provide risk-based guidance to senior stakeholders (Required)
• Experience working with corporate and commercial banking clients, products, and services (Preferred)

• Degree or equivalent professional experience in a relevant discipline (Required)
• Relevant Financial Crime or Sanctions qualification (e.g., ICA, ACAMS) (Preferred)

• English (Required)
• Additional European language (Preferred)

• Advanced knowledge of UK, EU, UN and US sanctions regimes and regulatory frameworks (Required)
• Strong understanding of sanctions screening, due diligence and risk assessment methodologies (Required)
• Experience with sanctions case management systems and MI/reporting tools (Preferred)

• Excellent stakeholder management and influencing skills
• Strong analytical thinking and problem-solving capability
• Clear and confident communication, with the ability to translate complex regulation into practical guidance

WE VALUE YOUR IMPACT

At Santander, your contribution matters. We recognise the difference you make every day, and we make sure you feel valued, supported and rewarded in return. Here, recognition goes beyond pay. It’s about the pride you feel in your work, the impact you have on customers and communities, and the opportunities you have to grow and thrive — personally and professionally.

30 days’ holiday plus bank holidays, which increases to 31 days after 5 years service, with the option to purchase up to 5 contractual days per year

£6,000 car allowance per year

Company funded individual private medical insurance

Protection for you and your family, with company-funded death-in-service benefit and income protection insurance, and the option to take advantage of discounted rates for additional life assurance and critical illness cover.

Share in Santander’s success by saving or investing in our share plans.

As a Santander UK employee, you are able to request staff versions of our products like our Edge Current Accounts and Credit Cards with no fees, as well as apply to many other deals and discounts in Santander products and services.

Competitive rewards that reflect the real impact you make and the value you bring.

Wellbeing that goes beyond work — we work with a range of wellbeing partners across our 4 pillars of wellbeing (physical, mental, social and financial) to give you access to a suite of apps, discounted gym and fitness access, weekly online classes, flexible healthcare and mental health support.

Support for every life stage — from menopause and pregnancy to parenthood and beyond, with enhanced family leave, childcare options and tailored wellbeing support.

Time to give back through volunteering opportunities that let you make a difference in the communities we serve.

Global growth opportunities to shape your career, learn new skills and explore what’s possible across our international network.

Ready to be recognised? It starts with you.

LOCAL COMPLIANCE

At Santander, we’re proud to be an inclusive organisation that provides equal opportunities for everyone — regardless of age, gender, disability, civil status, race, religion or sexual orientation. We’re committed to creating a recruitment experience that’s accessible, fair and welcoming for all candidates. We want our people to thrive — at work and at home — while delivering the best outcomes for our customers and supporting each other to grow.

To make this possible, our roles are site-based with a hybrid working pattern, where colleagues are expected to attend the office at least 12 days per month (pro-rata for part-time roles). When applying, please consider the travel distance, time and cost to your chosen office locations.

Right to work in the UK

Every individual must have the right to work in the UK to commence employment with Santander either by way of nationality, visa or work permit. If you do require a working visa / permit this will not influence our decision on whether to progress your application. However, if you do not have a right to work, or an application for a working visa / permit is unsuccessful, Santander will not proceed with your application and will withdraw any conditional offer previously made. We welcome applications on the understanding that, should you be offered this role, there may be no relocation package available. Santander will pay the employer mandatory government fees that are required to pay in connection with visa sponsorship. You may be liable for your own personal employee immigration and relocation costs.

WHAT TO DO NEXT

If this sounds like a role you are interested in, then please apply. If there’s anything we can do in the recruitment process to help you achieve your best, get in touch. Whether it’s a copy of our application form in another format or additional assistance, we’re available through email. You can contact us at resourcing@santander.co.uk.