KYC Officer

Job Title: Senior KYC Officer
Location: Montreal, QC | Pay: 29/hr

Description

Intervening at the final stages of the KYC due diligence process and working in close coordination with all stakeholders part of the KYC Due Diligence process (including Data Officers, Data Controllers, Screeners, Investigators, Compliance, and Relationship Managers), the Senior KYC Officer is responsible for ensuring that due diligence on new or existing clients has been conducted in compliance with regulatory requirements and internal policies/guidelines.

Responsibilities

• Ensuring that all data, documents, and information collected as part of the Due Diligence process are compliant and reliable to determine the final risk level of the client relationship.
• Ensuring that the level of due diligence performed is in accordance with the final risk level of the client relationship.
• Ensuring that local regulatory requirements pertaining to the KYC case have been fulfilled.
• Ensuring that financial security risk triggers are appropriately consulted with Compliance for opinion.
• Preparing a memo substantiating the KYC analysis review.
• Ensuring that the file is submitted for the Relationship Manager's final sign-off.
• Working with QA officers and team leads to improve the quality of 4-eye checks. Organizing the Client Acceptance Committee (CAC) as appropriate.
• Primarily reviews documentation for new customer accounts, evaluates high-risk accounts and analyzes new customer processes and policies.
• They also study market trends and observe customer behavior patterns within the business in which they are employed.
• In addition, these analysts are involved in reviewing new product proposals and analyzing risk and compliance issues relating to these products
• Knowledgeable about anti-money laundering (AML) processes and procedures.
• Work primarily for banks or lending institutions, though they can be employed in other types of businesses, such as manufacturing, technology or consulting firms.
• Verify the submitted documentation and perform due diligence procedures of all levels (SDD, CDD, and EDD) for new and existing customers to assess the risks associated with each private and legal entity and ensure compliance with the existing legislation.

The strengths and skills that will help you succeed

• Regulatory Mastery: Expert in FATF, FinCEN, EU AML Directives, and local jurisdictional requirements; author of updated KYC policy suite after the 2024 AML reforms.
• Risk-Based Due Diligence.
• Analytical Tools: MS Excel and Power BI.
• Project Management.
• Stakeholder Influence: Partnered with Product, Legal, and Sales to embed KYC risk scores into client-facing CRM, improving risk visibility across the value chain.
• Communication: Regular presenter to senior leadership and regulators.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required; CAMS certification is a plus.
• At least 5 years of experience in the financial services sector.
• Minimum 3 years of experience in an AML/KYC-related role.
• English – Mandatory.
• French and Spanish – Preferred.
• General knowledge of the financial industry and products, including awareness of various corporate entities such as hedge funds, asset managers, pension funds, limited companies, private and public companies, holding companies, and trusts.
• Experience in a control function with a strong control mindset.
• Financial industry knowledge, including corporate entities and structures.
• AML/KYC processes and regulatory requirements (e.g., USA PATRIOT Act, Bank Secrecy Act).
• Financial security screening, including sanctions, PEPs, and adverse media.
• Experience with KYC databases and vendors (e.g., Orbis, World-Check).
• Knowledge of OFAC screening requirements.
• Strong Microsoft Excel, Word, and presentation skills.