KYC Quality Checker - Banking AVP (contract) - Hays

Type: Contract
Sector: Corporate & Investment Banking
The Opportunity
A leading international bank is looking for an experienced AML / KYC Quality Control professional to join its Client Lifecycle Management function at AVP level.
This is a hands-on Quality Control role sitting within the first line of defence, responsible for independently reviewing complex KYC files across a corporate and institutional banking client base.
The role goes beyond simply checking files. You will provide effective challenge, identify material financial crime risks, improve quality standards and work closely with KYC Analysts, Financial Crime, Compliance and Front Office stakeholders to drive better outcomes across the function.
This would suit an experienced KYC QC / QA professional who understands complex corporate structures and can balance strong technical standards with a pragmatic, risk-based approach.
Key Responsibilities

• Conduct independent Quality Control reviews of KYC, CDD and EDD files across different entity types and risk levels.
• Review complex corporate and institutional structures, including financial institutions, funds, asset managers, private equity structures, SPVs and trusts.
• Identify material gaps, inconsistencies and potential financial crime risks, escalating issues where appropriate.
• Provide effective challenge to KYC decisions and ensure files are suitable for audit, regulatory and second-line scrutiny.
• Review and support remediation activity across higher-risk or complex cases.
• Provide structured feedback and coaching to KYC Analysts to improve quality and reduce repeat issues.
• Undertake thematic and root-cause analysis to identify recurring quality issues.
• Support the development of QC methodology, scoring, MI, procedures and quality standards.
• Work closely with Operations, Financial Crime, Compliance and Front Office stakeholders.
• Support regulatory change, remediation and wider KYC process improvement initiatives.
• Contribute to enhancements across controls, processes, procedures and technology.
  What We're Looking For
  The successful candidate will ideally have:
• 5+ years' experience within AML/KYC, Client Lifecycle Management or Financial Crime within banking or financial services.
• Strong experience completing and, ideally, quality checking complex KYC/CDD/EDD files.
• Previous exposure to corporate and institutional banking clients.
• Experience reviewing complex ownership structures and multi-jurisdictional entities.
• Strong understanding of AML, CTF and sanctions risk.
• Knowledge of corporate and investment banking products and the associated financial crime risks.
• Experience operating within UK and/or wider EMEA regulatory environments.
• Strong understanding of risk-based KYC decision-making, with the ability to distinguish material risk from minor technical findings.
• Confidence challenging decisions and explaining QC findings to senior stakeholders.
• Strong stakeholder management skills across Operations, Compliance, Financial Crime and Front Office.
  Highly Desirable
  Previous KYC Quality Control / Quality Assurance experience within a bank.
  Experience supporting audit, regulatory reviews or KYC remediation programmes.
  Exposure to FCA, EBA or broader EMEA regulatory expectations.
  ICA, ACAMS or another recognised financial crime qualification.
  Experience developing QC standards, MI, procedures or training.
  

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