Director of Financial Crime Compliance Advisory

Location: New York, NY
Work Arrangement: Onsite
Duration: 6 Months
Experience: 8+ years
Employment Type: Contract

Position Overview

We are seeking an experienced Director of Financial Crime Compliance Advisory to lead complex client engagements involving financial crime risk, regulatory compliance, and governance. The role encompasses anti-money laundering (AML), sanctions, anti-fraud, investigations, anti-bribery and corruption, and other financial crime risks affecting financial institutions and multinational organizations. The successful candidate will oversee advisory engagements, develop client relationships, lead teams, contribute to business development, and provide strategic guidance on strengthening financial crime compliance programs and controls.

Primary Skills

Financial Crime Compliance
Anti-Money Laundering (AML)
Sanctions Compliance
Risk and Governance Advisory
Financial Crime Compliance Controls
Client Engagement Leadership

Secondary Skills

Transaction Monitoring
Sanctions Screening
Know Your Customer (KYC)
Suspicious Activity Reporting
Financial Crime Risk Assessments
Internal Controls Assessment
Anti-Fraud and Investigations
Anti-Bribery and Corruption
Correspondent Banking
Trade Finance
Payment Systems and SWIFT
Regulatory Compliance
Root Cause Analysis
Business Development
Microsoft Excel

Key Responsibilities

Client Advisory and Engagement Leadership

• Lead complex financial crime compliance advisory engagements, overseeing planning, execution, reporting, and delivery within agreed timelines and budgets.

• Assess client requirements and develop strategic plans to design, document, and implement effective compliance solutions.

• Evaluate client control environments to identify weaknesses, assess financial crime risks, and recommend practical mitigation strategies.

• Provide guidance on the practical implications of financial services regulations and effective approaches to compliance risk management.

• Build and maintain trusted relationships with clients, colleagues, and other stakeholders.

Financial Crime Risk and Compliance

• Advise clients on AML, sanctions, anti-fraud, investigations, anti-bribery and corruption, and related financial crime risks.

• Evaluate financial crime compliance frameworks, including transaction monitoring, sanctions screening, KYC, suspicious activity reporting, and risk assessment processes.

• Identify control deficiencies, investigate root causes, and recommend enhancements to financial crime compliance programs.

• Assess potential financial crime risks associated with complex financial products, systems, and business processes.

• Apply knowledge of correspondent banking, trade finance, payment systems, and SWIFT messages to relevant client engagements.

• Monitor emerging regulations, regulatory expectations, industry developments, and business strategies affecting financial crime compliance.

Team Leadership and Development

• Provide technical oversight and direction to teams delivering compliance, risk, and governance advisory services.

• Manage, mentor, and develop junior colleagues and team members.

• Allocate resources, manage budgets, and coordinate multiple concurrent engagements.

• Ensure teams deliver high-quality work products and services while addressing project risks and delivery challenges.

• Promote collaboration, knowledge sharing, and professional development.

Business Development and Thought Leadership

• Support business development initiatives, including identifying opportunities, developing proposals, and participating in client presentations.

• Contribute to client relationship management and growth initiatives.

• Support the development of innovative advisory services and solutions aligned with client needs.

• Produce thought leadership through industry presentations, publications, client alerts, and white papers.

• Maintain professional networks and identify emerging industry practices and opportunities.

Required Qualifications

• 8+ years of experience in financial crime compliance, risk management, or governance advisory.

• At least 2 years of experience in management, team supervision, and staff development.

• Experience working within a financial institution or consulting firm focused on AML, sanctions, or related financial crime compliance areas.

• Knowledge of financial crime compliance controls, including sanctions screening, transaction monitoring, suspicious activity reporting, KYC, and risk assessments.

• Experience evaluating internal controls, identifying compliance gaps, and recommending risk mitigation strategies.

• Strong understanding of financial crime risks associated with complex financial products, systems, and processes.

• Familiarity with correspondent banking, trade finance, payment systems, and SWIFT messaging.

• Experience managing client engagements, resources, budgets, work plans, and multiple concurrent priorities.

• Demonstrated analytical, quantitative, qualitative, and problem-solving capabilities.

• Strong written and verbal communication, stakeholder management, and leadership skills.

• Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications, with advanced Microsoft Excel skills.

• Ability to work effectively in fast-paced, deadline-driven environments and respond to critical issues.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in business development, proposal development, and direct client relationship management.

• Additional language proficiency.

• Willingness and ability to travel internationally when required for client engagements.