Director, Regional Head of AML

Do you want your voice heard and your actions to count? Discover your opportunity with Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group (MUFG), one of the world’s leading financial groups. Across the globe, we’re 150,000 colleagues, striving to make a difference for every client, organization, and community we serve. We stand for our values, building long-term relationships, serving society, and fostering shared and sustainable growth for a better world. With a vision to be the world’s most trusted financial group, it’s part of our culture to put people first, listen to new and diverse ideas and collaborate toward greater innovation, speed and agility. This means investing in talent, technologies, and tools that empower you to own your career. Join MUFG, where being inspired is expected and making a meaningful impact is rewarded. Purpose of the Job The Director and Regional Head of AML Compliance will provide strategic leadership and oversight of AML compliance across the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region while supporting the broader Financial Crime framework. The role serves as a senior advisor to business, compliance, and risk stakeholders, ensuring effective execution of MUFG’s AML programme and cross-regional AML regulatory requirements. The candidate reports into both the Regional Head of Financial Crimes for APAC and the Global Head of AML. The candidate will also be dual-hatted to support MUS Asia in an advisory capacity on all AML matters. This role has the potential for expanded leadership opportunities across the Financial Crime Office of Asia, therefore a successful candidate should display knowledge and experience in the areas of Sanctions, AML and ABC Key Responsibilities • Responsible for the effective execution of MUFG’s AML programme in APAC. This primarily includes development of regional guidances and operating manuals to supplement global policies/standards, regional customisation of requirements and processes, KYC and TMS transformation and automation, tuning and scenario/parameters selection, high risk KYC review and FI EDD advisory covering APAC branches, oversight and challenge of AML investigations quality by APAC branches. • Responsible for the leadership and supervision of the APAC AML Compliance department, comprising of KYC Advisory, Transaction Monitoring/Investigations Advisory, AML Product Advisory, Governance and Risk Controls. • Maintain AML policy assessments, standards, procedures, and training programs. • Serve as MUFG’s APAC financial crime compliance senior management team and standing member of various global and regional governance/oversight forums • Lead AML advisory activities across APAC, including complex escalations, investigations, and AML related regulatory change management. • Partnering with various sharing services in the First and Second line of defense to ensure a sustainable and effective AML program • Oversee and ensure effective execution of AML product risk assessments for APAC region, working closely with product office leadership to ensure appropriate controls and regulatory considerations are built into product features; execution of MUFG’s global product risk rating methodology, trade finance framework, product control guidance etc. • Oversee and ensure effective execution of MUFG’s annual global risk assessment and AML transaction reporting framework for APAC branches • Serve as Risk Manager and standing member of the regional review and challenge committee for all AML issues in APAC. Primary responsibilities include providing subject matter expertise viewpoints to audit/testing teams on potential issues, holding final approval authority for all issue action plans and closure evidences. • Lead various oversight and support initiatives relating to APAC branches, including reviewing MI/financial crime monitoring reports and making necessary interventions as appropriate, advisory on all AML matters, support on exams and audits, support on regulatory engagements and senior management dialogues. • Represent MUFG in AML-related industry forums, peer discussions, and regulatory interactions as appropriate • Support MUFG Securities Asia with regard to Financial Crimes Compliance • Support the development and execution of regional Financial Crime strategy, including sanctions, AML, and related risk disciplines. • Provide executive-level reporting and strategic recommendations to senior management and governance committees. • Actively identify opportunities of automation of manual processes, including solutions supported by Artificial Intelligence (AI) and drive their implementation across sanctions program areas. • Manage a team, including recruitment, performance management, compensation, motivation and people development. Required Qualifications Skills & Knowledge • A minimum of 15 years’ experience working in financial crimes (FC) function in a financial institution or regulatory agency. • A minimum of 15 years’ experience managing Anti-Money Laundering (AML), Know Your Customer (KYC), and Transaction Monitoring (TM) processes. • Demonstrated success managing regulatory relationships and complex risk issues in Sanctions, AML and Securities • Prior management experience required. • Strong executive communication and stakeholder management skills. • Experience managing large cross-border teams required • Experience in managing or supporting FC program development, maintenance and enhancement. • Experience in interacting with business management, control function leadership and compliance personnel. • Thorough knowledge and understanding of an effective financial crimes risk management framework. • Strong people management. • Knowledge of products and services of one or more of the following businesses: Corporate Banking, Investment Banking, Transaction Banking and/or Global Markets. Education & Professional Qualifications • Degree qualified Experience • Significant senior leadership experience within AML/KYC/TM compliance,…