KYC Periodic Review Associate Team Lead

Job Level: Associate

Job Function: Governance & Assurance

Location:

Jersey City, NJ, US, 07311

Employment Type: Full Time

Requisition ID: 7110

SMBC Group is a top-tier global financial group. Headquartered in Tokyo and with a 400-year history, SMBC Group offers a diverse range of financial services, including banking, leasing, securities, credit cards, and consumer finance. The Group has more than 130 offices and 80,000 employees worldwide in nearly 40 countries. Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group, Inc. (SMFG) is the holding company of SMBC Group, which is one of the three largest banking groups in Japan. SMFG’s shares trade on the Tokyo, Nagoya, and New York (NYSE: SMFG) stock exchanges.

In the Americas, SMBC Group has a presence in the US, Canada, Mexico, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, and Peru. Backed by the capital strength of SMBC Group and the value of its relationships in Asia, the Group offers a range of commercial and investment banking services to its corporate, institutional, and municipal clients. It connects a diverse client base to local markets and the organization’s extensive global network. The Group’s operating companies in the Americas include Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corp. (SMBC), SMBC Nikko Securities America, Inc., SMBC Capital Markets, Inc., SMBC MANUBANK, JRI America, Inc., SMBC Leasing and Finance, Inc., Banco Sumitomo Mitsui Brasileiro S.A., and Sumitomo Mitsui Finance and Leasing Co., Ltd.

The anticipated salary range for this role is between $75,000.00 and $120,000.00. The specific salary offered to an applicant will be based on their individual qualifications, experiences, and an analysis of the current compensation paid in their geography and the market for similar roles at the time of hire. The role may also be eligible for an annual discretionary incentive award. In addition to cash compensation, SMBC offers a competitive portfolio of benefits to its employees.

Role Description

Lead and develop a high‑performing team responsible for executing periodic reviews, maintaining documentation standards, and delivering high‑quality KYC due diligence. Provide direction and oversight to ensure all client and KYC records are accurate, complete, and fully compliant with Anti‑Money Laundering (AML) program requirements and internal policy standards. Drive process excellence by monitoring team output, identifying areas for improvement, and ensuring quality controls are embedded throughout the review lifecycle. Serve as a point of escalation for complex cases, providing subject‑matter expertise and partnering with Compliance and Front Office when needed.

Role Objectives

Provide day‑to‑day leadership for the team responsible for processing periodic reviews and conducting KYC due diligence. Ensure that client and KYC information is reviewed accurately and in full compliance with AML program requirements.
Oversee the verification and documentation of KYC data points, guide the team in collecting and evaluating supporting documents based on client and business needs, and ensure the consistent execution of due diligence in accordance with KYC policies and procedures.
Manage the maintenance and proper archiving of all records supporting KYC completion, ensuring adherence to document‑retention standards. Monitor team output to identify missing or incomplete information, direct the return of incorrect submissions for remediation, and ensure that discrepancies are resolved using approved processes and checklists. Escalate unusual or suspicious activity to the front office and Compliance as appropriate.
Supervise and spot‑check the entry of client information into KYC system, ensuring that applicable documentation is uploaded, processed, and confirmed in a timely and accurate manner. Track and enforce production and accuracy targets, providing guidance, feedback, and support to maintain consistent performance and compliance standards.

Role Objectives: Interpersonal

Communicate with customers / clients and internal stakeholders in order to coordinate the collection and assessment of KYC documentation and other compliance information.
Communicate the status of periodic reviews to internal and external stakeholders, and efficiently move periodic reviews through the process, interacting with legal, tax and other support functions, as required.
Facilitate day-to-day interaction with internal business units to respond to processing requests and instructions, manage expectations and address issues and inquiries.
Collaborate with internal partners within operations and other support functions in order to streamline operations processes and participate in continuous improvement initiatives.

Role Objectives: Expertise

Demonstrate solid knowledge and understanding of processes for conducting KYC for institutional clients as well as the documentation requirements for different types of accounts.
Act as a subject matter expert on KYC rules and policies and associated execution / implementation.
Demonstrate good understanding of risk factors impacting client risk rating and ability to write comprehensive audit reports that define salient actions for execution.
Demonstrate and maintain good working knowledge of all applicable regulatory standards and rules (e.g., AML, OFAC, Bank Secrecy Act, etc.).

Qualifications and Skills

7 years of relevant experience

SMBC’s employees participate in a Hybrid workforce model that provides employees with an opportunity to work from home, as well as, from an SMBC office. SMBC requires that employees live within a reasonable commuting distance of their office location. Prospective candidates will learn more about their specific hybrid work schedule during their interview process. Hybrid work may not be permitted for certain roles, including, for example, certain FINRA-registered roles for which in-office attendance for the entire workweek is required.

SMBC provides reasonable accommodations during candidacy for applicants with disabilities consistent with applicable federal, state, and local law. If you need a reasonable accommodation during the application process, please let us know at accommodations@smbcgroup.com.