Associate - Transaction Banking 1st Line Financial Crime Risk, London

About Transaction Banking

Our Transaction Banking division strives to provide a cutting-edge digital banking platform that blends the heritage of a century-old institution with the nimbleness of a tech enterprise. Our mission is to facilitate a seamless, secure, and efficient payment experience for clients, whether domestic or cross-border.

Role Overview and Team

Joining the first line defense risk team within Transaction Banking, you will contribute to managing financial crime and compliance risks. Partnering with senior financial crime risk professionals, you will advise on client selection, risk evaluation, and governance. Your responsibilities include analyzing complex financial crime risks through detailed due diligence and offering clear, risk-based recommendations to stakeholders. This position demands critical judgment beyond routine compliance, with the ability to challenge and counsel within the commercial banking arena.

Key Responsibilities

• Advise on financial crime risk related to new and existing clients.
• Analyze client financial crime risk profiles and assess the robustness of their compliance controls.
• Perform focused due diligence for high-risk clients, such as correspondent banks, articulating risk-informed recommendations rather than routine outputs.
• Conduct and interpret adverse media searches related to Transaction Banking clients.
• Prepare comprehensive due diligence and risk assessment reports synthesizing client data and control observations for internal approval processes.
• Stay current with regulatory mandates, industry developments, and emerging risks in compliance.
• Liaise with Legal, Compliance, and business partners to manage escalations, clarify inquiries, and support risk-based decisions.
• Review transactional activities to ensure conformity with client expectations.
• Maintain and update process documentation and promote best practice within the team.
• Build trusted relationships with peers, leadership, and senior stakeholders across defense lines.

Candidate Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree and a minimum of two years of professional experience in financial crime risk advisory, compliance, governance, or client risk assessment roles, demonstrating strong judgment in complex scenarios and clear communication of recommendations.
• Proficiency in producing professional communications including data-driven reports, visual presentations, governance documents, and policy materials using tools such as PowerPoint.
• Creative, collaborative, self-motivated, with the ability to independently deliver critical risk objectives on schedule.
• Excellent verbal and written communication, organizational abilities, and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to adapt to dynamic, multifaceted work settings and balance objective and subjective risk perspectives.
• Strong prioritization skills managing multiple concurrent projects.
• Team-oriented, energetic, self-directed, and motivated.
• Fluent professional English language skills.

Preferred Qualifications

• Three or more years’ experience within risk management focused on financial crime advisory or client risk roles, especially within first or second line risk functions.
• Advanced degrees such as a Juris Doctor or master's related to the field.
• Experience drafting advisory memos, risk assessments, governance papers, or risk recommendations for senior executives.
• Previous experience in transaction banking or commercial banking.
• Knowledge and experience in payment systems and correspondent banking due diligence.
• Experience working directly with clients in similar roles.

About the Company

Goldman Sachs is a leading global investment banking and financial services firm, committed to clients, shareholders, and community growth since 1869. We value diversity and strive to provide an inclusive workplace, offering opportunities for professional and personal development through extensive training and wellness programs.

Diversity and Accommodation

We are dedicated to equal employment opportunities and affirmative action, supporting all individuals including women, minorities, veterans, persons with disabilities, and members of the LGBTQ+ community. Reasonable accommodations are available during the recruitment process for candidates requiring assistance.