KYC Onboarding Compliance Officer

About Julius Baer and the Role

At Julius Baer, we value the unique contributions each individual brings, fostering entrepreneurship and empowerment to create impact beyond traditional wealth management. The Chief Risk Officer (CRO) division develops and manages a global framework focusing on risk identification, control, and reporting to support sustainable growth within Bank Julius Baer’s diverse business activities.

Our Compliance function, part of the Risk, Legal and Compliance Division, aids senior management to ensure adherence to both external and internal regulations, effectively managing operational, regulatory, and reputational risks.

The KYC Onboarding Compliance Officer (KYC CO) plays a key role in Compliance Singapore by reviewing and approving high and highest risk client relationships, portfolios, and accounts managed within Bank Julius Baer Singapore (BJBS), supporting both the BJBS Branch and Julius Baer Trust Company (JBTC) for BJBS-booked trust accounts.

Key Responsibilities

• Support CRO and senior leadership at BJBS Branch and JBTC to ensure full compliance with regulatory and internal policies, actively mitigating operational, regulatory, and reputational risks.
• Collaborate as part of the KYC Onboarding team servicing BJBS Branch functions.
• Develop strong partnerships with stakeholders, including BJBS Front Office, Client Document Services, Periodic Review teams, AML Controls, and Risk Management units.
• Assist Heads of Singapore Compliance and AML/KYC in overseeing compliance reviews and acceptance processes for new client relationships and accounts, as well as ongoing assessment of KYC/CDD risks throughout the client lifecycle.
• Liaise closely with Head Office and international offices—particularly in Hong Kong, Dubai, and Thailand—for cross-border referrals and account initiation matters.
• Handle ad hoc legal and compliance queries related to KYC/CDD and assist Compliance Singapore during regulatory inspections and audits.
• Perform thorough reviews and approval of onboarding for various client types including Individuals, Domiciliary Companies, Legal Entities, Financial Institutions, Trusts, Funds, and External Asset Managers, ensuring compliance with Bank policy and MAS 626 Notices and Guidelines.
• Evaluate adequacy of Source of Wealth narratives and supporting documents for new and existing clients.
• Assess AML risk for higher-risk accounts such as those involving Politically Exposed Persons (PEPs), significant adverse media, or clients associated with sensitive industries.
• Review complex legal structures for potential risks, and manage changes affecting accounts, such as signatories, power of attorney, and source of wealth updates.
• Oversee client exits driven by AML/CFT concerns, including intensified monitoring until completion of exit procedures.
• Address sanctions true matches and other AML/CFT risks emerging from name screening, transaction screening, and periodic reviews.
• Provide guidance to Front Office and Operations teams on KYC/CDD-related matters and advise management and risk committees on AML/CFT risk assessments.
• Support enhancements of name screening processes and controls.
• Engage in projects and improvement initiatives concerning KYC/CDD practices.
• Exhibit integrity, due diligence, fair dealing, conflict of interest management, competence, and ensure compliance with laws and regulations.
• Ensure KYC/CDD issues are identified, assessed, and documented accurately; escalate risks or incomplete procedures appropriately, including referrals to AML investigations when suspicious activities arise.
• Respond promptly and cooperatively to information requests from the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) and law enforcement authorities.

Required Qualifications and Skills

• Minimum 5 to 7 years’ experience in KYC onboarding and AML within Private Banking or Wealth Management sectors.
• Strong understanding of Private Banking, Wealth Management, and Trust Company environments.
• Comprehensive knowledge of MAS 626 Notice and Guidelines.
• Proven experience managing regulatory inspections and audits relating to AML/CFT compliance.
• Excellent organizational skills with a strong personality.
• Effective communication and stakeholder management skills.
• Ability to prioritize and manage multiple assignments simultaneously.
• Strong sense of responsibility, high integrity, and analytical capabilities.
• Fluent in spoken and written English and Chinese; knowledge of additional languages is advantageous.
• Proficient in Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.