Account Specialist

Position Overview

The Account Specialist is a key member of the Account Management team, playing an essential role in collaborating with Front Office teams to onboard clients and facilitate new account openings—a strategic priority for the business. This role manages the client account lifecycle, including account opening, ongoing reviews/recertifications, and closures, ensuring all processes align with regulatory and internal compliance standards while maintaining efficiency and quality.

Core Responsibilities

• Work closely with Relationship Managers, Marketing Assistants, Compliance, and Client Management to oversee the client lifecycle management (CLM) process consistently and accurately.
• Serve as a “Maker-Checker” during the end-to-end account opening and review processes.
• Ensure onboarding and review activities comply fully with the Bank’s Anti-Money Laundering (AML) and Know Your Customer (KYC) standards as well as regulatory requirements.
• Verify the completeness and accuracy of KYC documentation and conduct necessary due diligence checks.
• Support Relationship Managers in completing Client Acceptance Forms, client profiling in the ICE system, and related documentation required for account approval.
• Manage and oversee the full account opening and review workflows, engaging with relevant stakeholders to ensure timely completion.
• Promptly escalate any red flags or alerts for further action and follow up with Relationship Managers on critical onboarding or review issues.
• Prepare KYC screening lists for new and existing clients by consolidating and verifying information provided by Relationship Managers.
• Respond professionally and promptly to internal stakeholder queries, ensuring all enquiries are resolved satisfactorily.
• Generate management reports to aid review processes and enhance control mechanisms.
• Offer constructive feedback and process improvement suggestions to boost efficiency and meet collective key performance indicators (KPIs).
• Communicate process changes that affect Account Management workflows to Relationship Managers as necessary.
• Implement and uphold operational permanent control policies on a day-to-day basis, ensuring strict adherence to regulatory and internal compliance standards.
• Report all relevant incidents related to Account Management promptly following internal policies.

Required Qualifications and Skills

• University degree with a minimum of 4 to 5 years’ experience in the financial or banking sectors, ideally within KYC/AML, risk, or controls functions.
• Strong understanding of regulatory frameworks concerning KYC and AML compliance.
• Professional certifications such as Certified Anti Money Laundering Specialist (CAMS) or International Association Diploma in Anti-Money Laundering are advantageous.
• Exceptional interpersonal capabilities to manage cross-functional stakeholder relationships across the CLM process.
• A client-centric mindset balancing business imperatives with compliance controls.
• Strong analytical aptitude with creativity in problem-solving.
• Collaborative team player who proactively takes initiative.
• Familiarity with wealth management organizational structures.
• Detail-oriented with proficient report writing skills.

Company Information

BNP Paribas is a top European Union bank and a leading global financial institution present in the region since 1860. The company delivers a broad range of financial services across corporate and institutional banking, wealth management, asset management, and insurance.

Committed to diversity and inclusion, BNP Paribas encourages applications from all backgrounds, including diverse origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, and those living with disabilities. Employee networks actively support various communities such as LGBTQIA+ (BNP Paribas PRIDE), women's representation (BNP Paribas MixCity), disability support (Ability), and cultural diversity (CulturAll).

Environmental responsibility is integral to BNP Paribas, aiming for a carbon-neutral economy by 2050, with active participation in the Net-Zero Banking Alliance and dedicated groups supporting clients' energy transitions.