Senior Sanctions Investigator

Sanctions Investigator Alexander Barnes has partnered with a leading global fintech to hire a a Senior Sanctions Investigator. This is a hands-on role with real ownership of sanctions screening across Europe, the UK and Asia-Pacific, delivered through an outsourced model.About the roleYou'll oversee end-to-end sanctions screening and act as the primary point of accountability for vendor performance. That means keeping quality high, managing escalations, and stepping in to handle complex or sensitive investigations yourself when needed.You'll review vendor output critically, challenge decisions that don't stand up, and escalate confirmed matches. You'll also keep improving processes, frameworks and controls as sanctions regulations evolve, working closely with Compliance, Legal and the MLRO function on regulatory obligations, audits and policy alignment, and with Product and Tech teams on automation and AI.What you'll doOversee end-to-end sanctions screening across Europe, the UK and APAC, and own vendor quality, SLAs and performancePersonally handle complex or sensitive sanctions investigations, and step in during volume spikes or vendor disruptionAssess and challenge vendor decisions, apply sound judgement, and document outcomes clearly and defensiblyManage escalations, support blocking and reporting actions, and stay current on EU, UN, UK and other regimesDrive continuous improvement with the vendor and internal teams, including automation and AI to improve accuracy and reduce noiseCreate and maintain SOPs and training materials, and help onboard and coach colleagues and vendor teamsSupport audits and regulatory enquiries alongside Compliance, Legal and the MLROWhat you'll bring5+ years' hands-on experience in sanctions investigations, sanctions screening or financial crime compliance in a regulated environment (bank, fintech, payments or similar)Strong knowledge of global sanctions regimes (EU, UN, UK and others) and their impact on business activityExperience working with outsourced or third-party operations, with accountability for quality and performance outcomesSound judgement on complex cases, and clear, accurate documentation under time pressureFamiliarity with screening tools and name-matching logic (for example LexisNexis, World-Check, Fircosoft)A track record of driving process change and improvementCuriosity about AI and automation, ideally with hands-on experience of AI-assisted toolsExcellent written and verbal communication, with confidence engaging senior stakeholdersDrive, energy and the agency to own outcomesNice to haveExperience handling complex or sensitive sanctions investigations in-houseExperience supporting audits or regulatory examinationsKnowledge of PEP and adverse media screening and open-source intelligence practicesA relevant certification such as CGSS, CAMS or ICAExperience creating or maintaining SOPs and training materialsPlease note there are opportunities for leading the function for the right candidate with the right level of experience.