[Hiring] Head of Sanctions @MBK Search

Role Description

Sanctions compliance at our client isn't a back-office function — it's core infrastructure. They power payment flows for fintechs, enterprises, and increasingly, correspondent banking relationships that connect U.S. and international financial institutions. That means our sanctions program has to work at the speed of their technology, scale with partners, and hold up under OCC scrutiny.

We're looking for a Head of Sanctions Compliance to own this program end-to-end. You'll build the policies, controls, and screening infrastructure that protect our client and their partners — and you'll serve as the subject matter authority across the organization on OFAC regulations, international sanctions regimes, and the jurisdictional complexity that comes with correspondent banking. You'll work directly with Legal, Risk, Product, and Engineering, and have a seat at the table when they're evaluating new partners, new geographies, and new product lines.

The right person has deep OFAC and sanctions expertise, has navigated correspondent banking relationships and their attendant sanctions risk, and is comfortable operating in an environment where the rules are real but the playbook is still being written.

• Own client's end-to-end sanctions compliance program — policies, controls, screening systems, and escalation protocols — and ensure it meets OCC standards and keeps pace with their growth
• Lead sanctions due diligence and ongoing monitoring for Column's correspondent banking relationships, including jurisdictional risk assessments and nested account exposure
• Partner with Product and Engineering to design and continuously improve automated sanctions screening infrastructure, including fuzzy-matching logic, list management, and alert disposition workflows
• Serve as our client's primary point of contact for OFAC matters, including voluntary self-disclosures, responses to administrative subpoenas, and any regulatory inquiries
• Conduct sanctions risk assessments as the bank enters new markets, onboards new partner types, or launches new payment products — including stablecoin and cross-border payment rails
• Advise the CCO/BSAO and senior leadership on sanctions risk exposure, emerging geopolitical risk, and program gaps
• Manage and respond to sanctions-related findings from internal audit, external examiners, and correspondent banking counterparties
• Build and maintain sanctions training for relevant employees, with particular attention to teams touching international payments and partner onboarding

Qualifications

• Deep OFAC and sanctions expertise
• Experience navigating correspondent banking relationships
• Comfortable operating in a dynamic regulatory environment

Requirements

• Strong understanding of OFAC regulations
• Experience with international sanctions regimes
• Ability to work collaboratively with cross-functional teams

Benefits

• Competitive salary
• Health, dental, and vision insurance
• Retirement savings plan
• Flexible work arrangements