FinCrime Operations Analyst - Sanctions (Japanese Speaking)

Company Description

Wise is a global technology company, building the best way to move and manage the world’s money.
Min fees. Max ease. Full speed.

Whether people and businesses are sending money to another country, spending abroad, or making and receiving international payments, Wise is on a mission to make their lives easier and save them money.

As part of our team, you will be helping us create an entirely new network for the world's money.
For everyone, everywhere.

More about our mission and what we offer.

Job Description

We’re looking for FinCrime Operations Analyst - Sanctions (Japanese Speaking) to join our growing Sanctions Screening team in Kuala Lumpur. This role is a unique opportunity to have an impact on Wise’s mission, grow as a Sanctions expert and help Wise stay compliant with Sanctions Regulations. If you enjoy analysing information, working with constant changes and have an eye for detail this job is for you.

Your mission:

Wise has already pioneered new ways for people to transfer money across borders and currencies. Our customers can also manage their hard-earned money with the world’s first platform to offer true multi-currency banking. Your mission is to protect customers and Wise by assessing whether alerts raised by our sanctions screening systems raise any sanctions concerns.

Here’s how you’ll be contributing to the Sanctions Screening team: 

• Sanctions Screening and Investigation: Review and investigate potential matches generated by sanctions screening systems, conducting due diligence to determine if a true match exists. Escalate potential sanctions breaches to the appropriate teams in a timely manner via established channels and by following documented processes.

• Monitoring: Analyse transaction data to identify unusual patterns or activities that may indicate money laundering, terrorist financing, or sanctions evasion. Conduct alert reviews, whether system-generated or internally escalated, focusing on specific transactions, customers or typologies. Your role is to triage actionable alerts that warrant further review, proactively identifying red flags, discrepancies, or other trends that may indicate potential financial crime issues, including but not limited to money laundering, terrorist financing, or sanctions evasion.

• Regulatory Compliance: Stay up-to-date on changes to sanctions regulations (e.g., OFAC, EU, UK) and AML and due diligence laws and regulations. Assist in implementing changes to guidances and procedures to ensure compliance. Highlight any process inaccuracies or out-of-date issues and consistently follow established guidelines with high accuracy and incorporate updates cascaded within the team or wider function.

• Documentation and Record Keeping: Maintain accurate and comprehensive records of alert reviews investigations, decisions, and supporting documentation including but not limited to decision rationale. Ensure compliance with data privacy regulations and internal data security protocols. Ensure timely internal escalation to other teams in strict accordance with Wise policies and guidelines.

• Risk Assessment and Escalation: Perform and document risk assessments related to sanctions and AML. Escalate high-risk cases and potential compliance breaches, and suspicious activity, to the appropriate teams. Escalate incidents, high-risk customers, control issues, or material breaches to function’s leadership in a timely and precise manner, following established protocols.

• Collaboration: Work closely with other teams, including KYC, Compliance, and Engineering, to enhance sanctions and AML controls. Develop and maintain productive and professional working relationships with colleagues, contributing to a positive and collaborative team environment. Participate in team meetings and training sessions.

• Communication: Communicate clearly, professionally, and empathetically with customers via approved channels to obtain necessary details or clarifications for reviews, always upholding our high customer experience standards. A key part of this involves avoiding unnecessary customer contacts and preventing delayed case resolutions.

• KPIs: Take a proactive approach to consistently achieve individual and team targets (KPIs, SLAs, QA), demonstrating a strong commitment to both quality and speed. This includes meeting deadlines reliably, optimizing processing times, and taking full ownership and accountability for all responsibilities to deliver exceptional results.

• Trainings: Complete all company-assigned mandatory, refresher or ad hoc trainings on time and with diligence.

• Other: Perform additional tasks as assigned by your lead, demonstrating adaptability and a proactive approach. This includes actively participating in meetings, training, and internal events to support broader team and company objectives.

Qualifications

• You’re eligible to work in Kuala Lumpur;

• You’re flexible with working hours - it is a weekend shift (Saturday & Sunday) as working day

• Your verbal and written English skills are excellent;

• You have business-level Japanese (written and spoken), ideally JLPT N2+ (or equivalent), and are comfortable handling customer communication and document review in Japanese.

• You have an exceptionally inquisitive mind. You are always looking out for more information where available, however, you are able to cut through the noise;

• You have a great eye for detail. You are meticulous and can look at information with factual precision;

• You have exceptional logical thinking. You are naturally able to interpret data and draw logical conclusions;

• You have great communication skills, both written and verbal. You are able to express your thoughts concisely and logically; you’re able to communicate in a cross-team environment;

• You’re able to articulate and justify your decisions. You are confident and comfortable making independent judgement calls;

• You’re able to work under pressure. You can multitask efficiently and take responsibility in challenging situations;

• You’re punctual, independent, proactive and curious to learn;

• You’re a true team player but happy working alone on independent projects;

• You’re open to and value feedback in order to improve;

• Previous experience or knowledge about Sanctions is beneficial.

Additional Information

For everyone, everywhere. We're people building money without borders  — without judgement or prejudice, too. We believe teams are strongest when they are diverse, equitable and inclusive.

We're proud to have a truly international team, and we celebrate our differences.
Inclusive teams help us live our values and make sure every Wiser feels respected, empowered to contribute towards our mission and able to progress in their careers.

If you want to find out more about what it's like to work at Wise visit Wise.Jobs.

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