Analyst, Integrity Screening & Research

Purpose of Job

The individual directly interfaces with Banking origination and Portfolio (front office) teams throughout key stages of the pre and post signing lifecycle. They are expected to deliver accurate and timely screening of parties across a pipeline/portfolio of names using a combination of structured and unstructured data sources. This core control activity is a key step in ensuring adherence to our Integrity Due Diligence Guidelines, supporting the Banks broader adherence to its established risk appetite.

Alternatively the individual will directly interface with internal clients to provide market data/research information. This business intelligence activity supports the growth and maintenance of the Bank’s pipeline and portfolio, as well as other business activities.

The individual will need to adopt a continuous improvement mindset and will be expected to support and be a part of improving operational processes across the screening function.

Background

The function is a 1st line of defence team responsible for screening and research due diligence/business intelligence across our portfolio of customers and related parties, both pre and post signing. Using a range of online data sources the function is a key controlling activity that is designed to support adherence to our Integrity Due Diligence Guidelines, conducting searches into the identity, reputation and commercial/political interests of relevant parties with whom the Bank may/has conducted business. The function also undertakes research related activity covering a range of topics to support the acquisition and maintenance of projects and other business activities.

The role holder will day-to-day be responsible for conducting screening activity to established service standards, escalating key issues in a timely manner to relevant 1st, 2nd and 3rd line of defence teams or other stakeholders. The role holder will require a good level of subject matter expertise, able to navigate matters relating to integrity risk factors, including PEPs, sanctions, criminal matters and beneficial ownership.

The Bank has adopted continuous improvement practices and the individual will be expected to support and adopt new ways of working. The role of the function has significantly evolved in the past year, with considerable focus now being applied to how the team supports future monitoring activity in a more effective and efficient manner. As part of this process, a ‘proof of concept’ exercise is being undertaken (in 2023) to determine how the function better supports the Business, whilst ensuring continued adherence to Bank standards and guidelines. The role holder will be the recipient of these changes, expected to embrace new practices and ways of working. An appreciation of how contemporary screening solutions (coupled with strong data standards) can deliver better service and improved compliance standards would be considered extremely beneficial.

Facts / Scale

Typically manage a range of activities that include:

• Working within a team of – c. 10 – 15 staff responsible for screening and research due diligence.
• Working across a wider Operations department of c.150 employees responsible for equivalent Middle and Back Office activity.
• The team is collectively responsible for screening c.95,000 parties per annum (both pre and post signing), supporting approximately 2,400 projects/engagements. This activity includes sanctions, PEP and adverse media screening, using a range of industry recognised data sources.
• The team is responsible for payment screening, typically screening c.100 payees per day on the SWIFT platform against specific sanction lists.
• Alongside customer and payment (screening) due diligence, part of the team undertake more detailed/forensic research on a range of topics that support the acquisition and maintenance of business related activity.
• The Research function will typically deal with c.230 requests per month, covering a range of subjects – subjects include macro/micro economy, company information/due diligence and market/industry data.

Accountabilities & Responsibilities

Operational Performance:

• Execute screening/research processes to expected service standards (quantitative and qualitative)
• Demonstrate personal commitment to delivering outstanding operational performance by adhering to established operational metrics – quality, timeliness and customer satisfaction
• Responds to queries in a prompt and timely manner. Where necessary, escalating across the three lines of defence
• Communicate with relevant departments to ensure that the decision-makers are aware of the risks involved with specific projects/transactions
• Where necessary, provide additional capacity across the wider screening team to ensure expected service levels are maintained, including unanticipated deadlines defined by internal/external clients

Operational Standards, Risk, Control & Governance:

• Be a part of a culture where team members are responsible for the quality of their output, ensuring adherence to established quality/assurance targets
• Help support the broader improvement of OSMs control environment
• Ensure that new processes and practices are conducted in line with quality standards, applicable policies and relevant legislation

Continuous Improvement:

• Be a ‘team player’ in a team/department responsible for creating a ‘best in class’ operational function
• Demonstrate self-awareness of personal and broader operational metrics, identifying opportunities to improve (either personally or collectively)

Service Management & Third Party Management:

• In delivering day-to-day operational activity, conform to established service levels and standards
• Where necessary, work in a collaborative manner with other colleagues/teams involved in a hybrid service model

Stakeholder Management:

• Works collaboratively with colleagues to facilitate operational outcomes that adhere to established service levels
• Positively influence others to help deliver a sustainable operations function
• Proactively works with the Business to identify and manage backlogs, guiding them on prioritisation and, where necessary, conveying wider operational constraints
• Be an ambassador for OSM across other departments by delivering outstanding operational outcomes

Integrity Screening & Research:

• Comprehensive understanding of related KYC/AML regulations, standards and practices, including sanctions, PEPs and adverse media activity.

• Familiar with navigating complex compliance regulations, guidelines and standards.

• Experience with industry recognised screening tools associated with KYC/AML processes and controls.

• Familiarity with undertaking ‘in-depth’ research across a range of topics covering (but not limited to) sectors, entities, economies, market practice and regulation.

• Experience of using a wide range of  proprietary market data/research information sources, , including market research, market data, rating agency and broker reports, news aggregators, company financial and ownership data, and macro-economic data, as well as open-source research.

Knowledge, Skills, Experience & Qualifications

The individual appointed must have the necessary seniority to be able to take on responsibilities associated with the role, being able to handle the pressures of the role in a manner appropriate to the Bank. The candidate should have the following:

• University educated in a related discipline/field, or equivalent work experience.
• Proven industry experience in related AML/KYC activity (either 1st or 2nd line of defence) – including Sanctions, PEPs and adverse media screening.
• Good experience in a corporate research unit in the financial services sector.
• Understanding of current market practices and related technology platforms (and their functionality/capabilities).
• Comfortable with balancing operational workloads/queues and actively communicating with Banking and Compliance teams.
• Excellent written and verbal communication in English.
• Must have positive, collaborative and solution orientated attitude with a track record of achieving results across KYC/AML and/or Research teams.
• Fluent English (essential); Russian, French/Arabic, Turkish are advantageous.

What is it like to work at the EBRD?

Our agile and innovative approach is what makes life at the EBRD a unique experience! You will be part of a pioneering and diverse international organisation, and use your talents to make a real difference to people's lives and help shape the future of the regions we invest in. 

The EBRD environment provides you with:

• Varied, stimulating and engaging work that gives you an opportunity to interact with a wide range of experts in the financial, political, public and private sectors across the regions we invest in;
• A working culture that embraces inclusion and celebrates diversity;
• An environment that places sustainability, equality and digital  transformation at the heart of what we do.

Diversity is one of the Bank’s core values which are at the heart of everything it does.  A diverse workforce with the right knowledge and skills enables connection with our clients, brings pioneering ideas, energy and innovation. The EBRD staff is characterised by its rich diversity of nationalities, cultures and opinions and we aim to sustain and build on this strength. As such, the EBRD seeks to ensure that everyone is treated with respect and given equal opportunities and works in an inclusive environment. The EBRD encourages all qualified candidates who are nationals of the EBRD member countries to apply regardless of their racial, ethnic, religious and cultural background, gender, sexual orientation or disabilities.  As an inclusive employer, we promote flexible working and expecting our employee to attend the office 50% of their working time.

Please note, that due to the high volume of applications received, we regret to inform you that we are unable to provide detailed feedback to candidates who have not been shortlisted (for further consideration).