Who We Are
As Singapore’s longest established bank, we have been dedicated to enabling individuals and businesses to achieve their aspirations since 1932. How? By taking the time to truly understand people. From there, we provide support, services, solutions, and career paths that meet their individual needs and desires.
Today, we’re on a journey of transformation. Leveraging technology and creativity to become a future-ready learning organisation. But for all that change, our strategic ambition is consistently clear and bold, which is to be Asia’s leading financial services partner for a sustainable future.
We invite you to build the bank of the future. Innovate the way we deliver financial services. Work in friendly, supportive teams. Build lasting value in your community. Help people grow their assets, business, and investments. Take your learning as far as you can. Or simply enjoy a vibrant, future-ready career.
Your Opportunity Starts Here.
Job Title: AML Specialist (Trade Finance)
Department : Financial Crime Compliance (FCC) / Trade Finance & Transaction Banking
Reports To: Trade Finance AML / Financial Crime Compliance Manager
About The Role
The Trade Finance AML Specialist plays a critical role in safeguarding the bank against money laundering, terrorism financing, and trade-based financial crime risks arising from trade finance transactions.
The role is responsible for conducting pre- and post-processing AML/TBML checks on trade finance instruments (e.g. Letters of Credit, Bank Guarantees, Bills of Collection, Trade Loans), identifying and assessing red flags, and ensuring transactions comply with Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) and, where applicable, Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) regulatory requirements.
The role also contributes to the bank's digital transformation agenda by exploring AI and agentic AI solutions to strengthen and streamline trade AML controls.
This role offers the opportunity to work at the forefront of trade-based financial crime prevention, partnering with business, compliance, and technology teams to strengthen the bank's trade AML framework — including hands-on exposure to emerging AI-driven compliance solutions.
Key Responsibilities
- Apply a strong working understanding of Anti-Money Laundering (AML) and Trade-Based Money Laundering (TBML) principles in the day-to-day review of trade finance transactions.
- Identify, assess, and document justifications for red flags arising from trade transactions, escalating genuine concerns in line with internal escalation procedures.
- Maintain up-to-date knowledge of AML and TBML typologies (e.g. over-/under-invoicing, multiple invoicing, over-/under-shipment, phantom shipments, dual-use goods, high-risk jurisdictions and goods) to support effective red flag detection.
- Support pre-processing (front-end) checks on trade finance transactions, ensuring compliance with Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) and Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) trade finance and AML/CFT requirements, where applicable.
- Support post-processing (back-end) checks, including price reasonableness, vessel tracking/verification, and shipment route analysis, to detect anomalies indicative of trade-based financial crime.
- Apply data-driven decision-making in assessing transaction risk, using available data sources, tools, and analytics to support sound and defensible conclusions.
- Conduct transaction data analysis for both preventive (pre-transaction) and detective (post-transaction) control purposes, identifying patterns and anomalies across trade portfolios.
- Explore and support the adoption of AI and agentic AI tools to enhance and automate trade AML control processes and workflow efficiency, working closely with Compliance Technology and Data teams.
- Act as a key point of advisory contact for Trade Finance, Relationship Management, and Transaction Banking teams on AML/TBML-related queries, escalations, and red flag assessments
- Stay abreast of evolving regulatory requirements, industry typologies, and emerging trade finance financial crime trends, and support the review/enhancement of internal policies, procedures, and controls accordingly.
Key Requirements / Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree in finance, Banking, Accounting, Business, Law, or a related field.
- Minimum 2–5 years of relevant experience in Trade Finance, AML/CFT, Financial Crime Compliance, or Trade Operations within a bank or financial institution.
- Prior exposure to trade finance products (Letters of Credit, Bank Guarantees, Documentary Collections, Trade Loans) is highly advantageous.
- Professional certification such as CAMS (Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialist), ICA Diploma in AML, or ACAMS Trade Finance and TBML Certificate is an added advantage.
- Sound understanding of AML/CFT regulatory frameworks, particularly Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) Policy Documents on AML/CFT and Trade Financing, and familiarity with MAS Notices where the role supports cross-border/regional transactions.
- Working knowledge of trade finance documentation, INCOTERMS, and international trade practices (e.g. UCP 600, URC 522, URDG 758).
- Familiarity with transaction monitoring systems, sanctions screening tools, and case management platforms.
- Proficiency in Microsoft Excel; working knowledge of data analytics tools (e.g. SQL, Power BI, Tableau) is a plus.
- Awareness of AI/agentic AI applications in compliance and financial crime workflows is a strong plus.
- Strong analytical and investigative mindset with sound judgment and attention to detail.
- Effective written and verbal communication skills to document findings and liaise with business, compliance, and regulatory stakeholders.
- Ability to work independently under tight timelines while maintaining accuracy and thoroughness.
- Collaborative team player with a proactive, continuous-improvement mindset.
What We Offer
Competitive base salary. A suite of holistic, flexible benefits to suit every lifestyle. Community initiatives. Industry-leading learning and professional development opportunities. Your wellbeing, growth and aspirations are every bit as cared for as the needs of our customers.
