Head of AML

The Company

VEON is a Nasdaq-listed global digital operator that serves nearly 160m customers with connectivity a total base of 110 million monthly active users with digital services in some of the world’s most exciting frontier markets. Operating across six countries that are home to nearly 520 million people, in other words more than 7% of the world’s population, VEON transforms lives through technology-driven services that empower individuals and drive economic growth.  

With VEON’s Digital Operator 1440 vision and strategy, VEON Group companies redefine the engagement that telecom operators have with their customers, providing the best digital experience to customers up to 1440 minutes in a day. We transform not only the daily experience of the final users, but also support the growth of enterprises and industries as a whole by using cutting-edge technologies in AI, big-data and cloud services to serve our business customers . 

This is all underpinned by a commitment to sustainability, ensuring VEON’s operations are run safely and ethically while fostering digital entrepreneurship and greater digital skills and literacy in the communities in which VEON operates. VEON’s values-based approach works to strengthen trust by building a responsible and sustainable business that benefits customers, employees, communities, and shareholders. 

VEON’s international leadership team is drawn from experienced executives from around the world and has been led by CEO Kaan Terzioğlu since July 2021. 

Position Summary

As the Head of AML, you will be accountable for overseeing and enhancing the Group Ethics & Compliance program with a focus on anti-money laundering (AML) and banking compliance. The Ethics & Compliance function advises, collaborates with, reports progress and helps safeguard the business through a highly effective and accountable team that reinforces a culture of ethics and compliance across the group. In this role, you will collaborate with internal teams, local AML officers, and senior leaders to ensure adherence to U.S. and non-U.S. anti-money laundering laws and regulations.

Key Responsibilities

·       The Head of AML is primarily accountable for the following tasks:

·       Assists in all aspects of the development, execution and testing of a “best in class” Group Ethics & Compliance program.

·       In the context of decentralized operating model, effectively oversees the continued enhancement and implementation of the Company’s anti-money laundering systems and policies.

·       Supervises a group of AML officers in the operating companies.

·       Works with Finance and other internal controls functions to ensure Group Ethics & Compliance inputs are reflected in the development of appropriate manual and automated controls to comply with U.S. anti-money laundering laws and similar non-US statutes and regulations.

·       Works with the local AML officers and local Chief Ethics & Compliance officers to manage investigative reviews initiated in response to possible violations of anti-money laundering laws.

·       Oversees the local submission of, and if required at the group level prepares and submits, Suspicious Activity Reports (SARs) and recommends relationship retention or termination and track account closures, as required.

·       Coordinates with the other Ethics & Compliance Officers and with Group Finance to enhance the Company’s risk assessment and testing program to review and test the effectiveness of its anti-money laundering compliance component.

·       Supports Group Ethics & Compliance leaders and senior leaders of the operating companies with strategic responses to matters relating to anti-money laundering.

·       Oversees the tracking and implementation of anti-money laundering related remediation and mitigation steps required as a result of findings of risk assessments, legal and investigative reviews, and internal audits, with other compliance officers.

·       Assists Group Ethics & Compliance with relevant training of and reporting to senior management and the Board of Directors on anti-money laundering matters.

·       Provides overall support to Group Ethics & Compliance, including strategic and tactical support to senior leaders of the legal department and Company management on all aspects of development, maintenance and enhancement of a program to prevent, detect and respond to potential violations of law and the Company's Code of Conduct, policies and procedures, including potential money laundering violations.

·       Assists with other responsibilities of Group Ethics & Compliance, as necessary.

·       Providing proactive, high quality, timely and cost effective legal and compliance advice and services to management, in relation to Anti Money Laundering and Banking compliance.

·       Providing (or obtaining) legal advice and inform our Mobile Financial Services and Digital teams to ensure the products they build and release to the market are compliant with regulations, across jurisdictions related to Anti Money Laundering.

·       Managing all Anti Money Laundering and related matters, overseeing a global AML workplan in collaboration with other members of Compliance team and other related teams including drafting and reviewing existing policies and implementing new ones.

·       Work closely with Mobile and Digital Financial Services teams and treasury and finance teams across the Group to optimize compliance with AML regulations across jurisdictions.

Education & Work Experience

·       At least 5+ years of in-house work experience, including experience in reviewing customer transactions and information for potentially suspicious activity and performing AML or financial investigations.

·       At least 10+ years of experience in similar roles in the fields of compliance, legal, ethics or forensic accounting.

·       Experience in preparing Suspicious Activity Reports (SARs) in accordance with applicable regulatory requirements.

·       Experience in an international environment in an international matrix organization.

·       Experience with project management, compliance investigations and cultural change management.

·       Comfortable with presenting to executive audiences and ability to influence and convince.

·       Knowledgeable of the laws applicable to money laundering, including the EU Anti-Money Laundering Directives, Bank Secrecy Act, the USA PATRIOT act, US Treasury AML guidelines, OFAC requirements, and Suspicious Activity Reporting requirements.

·       Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English.

·       Unquestionable character and demonstrated commitment to acting ethically.

·       Creative problem-solver and analytical.

·       Strategic and possesses tactical skills.

·       Inquisitive and detailed oriented.

·       Customer conscious.

·       Technologically savvy.

·       Effective communicator.

·       Relationship builder with a collaborative approach.

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Do you want to be part of a team that serves over 160 million customers across 6 dynamic markets? Do you want to pioneer new experiences for hundreds of millions in emerging economies?  Do you feel at home working in a truly diverse and inclusive environment? We are VEON, a global digital operator and we scale new heights never thought possible.  

Creating an Inclusive World for All – Inside and Beyond VEON

We aspire to create an Inclusive world for all by providing Equal voice and representation, driving growth with diverse and inclusive teams, that create products that serve Diverse needs of our customers across all dimensions of life from connectivity to digital financial inclusion, education, health and entertainment, and creating value for our people, our partners, and communities.