Global Head of Sanctions Operations & NAM Payments Operations, MD

Global Head of Sanctions Operations & NAM Payments Operations, MD

Location: New York City

Job Description

This Managing Director role, Global Head of Sanctions Operations & NAM Payments Operations, is a senior leadership position within the Payments Operations leadership team, reporting within Services Operations.

The role provides global accountability for Citi's Sanctions Operations organization and senior leadership accountability for North America (NAM) Payments Operations, including the safe, resilient, and efficient execution of critical U.S. and Canadian payment and settlement activities.

The successful candidate will lead large-scale global teams responsible for sanctions screening, investigations, alert dispositioning, interdiction processing, and sanctions-related operational activities, while also providing leadership across the NAM payments operating environment. This includes oversight of key U.S. and Canadian clearing and settlement rails, including Fedwire, CHIPS, FedACH, RTP, FedNow, Lynx, ACSS, and SWIFT ISO 20022.

This executive will drive operational excellence, regulatory compliance, risk management, client experience, and strategic transformation through the adoption of automation, advanced analytics, artificial intelligence, and digital capabilities.

The role requires close partnership with Financial Crimes Compliance, Technology, Risk, Legal, Audit, Product, and business leadership to ensure Citi maintains a best-in-class sanctions control environment and resilient payments infrastructure while supporting business growth. The position demands significant experience leading global operations organizations within highly regulated environments and the ability to influence senior stakeholders across businesses, functions, geographies, regulators, and industry bodies.

Responsibilities

Strategic & Operational Leadership

• Lead the global Sanctions Operations organization, delivering operational excellence, regulatory compliance, and strong client outcomes.
• Provide senior leadership and oversight for NAM Payments Operations, ensuring resilient, timely, and effective execution across critical U.S. and Canadian payment and settlement activities.
• Define and execute the strategic vision for Sanctions Operations and NAM Payments Operations, aligning operational priorities with Citi's business, risk, client, and regulatory objectives.
• Drive transformation initiatives that improve effectiveness, scalability, resilience, productivity, and service quality.
• Modernize operations through automation, artificial intelligence, advanced analytics, digitization, and workflow optimization.
• Establish performance metrics and governance frameworks that promote continuous improvement and strong execution.
• Partner across Operations, Technology, Compliance, Risk, Legal, Audit, Product, and business leadership to deliver strategic priorities and enterprise objectives.

Global Sanctions Operations

• Maintain end-to-end accountability for sanctions screening, investigations, alert dispositioning, interdiction processing, and associated operational activities globally.
• Ensure effective execution of sanctions controls across payments, trade finance, securities, customer onboarding, and other relevant transaction flows.
• Manage high-volume sanctions screening and investigations operations while maintaining strong quality, timeliness, and regulatory compliance standards.
• Drive enhancements to screening effectiveness, case management capabilities, data quality, and operational intelligence.
• Ensure sanctions operations remain responsive to changing regulatory requirements, geopolitical developments, and emerging financial crime risks.
• Support new products, client implementations, strategic initiatives, and acquisitions through effective sanctions risk assessment and operational readiness.

North America Payments Operations

• Provide leadership oversight of critical U.S. and Canadian clearing, payment, and settlement activities across Fedwire, CHIPS, FedACH, RTP, FedNow, Lynx, ACSS, and SWIFT ISO 20022, ensuring settlement excellence, operational resilience, and effective risk management.
• Maintain strong operational governance and First Line of Defence accountability across NAM Payments Operations, including effective management of operational, financial crime, sanctions, settlement, and resilience risks.
• Maintain readiness for regulatory supervision and engagement across relevant U.S. and Canadian authorities, including the Federal Reserve, OCC, Bank of Canada, and OSFI.
• Drive the continued modernization of the NAM payments environment, including the evolution of real-time payment rails, ISO 20022 adoption, automation and AI across repairs and reconciliations, and technology co-design.
• Partner closely with Technology, Product, Risk, Compliance, and business teams to ensure payment platforms and operating processes are scalable, resilient, well controlled, and positioned for future industry developments.
• Maintain a strong focus on payment execution and client outcomes, including service quality, settlement performance, exception management, operational resilience, and the management of material payment incidents.
• Represent Citi, as appropriate, with key payments industry organizations and forums, including The Clearing House, NACHA, Payments Canada, and Federal Reserve industry committees, while maintaining strong engagement with institutional clients.

Risk, Governance & Regulatory Management

• Maintain robust operational controls, procedures, and governance frameworks consistent with Citi policy, regulatory expectations, and enterprise risk standards.
• Partner closely with Financial Crimes Compliance to ensure effective implementation of sanctions policies, standards, and regulatory commitments.
• Maintain strong First Line ownership of operational and control risks across both Sanctions Operations and NAM Payments Operations.
• Represent the organization during regulatory examinations, audits, independent reviews, and risk assessments.
• Ensure timely remediation of audit findings, regulatory issues, and control weaknesses.
• Promote consistency in controls, governance, and risk management practices across regions and businesses.
• Ensure operational resilience and appropriate contingency capabilities for critical sanctions and payment-processing services.
• Exercise sound judgment and reinforce a culture of accountability, compliance, and ethical decision-making.

Customer Experience & Innovation

• Deliver a client-centric operating model that balances robust sanctions and payment controls with efficient and predictable client experiences.
• Champion modernization of sanctions screening, investigations, alert management, interdiction, payment processing, repairs, reconciliation, and exception-management workflows.
• Drive innovation in screening effectiveness, data quality, alert optimization, operational intelligence, payment processing, and workflow management.
• Advance the use of AI and automation in payment repairs and reconciliations, alongside broader opportunities to improve sanctions and payments operational effectiveness.
• Partner with Technology, Product, and Compliance teams to co-design and implement next-generation solutions supporting financial crime risk management, payment modernization, operational resilience, and improved client outcomes.

People Leadership & Talent Development

• Lead and develop a high-performing global leadership team across Sanctions Operations and senior NAM Payments Operations leadership.
• Create a culture focused on accountability, inclusion, continuous improvement, employee engagement, and talent development.
• Maintain accountability for organizational design, workforce strategy, succession planning, budget management, and performance outcomes.
• Foster operational excellence and strong risk awareness across all levels of the organization.
• As a member of the Payments Operations leadership team, contribute to the strategic direction of the broader Services Operations organization.
• Build strong partnerships across internal stakeholders and external industry, regulatory, client, and technology partners.

Qualifications

• Extensive senior leadership experience across Payments Operations, Sanctions, Financial Crimes, AML, Compliance Operations, Operational Risk, or related financial services functions, with significant direct experience in payments operations strongly preferred.
• Significant experience leading large-scale global and/or regional operations organizations within complex financial institutions.
• Deep understanding of the North American payments ecosystem, including U.S. and Canadian clearing and settlement infrastructure, payment processing, settlement risk, exception management, and operational resilience.
• Demonstrated knowledge of major payment rails and standards, including Fedwire, CHIPS, FedACH, RTP, FedNow, Lynx, ACSS, SWIFT, and ISO 20022.
• Deep knowledge of global sanctions regulations, including OFAC, UN, EU, UK, and other major sanctions regimes.
• Extensive experience managing sanctions screening, investigations, interdiction processing, and financial crime operations.
• Strong knowledge of sanctions screening technologies, watchlist management, customer screening, payment screening, transaction screening, and case management platforms.
• Strong First Line risk and controls experience, including familiarity with the supervisory expectations of relevant U.S. and Canadian regulatory authorities.
• Proven track record leading large-scale transformation, automation, digitization, and operational excellence initiatives.
• Demonstrated experience with payment modernization, real-time payments, ISO 20022, operational resilience, and technology-enabled transformation.
• Experience leveraging artificial intelligence, advanced analytics, and workflow technologies to improve operational effectiveness, payment processing, and risk outcomes.
• Strong regulatory engagement and governance experience, including interaction with regulators, auditors, and independent review functions.
• Experience representing a major financial institution with payments industry bodies, market infrastructure providers, regulators, and institutional clients preferred.
• Exceptional stakeholder management, communication, and influencing skills with the ability to drive alignment across senior executive audiences.
• Demonstrated ability to lead effectively within highly regulated, global, and matrixed organizations.

Education

• Bachelor's/University degree required.
• Master's degree, MBA, JD, or equivalent advanced degree preferred.
• CAMS, CGSS, CFE, or other relevant financial crime, sanctions, compliance, or operations certifications preferred.

This job description provides a high-level review of the types of work performed. Other job-related duties may be assigned as required.

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In addition to salary, Citi’s offerings may also include, for eligible employees, discretionary and formulaic incentive and retention awards. Citi offers competitive employee benefits, including: medical, dental & vision coverage; 401(k); life, accident, and disability insurance; and wellness programs. Citi also offers paid time off packages, including planned time off (vacation), unplanned time off (sick leave), and paid holidays. For additional information regarding Citi employee benefits, please visit citibenefits.com. Available offerings may vary by jurisdiction, job level, and date of hire.

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