PEP Screening and Strategy Lead - Analytics

PEP Screening and Strategy Lead

Role Overview

We are seeking a seasoned PEP Data Scientist and Strategy Lead to define and align global PEP screening strategies with regional and regulatory nuances. This role will design ** data-driven, scalable solutions** that unify PEP policies across jurisdictions—balancing global standards with local compliance expectations. The ideal candidate will bridge ** data science, compliance, and strategic execution **, transforming complex data into actionable intelligence that enhances detection accuracy and reduces false positives.

This position is highly cross-functional, requiring close collaboration with engineering, product, advisory, and regulatory teams to ensure consistent alignment with business goals and global compliance frameworks.

Key Responsibilities

• Strengthen Global PEP Screening: Lead initiatives to advance and harmonize PEP screening capabilities across all regions, aligning risk detection and mitigation objectives with regulatory standards while maintaining a frictionless customer experience.
• Strategic Frameworks & Roadmaps: Partner with First Line of Defense advisory, product management, engineering, and business units to design strategic frameworks and long-term roadmaps for global screening initiatives.
• Solution Design & Implementation: Oversee the full lifecycle of PEP screening solutions—from conceptual design to implementation—ensuring scalability, performance, and compliance with business and regulatory objectives.
• Regulatory Translation & Delivery: Analyze evolving regulatory requirements and collaborate with regional MLROs to develop business requirement documents (BRDs), transforming guidance into precise, data-driven technical solutions.
• Cross-Functional Execution: Work hand-in-hand with engineering teams to operationalize regulatory changes, deploy system enhancements, and ensure accuracy and integrity in production environments.
• List Management & Risk Definition: Collaborate with advisory and policy teams to continuously refine PEP list definitions, classifications, and thresholds to ensure comprehensive coverage and regulatory alignment.
• Advanced Analytics & Optimization: Conduct in-depth data exploration and statistical analysis to identify inefficiencies within screening workflows, proposing actionable improvements to enhance precision and efficiency.
• Insight & Decision Support: Analyze complex, large-scale datasets to extract meaningful insights, develop recommendations, and communicate findings that support key business and compliance decisions.
• Mentorship & Development: Provide technical guidance, coaching, and strategic direction to junior data scientists, fostering skill development and analytical excellence within the team.
• Production Integration: Ensure seamless integration and real-time deployment of analytical solutions in partnership with engineering, maintaining system reliability and robust performance standards.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree (or equivalent experience) with a minimum of five years of relevant work experience in financial crime, compliance analytics, or data science.

Preferred Qualifications

• Minimum five years of experience in sanctions transaction screening, profile screening, PEP and adverse media screening, and AML programs, including at least three years in ** data analytics or data science **.
• Strong understanding of global sanctions and PEP programs administered by OFAC, EU, UN, CSSF, and related regulators, including associated risk typologies.
• Advanced proficiency in **SQL (Google Cloud BigQuery), Python (Pandas, NumPy, PySpark), R, Tableau, and Power BI **.
• Demonstrated expertise in data structure analysis, profiling, and query optimization.
• Familiarity with Lexis Nexis World Compliance+ and other leading screening data sources.
• Working knowledge of **Hadoop, Hive, Jupyter Notebooks **, and modern ** data warehouse technologies **.
• Exceptional communication skills, with the ability to translate analytical findings into **clear, actionable business recommendations **.
• Proven success in developing data-driven solutions for complex compliance challenges and collaborating effectively across multi-disciplinary teams.
• High intellectual curiosity, strategic problem-solving ability, and comfort navigating ambiguity in dynamic, fast-paced environments.
• Strong project leadership, analytical, and organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities independently.
• Adept at presenting complex quantitative analyses to diverse stakeholders in a concise, accessible manner.
• Results-oriented, proactive mindset with a passion for innovation, data integrity, and advancing global compliance initiatives.