Mizuho EMEA is seeking a VP-level AML/KYC Quality Control Lead, to own and drive the KYC Quality Control framework across its corporate and institutional banking business, ensuring consistent, high-quality client due diligence outcomes aligned to internal policy, regulatory expectations, and risk appetite.
Accountable for the EMEA KYC QC strategy and day-to-day oversight, with line management responsibility for 2 direct reports. Responsible for setting standards, driving consistent execution across teams, and providing senior management insight on quality, risk themes, and remediation progress.
This role sits within the first line of defence and leads the QC function, setting standards and providing effective oversight of KYC file quality, calibration, and remediation. It is a hands-on leadership position that partners with KYC Operations, Financial Crime, and Front Office stakeholders to drive sustainable improvements, manage thematic issues, and ensure the QC programme is audit- and regulator-ready.
The successful candidate will combine deep technical KYC expertise with strong leadership, a pragmatic risk-based mindset, and the ability to influence and challenge at senior levels across operations, compliance, and the business.
Duties And Responsibilities
QC Governance & Oversight
- Own the end-to-end AML/KYC Quality Control framework for EMEA, including operating model, standards, calibration, and escalation paths
- Define and maintain QC methodology (sampling approach, checklists, scoring, and documentation standards) in line with policy, regulatory guidance, and risk appetite
- Provide credible challenge on material KYC deficiencies and financial crime risk issues, ensuring timely remediation and clear accountability
- Lead thematic analysis of QC findings, drive corrective action plans, and ensure the QC programme remains audit- and regulator-ready
Capability Building & Quality Uplift
- Set clear quality expectations across KYC Operations, ensuring consistent application of standards across teams and locations
- Partner with Team Leads to design and deliver targeted coaching, training, and accreditation activities to address performance gaps
- Drive a culture of continuous improvement through calibration sessions, playbooks, and clear guidance that reduces rework and improves right-first-time quality
- Sponsor enhancements to quality standards, procedures, and training materials, incorporating lessons learned from audits, QA, and regulatory feedback
Senior Stakeholder Management & Governance Forums
- Engage and influence senior stakeholders across Front Office, KYC Operations, Financial Crime, Compliance Advisory, and Risk
- Chair or contribute to governance forums to agree quality actions, risk acceptance decisions, and remediation timelines
- Represent the QC position credibly in challenge discussions and support responses to audit, QA, and regulatory queries as required
Operational Excellence, MI & Change Delivery
- Define and monitor QC MI, KPIs, and KRIs (e.g., defect rates, root causes, remediation timeliness), providing clear insight to senior management
- Sponsor process, policy, and tooling enhancements to improve quality and efficiency (including automation opportunities and controls-by-design)
- Lead delivery of regulatory and internal change impacting KYC quality standards, ensuring robust implementation, communication, and embedment
- Lead and develop the QC capability, including direct management of 2 QC leads/analysts (and matrix leadership as required), setting objectives, driving performance, and ensuring appropriate coverage for business priorities
- Manage prioritisation and capacity planning in partnership with Operations leadership to deliver against agreed SLAs and risk commitments
Qualifications, Skills And Experience
Core Experience
- Minimum 7–10 years’ experience in AML/KYC and client onboarding within banking or financial services, including substantial exposure to corporate and institutional clients
- Proven experience leading or overseeing KYC quality, controls, or assurance activities (QC/QA/first line controls), including managing remediation and thematic issues
- Strong understanding of KYC requirements across a wide range of entity types, including:
- Listed and non-listed corporates
- Regulated and non-regulated financial institutions
- Funds and asset managers
- Private equity structures
- SPVs, Trusts, and complex ownership structures
Technical Knowledge
- Deep understanding of financial crime risk (AML, CTF, sanctions) and the practical application of risk-based due diligence and controls
- Strong knowledge of corporate and investment banking products, client types, and associated inherent and residual risk profiles
- Strong grasp of global KYC standards and EMEA regulatory expectations; able to interpret requirements, translate into operating standards, and support audit/regulatory engagement
Quality & Risk Mindset
- Demonstrated senior judgement and a pragmatic, risk-based approach to decision-making and issue escalation
- Ability to distinguish between material risk/control issues and minor technical findings, and to drive proportionate remediation
- Clear ownership mindset for quality outcomes, with experience setting expectations and holding teams accountable to measurable standards
Communication & Stakeholder Skills
- Strong leadership communication: able to deliver clear challenge, steer senior discussions, and land decisions in a controlled environment
- Confident representing QC positions and outcomes in forums with Compliance, Risk, Internal Audit, and external stakeholders where required
- Collaborative leader who can build alignment across functions while maintaining independence of judgement
Adaptability & Continuous Improvement
- Comfortable working in a dynamic environment with evolving regulatory expectations
- Proactive in identifying opportunities to improve processes and controls
- Open to change and able to adapt quickly to new requirements
- Leadership experience in a Quality Control / Quality Assurance or first line controls function within KYC / Financial Crime
- Strong knowledge of EMEA regulatory frameworks (e.g. FCA, EBA, UAE Central Bank) and experience supporting supervisory or regulatory driven remediation
- Proven experience leading responses to audit, QA, or regulatory reviews, including evidence packs, action tracking, and sustainable fixes
- Relevant certifications (e.g. ICA, ACAMS) and/or leadership / risk qualifications
What Mizuho Can Offer You
Here at Mizuho, there are fantastic progression opportunities and clear paths to promotion. We will give you ample opportunity to affect change and to help grow our business.
In addition to the great opportunity outlined above we are also currently able to offer:
- Competitive starting salary, plus discretionary bonus
- Non-contributory pension
- 27 days’ annual leave
- Core working hours*
- Hybrid working - office and home based*
- Virtual GP
- Wellbeing benefits, including Mental Health Allies and First Aiders
*For applicable roles only
At Mizuho, we embrace flexible ways of working when the role permits. We offer different working arrangements like part-time, job-sharing and hybrid (office and home) working. Our purpose-led culture and global infrastructure help us connect, collaborate, and work together in agile ways to meet all our business needs.
We are committed to supporting equality and diversity, and seek to create a workplace that is fully inclusive. We welcome applications from all sections of the community that we operate in and from all ethnic backgrounds, sexual orientation, beliefs, gender identities and disabilities
If you require more information about our equal opportunities policy or wish to discuss any accessibility requirements or reasonable adjustments please contact the recruitment team – recruitment@mizuhoemea.com and we will be happy to help.
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