Director, Regional Transaction Monitoring, AML Compliance (APAC)

Director, Regional Transaction Monitoring, AML Compliance (APAC) – Quezon City, Philippines

Lead a critical compliance function at the forefront of regulatory risk management, overseeing transaction monitoring, investigations, AML/CTF controls, regulatory engagement, and compliance program execution across a complex regional environment.

As the Director, AML Compliance, you will drive governance, strengthen risk and control frameworks, and partner with country compliance Teams across APAC and cross-functional stakeholders globally to ensure regulatory compliance while enabling sustainable business growth.

Seeking a seasoned compliance leader to architect and optimize transaction monitoring and multi-jurisdictional compliance frameworks within dynamic Financial Services, FinTech, Banking Operations, or BPO environment.

Role Responsibilities:

• Lead and oversee regional AML/CTF Risk Management and operations activities, ensuring effective detection, escalation, investigation, and resolution of potentially suspicious activity and other AML/CTF risks.
• Drive operational discipline, quality, productivity, and continuous improvement across monitoring processes, systems, and reporting routines.
• Provide strategic leadership for the APAC regional anti-financial crimes compliance program.Ensure policies, procedures, controls, governance routines, and risk assessments are appropriately designed, implemented, documented, and aligned with applicable regulatory requirements and global compliance standards.
• Serve as the primary point of contact for in-country compliance officers, regulators, financial intelligence units, law enforcement, and other external stakeholders in the region.
• Lead regulatory examinations, inquiries, issue management, remediation planning and execution, and formal responses in coordination with legal, compliance, and business partners across APAC.
• Partner with regional business leaders to support business strategy, product initiatives, market expansion, agent oversight, and operational priorities in a safe and compliant manner. Provide practical, risk-based guidance that balances business objectives, customer needs, and regulatory obligations.
• Serve as a Compliance site leader for the Manila office, providing leadership, coaching, workforce planning, talent development, and cross-functional engagement. Build a strong culture of accountability, transparency, collaboration, inclusion, and compliance excellence across the site and broader regional team.

Customer Focus

• Engage with internal stakeholders, regulators, partners, and regional business leaders to protect customer trust, strengthen compliance outcomes, and ensure products and services are delivered in a safe, responsible, and compliant manner.

Management and Planning

• Designs, leads, and continuously improves complex regional compliance processes, governance routines, risk assessments, remediation plans, staffing models, and operational priorities to support effective execution and regulatory alignment.

Business Expertise

• Requires deep expertise in AML/CTF, transaction monitoring, money transfer services, regional regulatory requirements, and financial crime risk management. Demonstrated experience building transaction monitoring capabilities and managing multi-jurisdictional compliance operations frameworks is essential. Prior experience in Financial Services, FinTech, Banking Operations, or BPO environments supporting regulated financial services clients is preferred.

Leadership

• Leads and develops managers and compliance professionals across a site and region, sets clear priorities, influences senior stakeholders, drives accountability, and models strong judgment, integrity, inclusion, and ownership.

Role Requirements:

• Minimum 10 years of relevant experience in AML, financial crimes, regulatory compliance, transaction monitoring, risk-based compliance, or related roles within a regulated financial services, payments, money transfer, banking, fintech, regulatory agency, consulting, or law firm environment.
• Minimum 5 years of people leadership experience, including management of managers or geographically dispersed teams.
• Bachelor’s degree required in business, finance, law, accounting, risk management, criminology, or related field.
• Advanced degree preferred. Professional certification such as CAMS, CFE, CRCM, ICA, or equivalent financial crimes / compliance certification preferred.

Additional Preferred Skills:

• Extensive expertise in AML/CTF compliance, including transaction monitoring, investigations, suspicious activity reporting, regulatory engagement, risk assessments, governance, control testing, audit management, and compliance program oversight.
• Strong capability in data-driven decision-making, leveraging case management and monitoring systems, compliance reporting tools, and executive-level stakeholder communication to drive effective risk and compliance outcomes.
• Exceptional leadership and stakeholder management capabilities, with proven experience influencing senior executives, regulators, and cross-functional teams, driving change, resolving complex issues, and translating regulatory requirements into practical business solutions while handling sensitive matters with discretion.

Work Shift

Western Union values in-person collaboration, problem solving, and ideation whenever possible. We believe this fosters common ways of working and supports how we execute initiatives for our customers. The expectation is to work from the office a minimum of three days a week.

BENEFITS AND OTHER DETAILS

Benefits

You will also have access to short-term incentives, accident and life insurance, and access to best-in-class development platforms, to name a few (https://careers.westernunion.com/global-benefits/). Please see the location-specific benefits below and note that your Recruiter may share additional role-specific benefits during your interview process or in an offer of employment.

Your Philippines specific benefits include:

• Life / Accident Coverage
• Paid Time Offs
• Employee Wellness
• Global Recognition and Rewards Programs

Other Details

We are passionate about honoring our employee’s identity and fostering a feeling of belonging. Our commitment is to provide an inclusive culture that celebrates the unique backgrounds and perspectives of our global teams while reflecting the communities we serve. We do not discriminate based on race, color, national origin, religion, political affiliation, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, gender identity, age, disability, marital status, or veteran status. The company will provide accommodation to applicants, including those with disabilities, during the recruitment process, following applicable laws.

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