Senior Operations Control Manager @ Merrill

Job Description

Job Title: Senior Operations Control Manager

Corporate Title: Vice President

Location: Belfast, UK

Company Overview

At Bank of America, we are guided by a common purpose to help make financial lives better through the power of every connection. We do this by driving Responsible Growth and delivering for our clients, teammates, communities and shareholders every day.

Being a Great Place to Work is core to how we drive Responsible Growth. This includes our commitment to being an inclusive workplace, attracting and developing exceptional talent, supporting our teammates' physical, emotional, and financial wellness, recognizing and rewarding performance, and how we make an impact in the communities we serve.

Bank of America is committed to an in-office culture with specific requirements for office-based attendance and which allows for an appropriate level of flexibility for our teammates and businesses based on role-specific considerations.

At Bank of America, you can build a successful career with opportunities to learn, grow, and make an impact. Join us!

Join Us in Belfast - A City of Opportunity and Innovation

We're thrilled to announce the opening of our new office in Belfast-a vibrant, fast-growing hub for financial services and technology, and a strategic addition to Bank of America's global footprint. This expansion underscores our commitment to investing in talent and driving innovation across the UK and Ireland.

Our new offices at City Quays are in the heart of a city celebrated for its rich history, dynamic culture, and thriving business community. Whether you're local or considering relocation, you'll find a welcoming environment, an excellent quality of life, and the opportunity to help shape the future of banking.

About Bank of America in Belfast

Bank of America is one of the world's leading financial institutions, powered by approximately 213,000 talented employees worldwide. Our new Belfast facility will strengthen our business continuity planning and risk management capabilities while reinforcing the expertise and value delivered across our global teams. We're committed to creating up to 1,000 new roles, starting with positions in Global Anti-Money Laundering Operations and Global Financial Crimes Compliance. These teams will focus on critical areas such as client due diligence, quality assurance, and regulatory compliance support-key functions that safeguard the integrity of the international financial system.

Role Description

Global AML and Onboarding Operations (GAOO) is a central control function which governs, facilitates, and oversees the Enterprise-wide Anti-Money Laundering (AML) program and manages AML risks by implementing and executing processes and controls.

The Life Cycle Management team within AML Operations are responsible for the execution of high-risk client requirements including Enhanced Due Diligence, Sanctions Controls Monitoring, Screening and Enterprise Client Activity Monitoring.

We have an exciting new role as part of our Life Cycle Management Team, supporting our expanded Enhanced Client Due Diligence Processes

This role spans all Lines of Business, managing a team focused on activity-based risk reviews, trend analysis, and changes to client risk profiles. The goal is to identify, escalate, and mitigate risks associated with high-risk clients.

We are seeking an experienced leader to manage and develop a newly established and growing team.

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage a team of AML professionals, providing coaching, guidance, and performance development
• Oversee client reviews and investigations to identify potential AML or activity-based risks
• Ensure timely escalation of unusual or unexpected client activity.
• Drive process improvements to enhance detection, efficiency, and compliance with evolving policies and standards.
• Collaborate with Life Cycle Management team leaders to manage the people and processes effectively
• Build and strengthen relationships with business partners
• Monitor emerging risks and proactively implement mitigation strategies
• Promote a culture of accountability, continuous learning, and operational excellence within the team
• Represent the team in governance forums and act as an ambassador for the organization's risk culture

Required Skills

• Leadership & People Management: Proven ability to lead, motivate, and develop high-performing teams; experience in managing priorities and resources effectively.
• Analytical & Risk Expertise: Strong analytical skills; ability to interpret complex client structures and financial activity; understanding of AML/Know Your Customer (KYC) Due Diligence.
• Communication: Excellent written and verbal communication; ability to influence and engage across seniority levels; strong escalation and reporting skills.
• Execution & Organization: Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced, deadline driven environment; strategic thinker with strong organizational skills.
• Experience: Extensive relevant work experience, preferably in AML programs or risk management, including leadership experience; proficiency in Microsoft Office suite.
• Personal Attributes: Self-starter, problem solver, intellectually curious, proactive in self-development.

Desired Skills

• Working knowledge of Private Banking, Wealth Management, Consumer Banking, Global Banking or Global Markets businesses.
• Experience in process improvement and data analysis.
• Bachelor's degree in related field or equivalent experience
• ACAMS accreditation

Benefits of working at Bank of America

Belfast

• At Bank of America, we strive to prioritise employees' health and wellbeing - it's what makes us a Great Place to Work.
• Private healthcare for you and your family.
• Competitive pension plan, life assurance and group income protection cover if you become unable to work as a result of a disability or health reasons
• We offer 26-weeks paid maternity leave, 16-weeks paid paternity leave and inclusive family leave arrangements for working parents and carers including 20 days of back-up childcare including access to school holiday clubs and 20 days of back-up adult care per annum
• The ability to change your core benefits as well as the option of selecting a variety of flexible benefits to suit your personal circumstances including access to a wellbeing account, travel insurance, critical illness, cycle to work etc.
• Use of a flex fund to use towards benefits
• Access to an emotional wellbeing helpline, and virtual GP services
• Access to the Peppy App which provides 1:1 support, consultations and resources relating to men's health, women's health, fertility, menopause and pregnancy & parenthood
• Access to a range of gyms, exercise classes and wellbeing Apps through Wellhub, including Headspace and Calm
• Opportunity to give back to your community, develop new skills and work with new groups of people by volunteering in your local area

Bank of America

Good conduct and sound judgment is crucial to our long term success. It's important that all employees in the organisation understand the expected standards of conduct and how we manage conduct risk. Individual accountability and an ownership mind-set are the cornerstones of our Code of Conduct and are at the heart of managing risk well.

We are an equal opportunities employer and ensure that no applicant is subject to less favourable treatment on the grounds of sex, gender identity or gender reassignment, marital or civil partner status, race, religious or similar philosophical belief, political opinion, colour, nationality, ethnic or national origins, age, sexual orientation, pregnancy or maternity, socio-economic background, responsibility for dependants or physical or mental disability. The Bank selects candidates for interview based on their skills, qualifications and experience.

We strive to ensure that our recruitment processes are accessible for all candidates and encourage any candidates to tell us about any adjustment requirements.