Explore Head of Customer Due Diligence, APAC jobs and discover a pivotal senior leadership role at the intersection of compliance, risk management, and business growth. This profession involves overseeing the entire customer due diligence (CDD) framework for the Asia-Pacific region, ensuring that an organization's client onboarding and ongoing monitoring processes are robust, efficient, and fully compliant with a complex web of anti-money laundering (AML) and counter-terrorist financing (CFT) regulations. Professionals in these roles are strategic builders, responsible for safeguarding the institution while enabling commercial objectives. Typically, the Head of Customer Due Diligence, APAC, is accountable for leading and scaling a regional team of CDD specialists and managers. Common responsibilities include defining and executing the regional CDD strategy, ensuring it aligns with global standards while adeptly addressing APAC's unique regulatory landscapes across various jurisdictions. A core duty is to establish and optimize scalable processes, balancing stringent risk controls with a seamless customer experience. These leaders act as the senior escalation point for complex, high-risk cases and are key collaborators, working closely with Compliance, Legal, Commercial, and Product departments to integrate risk awareness into business operations and technological solutions. They are also responsible for tracking performance against key risk indicators and operational metrics, driving continuous improvement and team development. The typical skill set for this high-level position is extensive. Candidates are generally required to have 8+ years of deep experience in financial crime compliance, KYC/CDD operations, or risk management within financial services or fintech. Proven leadership experience, specifically in managing managers and building high-performing, geographically dispersed teams, is essential. Success in these jobs demands a unique blend of strategic vision and operational pragmatism—the ability to translate regulatory requirements into actionable, efficient processes. Exceptional stakeholder management and communication skills are crucial for influencing both internal partners and external regulators. The ideal profile is that of a growth-oriented leader who is comfortable with ambiguity, commercially astute, and relentlessly focused on creating scalable, merchant-centric solutions. For those seeking to shape the future of financial integrity in a dynamic region, Head of Customer Due Diligence, APAC jobs represent a challenging and impactful career path at the highest level of operational risk leadership.
