Head of Onboarding - ASAP

Michael Page seeks a Senior Head of Onboarding in Geneva for an interim role. This position leads the client onboarding function, ensuring strict adherence to Swiss AML/KYC regulations while managing team performance and process optimization.

The company is looking for an experienced professional to take charge of the day-to-day operations and strategic development of its client onboarding function. This role combines leadership duties with rigorous regulatory oversight to support the expansion of Swiss activities, ensuring that all client intake processes meet high standards of accuracy and compliance.

Responsibilities

• Direct, mentor, and grow the onboarding team by defining clear priorities, service standards, and performance goals.
• Oversee the complete client journey from initial application through to final account activation.
• Guarantee that all client files are processed accurately and efficiently, strictly following Swiss AML/KYC rules, internal policies, and the institution's risk appetite.
• Serve as the primary escalation point for complex, sensitive, or high-risk onboarding scenarios.
• Evaluate cases involving Politically Exposed Persons (PEPs), intricate ownership structures, corporate entities, and sanctions exposure.
• Ensure proper documentation and timely escalation of complex cases to Compliance or senior leadership when necessary.
• Manage team capacity, allocate workloads, handle backlogs, and ensure business continuity.
• Track and monitor operational KPIs, turnaround times, quality metrics, and service-level agreements.
• Identify process bottlenecks, control weaknesses, and opportunities to enhance the client onboarding experience.
• Drive the standardization, documentation, and continuous improvement of onboarding procedures and controls.
• Collaborate with Technology and operational stakeholders to automate and digitalize onboarding workflows.
• Partner with Compliance, Legal, Risk, Operations, and commercial teams to resolve issues and support informed business decisions.
• Maintain a clear separation between first-line operational duties and second-line Compliance oversight.
• Prepare regular reports for management on volumes, turnaround times, risk indicators, pending cases, and operational performance.
• Assist with internal and external audits, regulatory reviews, and the remediation of identified findings.
• Foster a culture of accountability, client focus, regulatory discipline, and continuous improvement.

Requirements

• 3-5 years of experience in client onboarding, KYC, AML operations, or account opening within a bank or regulated financial institution.
• Proven track record of managing and developing onboarding, KYC, or banking operations teams.
• Deep knowledge of the Swiss AML and client due diligence framework, including AMLA, AMLO-FINMA, and CDB 20 requirements.
• Demonstrated ability to assess complex client structures, beneficial ownership, source of wealth, and source of funds.
• Experience handling higher-risk clients, PEPs, corporate structures, and enhanced due diligence cases.
• Clear understanding of the respective responsibilities of the first and second lines of defense.
• Experience managing operational volumes, service levels, backlogs, quality controls, and team capacity.
• Strong track record of improving processes, controls, and operational efficiency.
• Confidence interacting with senior management, Compliance, Risk, Legal, commercial teams, and auditors.
• Hands-on leadership style with willingness to remain directly involved in sensitive or complex cases.
• Strong judgment, attention to detail, and ability to make pragmatic, risk-based decisions.
• Ability to operate effectively in a fast-moving, international, and highly digital environment.
• Excellent English and strong French language skills.
• University degree or recognized professional qualification in banking, law, compliance, finance, or a related discipline.

What the company offers

• Opportunity to manage and develop a client onboarding team.
• Significant exposure to senior management and key business stakeholders.
• Ability to redesign processes and have a measurable impact on operational performance and client experience.
• Broad role combining complex case oversight, governance, and transformation.
• International working environment within a regulated financial institution.
• Exposure to digital banking, financial markets, and technology-driven operating models.
• Hybrid working model.

About the company

The organization operates in a fast-paced and entrepreneurial environment, supported by strong governance and regulatory standards.

• Fast-paced and entrepreneurial environment.
• Strong governance and regulatory standards.