Client Onboarding Specialist
Schroders · London
Who we’re looking for
The Client Onboarding Specialist is responsible for the end-to-end, risk-based onboarding of Wealth Management clients, ensuring high standards of KYC, AML and financial crime compliance while delivering an efficient client experience.
The role requires strong analytical skills and sound judgement to understand clients and complex structures, assess source of wealth and source of funds, identify financial crime risks and determine when further investigation, challenge or escalation is required.
About Us
Schroders is a global investment manager which provides active asset management, wealth management and investment solutions. We aim to provide excellent investment performance to clients through active management. We serve a diverse client base that includes pension schemes, insurance companies, sovereign wealth funds, endowments, foundations, high net worth individuals, family offices, as well as end clients through partnerships with distributors, financial advisers, and online platforms.
Established in 1804, we have around 5,500 people across 36 global locations. Schroders' success can be attributed to its diversified business model, spanning different asset classes, client types and geographies.
The base
We moved into our new HQ in the City of London in 2018. We’re close to our clients, in the heart of the UK’s financial centre and we have everything we need to work flexibly.
What you'll do
- Manage client onboarding cases from initiation to completion, taking ownership of quality, risk assessment and timely progression.
- Conduct due diligence on High Net Worth Individuals, companies, trusts, foundations, charities and other complex structures.
- Review and critically assess KYC information, ownership and control structures, beneficial ownership and supporting evidence.
- Assess source of wealth and source of funds, ensuring information and evidence provide a credible and coherent explanation of the client's circumstances.
- Identify and assess financial crime risks including PEPs, sanctions, adverse information, higher-risk jurisdictions and complex ownership structures.
- Undertake or support Enhanced Due Diligence (EDD) for higher-risk or complex relationships.
- Identify gaps, inconsistencies and red flags, undertaking appropriate investigation, challenge and escalation.
- Complete clear, evidence-based client risk assessments, documenting key risks, mitigating factors and rationale.
- Work collaboratively with Front Office, Compliance, Financial Crime, Operations and other stakeholders to progress cases and resolve outstanding requirements.
- Maintain accurate, complete and defensible onboarding records in line with policies and procedures.
- Support quality improvement, process enhancement and wider Client Lifecycle Management, including periodic and trigger-event reviews where required.
The knowledge, experience and qualifications you need
- Relevant experience in Client Onboarding / Account Opening, KYC, AML, CDD or Client Lifecycle Management within financial services.
- Strong practical knowledge of KYC, AML and financial crime risk.
- Experience assessing individual and entity clients, including beneficial ownership and complex structures.
- Experience reviewing source of wealth and source of funds.
- Good understanding of PEP, sanctions, adverse information and jurisdictional risks.
- Strong analytical skills and ability to identify material risks, inconsistencies and red flags.
- Sound independent judgement with confidence to challenge and escalate where appropriate.
- Strong attention to detail and ability to produce clear, well-reasoned and evidence-based conclusions.
- Ability to manage multiple cases and priorities while maintaining quality and risk standards.
- Strong written and verbal communication and stakeholder-management skills.
The knowledge, experience and qualifications that’ll help
- Wealth Management or Private Banking experience.
- Experience with EDD and higher-risk clients, trusts, foundations and complex ownership structures.
- Experience with periodic reviews, remediation or trigger-event reviews.
- Understanding of First Line financial crime controls and experience improving KYC processes or controls.
- Experience within a UK FCA-regulated environment.
We Recognise Potential, Whoever You Are
Our purpose is to deliver excellent investment performance to clients through active management. We believe diverse perspectives and an inclusive culture help us make better decisions and achieve better outcomes for our clients. That's why inclusion is a strategic priority for us, and we are an equal opportunities employer. You are welcome here, regardless of your age, disability, gender identity, religious beliefs, sexual orientation, socio-economic background, or any other protected characteristic.
We will consider flexible working arrangements for all roles and provide reasonable accommodations to support applicants and employees, including those with neurodiversity, disability, or physical and mental health needs. For more information, please visit our FAQs.