Description
At Agoda, we bridge the world through travel. Our story began in 2005, when two lifelong friends and entrepreneurs, driven by their passion for travel, launched Agoda to make it easier for everyone to explore the world.
Today, we are part of Booking Holdings [NASDAQ: BKNG], with a diverse team of over 7,000 people from 90 countries, working together in offices around the globe. Every day, we connect people to destinations and experiences, with our great deals across our millions of hotels and holiday properties, flights, and experiences worldwide.
The Financial Crime Compliance team, under the Compliance & Ethics team, is responsible for preventing and detecting the broad range of emerging regulatory, sanctions and trade, economic, and financial crime risks attendant to our business.
We are looking for a hands-on and business-minded Principal Specialist, Financial Crime Compliance to support Agoda’s Financial Crime Risk Management (FCRM) program. In this role, you will provide practical advice and guidance on financial crime risks, including economic sanctions, export controls, money laundering, tax evasion and other applicable regulatory requirements.
You will support the implementation and continued enhancement of Agoda’s financial crime compliance framework, including policies, procedures, controls, training, monitoring and testing. You will work closely with cross-functional stakeholders to translate regulatory requirements into practical and sustainable business processes and help drive implementation and remediation initiatives.
You will also support the continued strategic growth of Agoda’s FCRM function, working closely with colleagues at Booking Holdings Inc., Booking Holdings Financial Services and other sister brands.
The right candidate will have strong experience across financial crime compliance matters, with particular knowledge of economic sanctions, especially US sanctions, and other global equivalents. You will be comfortable working with senior stakeholders, managing complex initiatives and responding to developing regulatory requirements in a fast-paced and diverse environment.
The role reports to the Senior Director, Compliance.
This position is based in Bangkok. Agoda provides relocation support for successful candidates who are not currently located in Bangkok.
Responsibilities
- Provide practical advice on financial crime-related matters, including sanctions, AML and other applicable regulatory requirements
- Develop and maintain Agoda FinCrime-related policies, procedures and processes, in collaboration with the BHI FinCrime team
- Support the design, implementation and enhancement of FCRM controls and governance arrangements across Agoda’s business and payment activities
- Translate regulatory requirements into clear, proportionate and actionable policies, procedures and operating processes
- Work collaboratively with internal stakeholders, including FinTech, Fraud, Internal Audit, Legal, Product, IT, Supply and Operations, as well as Corporate Centre, Booking Holdings Financial Services, sister brands and external counsel
- Support financial crime compliance activities relating to business due diligence, beneficial ownership, sanctions screening, transaction monitoring, investigations, case management and recordkeeping
- Support risk assessments, control design, remediation initiatives and implementation priorities
- Provide oversight of outsourced operations, technology providers and outside counsel, where necessary
- Support the development and delivery of financial crime compliance training and awareness
- Prepare clear management updates and ensure key stakeholders are apprised of relevant regulatory developments and risks
- Support the development of risk mitigation plans and appropriate governance arrangements
- Knowledge-share with teams across the business and promote consistent financial crime compliance practices
Requirements
- At least 7-10 years of relevant experience in financial crime compliance, regulatory compliance, legal or a related field
- Experience advising on financial crime matters, including sanctions, AML, customer or business due diligence and/or transaction monitoring
- Experience supporting the implementation, enhancement or remediation of a financial crime compliance framework
- Experience in the payments or FinTech industry
- Experience working in an APAC environment is a plus
- Ability to provide practical, strategic and business-oriented advice
- Ability to translate complex regulatory requirements into clear and actionable guidance
- Strong project-management skills and the ability to manage multiple stakeholders and time-sensitive initiatives
- Strong analytical, problem-solving and communication skills
- Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a fast-paced environment
- Experience working with product, technology and operational teams is a plus
- Excellent written and verbal English communication skills
- Must possess the highest integrity, commensurate with a position in the Compliance & Ethics team
- Energetic, pragmatic and willing to go the extra mile
- As the role involves working with colleagues across multiple countries, time zones and brands, flexibility to occasionally adjust working hours to support cross-border collaboration and business needs is required