Head of Compliance & AMLO

As part of a leading European financial services group, Société Générale Zweigniederlassung Wien combines international reach with local expertise. We provide corporate and financial institution clients with payment and cash management services, trade finance solutions, and access to global banking expertise.

Trust, integrity, and responsible business conduct are central to how we operate. Our Compliance function works closely with management and business teams to protect our clients, prevent financial crime, and support sustainable development.

Our employees benefit from an international working environment, exposure to a broad range of activities, and continued investment in professional qualifications, technical expertise, and long-term development.

Role Overview

We are looking for an experienced Head of Compliance & Anti-Money Laundering Officer to lead the Compliance function of our Corporate Banking Branch in Vienna. The position has overall responsibility for the Branch’s financial crime and regulatory compliance framework and serves as the locally designated AMLO in accordance with applicable Austrian and European Union legal and regulatory requirements.

This appointment forms part of a planned local leadership succession. The current Head of Compliance (acts as AMLO) will transition to the position of local Chief Operating Officer / General Manager, ensuring continuity, a structured handover, and strong senior-management sponsorship for the Compliance function.

The role reports locally to the General Manager and maintains the relevant functional reporting lines to the Société Générale Compliance function in accordance with the Group governance framework.

Responsibilities

• Act as the Branch’s Head of Compliance and designated Anti-Money Laundering Officer, with responsibility for anti-money laundering and counter-terrorist financing, KYC, sanctions and embargoes, and broader regulatory compliance risks

• Lead, manage, and continuously develop the local Compliance function, ensuring appropriate independence, authority, resources, expertise, and escalation arrangements

• Define and execute the Branch’s Compliance strategy, annual compliance plan, and financial crime risk management program in line with Austrian requirements, European Union regulations, and Group standards

• Own and maintain the Branch’s local Compliance policies, procedures, governance arrangements, risk assessments, control framework, and management reporting

• Advise and challenge local senior management and business teams on financial crime, regulatory compliance, conduct, and reputational risk matters

• Oversee client onboarding, periodic and trigger-event KYC reviews, enhanced due diligence, high-risk client decisions, and related escalation processes

• Oversee transaction monitoring, investigations, and the assessment, preparation, and submission of suspicious transaction reports to the Austrian Financial Intelligence Unit

• Ensure the effective implementation of applicable Austrian legislation, particularly the FM-GwG, WiEReG, sanctions legislation, relevant European Union regulations, and Austrian market practices

• Act as a principal point of contact for the Austrian Financial Market Authority, the Austrian Financial Intelligence Unit, auditors, and other competent authorities on Compliance and AML matters

• Provide clear, timely, and risk-based reporting to local management, relevant governance committees, and central Compliance stakeholders

• Oversee the Compliance control plan, monitor identified deficiencies, and ensure the timely and sustainable completion of corrective action plans arising from controls, audits, inspections, or regulatory reviews

• Monitor legal, regulatory, and industry developments and ensure their timely implementation within the Branch

• Promote a strong culture of compliance, integrity, appropriate challenge, and timely escalation through advice, communication, and targeted training

• Maintain effective relationships with central expert teams, local management, business teams, Legal, Risk, Operations, Internal Audit, and other support functions

• Lead and develop Compliance team members, support succession planning, and promote continuous improvement in technical expertise, processes, systems, and ways of working

• Oversee relevant regulatory compliance topics, including data protection, market integrity, tax transparency, conflicts of interest, conduct, and other risks within the local Compliance mandate

Studies & experience:

• A strong academic or professional background in law, banking, finance, economics, or a comparable field, ideally combined with recognized qualifications in Compliance or financial crime prevention

• A professional certification, such as ACAMS, ICA, or an equivalent qualification, would be a significant asset

• At least 5 – 8 years of relevant experience in financial crime or regulatory compliance within banking or financial services, including meaningful leadership, oversight, or senior advisory responsibility

• Experience acting as an AMLO, Deputy AMLO, senior financial crime specialist, or senior Compliance manager within a regulated financial institution

• Strong and demonstrable knowledge of Austrian AML/CTF, KYC, sanctions, and regulatory compliance requirements, including the FM-GwG and WiEReG

• Proven experience interacting with the Austrian Financial Market Authority, the Austrian Financial Intelligence Unit, auditors, and other regulatory or public authorities

• Experience designing and operating risk assessments, controls, governance, management reporting, remediation programs, and regulatory change processes

Language skills:

• Fluency in German and English, both written and spoken (French language skills would be an advantage)

Technical, operational & Soft skills 

• Strong leadership skills, with the ability to set priorities, develop people, make sound risk-based decisions, and maintain the independence of the Compliance function

• Excellent analytical and judgement skills, with the ability to understand complex matters, identify material risks, and communicate clear recommendations to senior stakeholders

• The confidence and credibility to advise, challenge, influence, and escalate effectively at senior-management and governance-committee level

• A hands-on mindset combined with a structured, pragmatic, and reliable approach to work

• Knowledge of corporate banking, trade finance, payments, virtual currencies or payment service providers would be an advantage

• High personal integrity, independence of judgement, and a strong commitment to responsible business conduct

Société Générale Austria is a multi-category bank offering every employee the possibility to have several careers in a professional career path. Internal mobility and training are two core areas we focus on, in a dynamic, prosperous and evolving context.

Changing jobs is an opportunity for you to discover a new environment or a new job, participate in new projects and discover new teams, in Austria and abroad. It is also the way to share your expertise, to bring a new eye to better serve our customers tomorrow.

We are convinced that people are driving change, and that the world of tomorrow will be made up of all their initiatives, from the smallest to the most ambitious.

Then take the plunge!