APAC Financial Crime Compliance Director

CONFIDENTIAL Scovai, a pioneering force in the Talent Acquisition & Recruiting sector, is seeking an accomplished APAC Financial Crime Compliance Director to join its Risk & Compliance function in Singapore. This is a senior leadership role responsible for designing, implementing, and overseeing the firm's financial crime compliance programme across the Asia-Pacific region, with direct accountability for AML/CFT, sanctions, KYC/CDD, and regulatory engagement spanning multiple jurisdictions including Singapore (MAS), Hong Kong (HKMA), and Australia (AUSTRAC).

As the regional authority on financial crime risk, you will lead a high-performing compliance team, drive the evolution of transaction monitoring frameworks, oversee suspicious activity reporting processes, and serve as the primary point of contact for regulators across APAC. You will partner closely with senior stakeholders across business lines to embed a robust compliance culture, assess emerging financial crime typologies, and ensure the organisation remains ahead of an increasingly complex regulatory landscape. Your ability to translate regulatory requirements into pragmatic, scalable compliance solutions will be central to your success in this role.

This is a rare opportunity to shape financial crime compliance strategy at a regional level within a forward-thinking organisation that values both rigour and innovation. Operating on a hybrid working model from Singapore, you will have the platform, resources, and executive support to build best-in-class compliance infrastructure across one of the world's most dynamic and fast-evolving regulatory environments.

Practical experience deploying advanced analytics, AI/ML and behavioral models to enhance AML detection, reduce false positives and optimise alert prioritisation

Hands-on expertise in crypto/digital-asset compliance and blockchain forensics (VASP controls, on/off-ramp screening and crypto sanctions compliance)

Proven track record leading large-scale regulatory change management and cross-jurisdictional compliance implementations (project delivery, remediation, policy roll-out)

Strong knowledge of data governance and privacy (PDPA/GDPR), including secure cross‑border data handling for compliance investigations and analytics

Demonstrated ability to drive compliance culture and stakeholder adoption: designing training programmes, conducting risk workshops, and managing third‑party/vendor AML technology selection