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 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.

Tasks and 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 (including for outsourced services), control framework, and management reporting

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

• Advise on the compliance and reputational risks associated with Group-wide projects, new products or services and significant changes to existing activities

• Oversee client onboarding, periodic and trigger-event KYC reviews, enhanced due diligence, high-risk client decisions, and related escalation processes to Group Compliance, expert functions, and decision-making committees in accordance with Group requirements

• Oversee transaction monitoring, act as the ultimate decision maker for AML investigations and the assessment, preparation, and submission of suspicious transaction reports to the Austrian Financial Intelligence Unit

• Oversee relevant regulatory compliance topics, including data protection, market integrity, tax transparency, conflicts of interest, conduct, and other risks within the local Compliance mandate. Act as or oversee the responsibilities of the anti-bribery and corruption officer (ABC officer), client anti-corruption officer (CABCO), and data protection officer (DPO)

• 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

• Identify, assess, and escalate compliance breaches and incidents through the appropriate local and group governance, and support timely notification to the competent authorities where required

• Cooperate with the relevant control, audit and inspection teams and ensure that actions falling within local Compliance responsibility are implemented

• 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

Studies & experience:

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

• A professional certification, such as ACAMS, ICA, or an equivalent qualification

• At least 5 – 8 years of relevant experience in financial crime and 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

• 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

• Experience in operating in an international environment

Language skills:

• Fluency in German and English, both written and spoken

• French language skills would be an advantage

Technical, operational & Soft skills:

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

• 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, manage confidential information, 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

• 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

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

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.

• A flexible working environment with one home-office day per week

• A senior leadership role with meaningful autonomy, visibility, and direct impact on the Branch’s governance and risk culture

• Support for relevant professional qualifications, continued learning, and leadership development

• Exposure to local senior management, international Compliance experts, and a broad range of corporate banking activities

• A competitive remuneration package and employee benefits

• Long-term development opportunities within an established European banking group

At Societe Generale, we are convinced that people are drivers of change, and that the world of tomorrow will be shaped by all their initiatives, from the smallest to the most ambitious.

Whether you’re joining us for a period of months, years or your entire career, together we can have a positive impact on the future. Creating, daring, innovating and taking action are part of our DNA.

If you too want to be directly involved, grow in a stimulating and caring environment, feel useful on a daily basis and develop or strengthen your expertise, you will feel right at home with us!

Still hesitating?

You should know that our employees can dedicate several days per year to solidarity actions during their working hours, including sponsoring people struggling with their orientation or professional integration, participating in the financial education of young apprentices, and sharing their skills with charities. There are many ways to get involved.