Head of Client Due Diligence and Data Management Americas

Job Description

Cantor Fitzgerald Securities is seeking a seasoned Head of Client Due Diligence and Data Management for the Americas. This senior leader will own the quality, timeliness, and control of client due diligence, KYC processes, and client data across the lifecycle, partnering with Compliance, Technology, and senior management to drive automation, data governance, and regulatory readiness.

Responsibilities

• Direct CDD/KYC operations across the Americas, including new client onboarding, enhanced due diligence, periodic and event-driven reviews.
• Oversee client identification, beneficial ownership assessments, and documentation of business activities and risk profiles.
• Ensure risk assessments, screening reviews, and escalations are completed, documented, and maintain a clear audit trail.
• Manage operational controls for account setup, maintenance, restrictions, and closure, securing required KYC approvals in all systems.
• Maintain accuracy, completeness, and consistency of client and account data, including legal entity records and hierarchy links.
• Implement data validation and reconciliation controls to detect duplicates, missing information, and discrepancies; lead remediation efforts.
• Develop and maintain documented CDD/KYC, account management, and data maintenance procedures with defined ownership and escalation paths.
• Partner with Compliance to apply policy and regulatory changes, support audits, examinations, and remediation of findings.
• Establish and monitor KPIs and service standards for timeliness, backlog, quality, data integrity, and control exceptions; report risks to senior leadership.
• Recruit, train, and lead a high-performing team, driving automation and process improvements to enhance efficiency and scalability.

Qualifications

• Minimum 10 years of CDD/KYC, client account operations, or data management experience in financial services or a regulated institution.
• Deep knowledge of AML, KYC, BSA, OFAC, and related U.S. and international regulatory requirements.
• Expertise in beneficial ownership analysis, complex legal entity structures, risk assessment, and enhanced due diligence.
• Proven experience managing account lifecycle controls and linking KYC approvals to account records.
• Strong understanding of data governance, record reconciliation, and quality control across multiple systems.
• Demonstrated ability to lead teams, prioritize competing demands, and deliver operational improvements while maintaining controls.
• Experience supporting audits, regulatory examinations, and remediation initiatives with robust documentation skills.
• Proficiency in Excel and KYC/client data platforms; familiarity with SQL, Power BI, or similar analytical tools is a plus.
• Excellent analytical judgment, attention to detail, and written/verbal communication skills for senior-level risk reporting.
• Track record of driving automation and process innovation to improve scalability and efficiency.