Asia Pacific Senior Compliance Associate

Job Description Summary

For over forty years, HarbourVest has been home to a committed team of professionals with an entrepreneurial spirit and a desire to deliver impactful solutions to our clients and investing partners. As our global firm grows, we continue to add individuals who seek a collaborative, open-door culture that values diversity and innovative thinking.

In our collegial environment that’s marked by low turnover and high energy, you’ll be inspired to grow and thrive. Here, you will be encouraged to build on your strengths and acquire new skills and experiences.

We are committed to fostering an environment of inclusion that promotes mutual respect among all employees. Understanding and valuing these differences optimizes the potential of both the individual and the firm.

HarbourVest is an equal opportunity employer.

This position will be a hybrid work arrangement, which translates to 3 days minimum per week in the office.

Reporting to the Head of Asia Compliance, the APAC Compliance Senior Associate will assist with executing the Firm’s global compliance program and ensure compliance with the relevant regulatory requirements in Asia. This role will be focused on a regional coverage of financial crimes and infrastructural compliance related matters.
- Able to comprehend and effectively communicate technical regulatory requirements and compliance policies to business partners
- Self-motivated, with strong organizational and time management skills
- Self-assured professional with high personal integrity and ability to develop effective working relationships with others, including management
- Able to work independently and as part of a collaborative team
- Enthusiastic for the mission of the company and for its diverse and inclusive culture
- Understands the necessity to adequately document all work and is detail-oriented
- Excellent written and oral communication skills in English

What you will do:

- Financial Crimes and Anti-Money Laundering Focus (50%)
- Maintain the global financial crimes compliance framework in APAC, including regional policies, risk assessments, etc.
- Serve as a local point of contact of regional escalations and questions generated from Client Service, Client Onboarding, and APAC Financial Crimes-related regulatory authorities
- Develop and maintain AML policies and procedures for local offices in APAC, as needed
- Conduct regional-focused financial crimes related education sessions
- Track regional / applicable AML regulations and economic sanctions developments, advise business partners of impact on HarbourVest, and develop controls and processes as needed, with the Global team
- Coordinate with the Global Financial Crimes team as needed (e.g., approach, staff meetings, training, regulatory updates, etc.)
- Infrastructural and Regulatory Compliance (50%)
- Work with different global teams and regional stakeholders to design and implement controls and process to ensure compliance with laws and regulations in APAC on infrastructural matters such as personal information protection and data privacy, cybersecurity / technology risk management, operational resilience/ BCP, outsourcing
- Work closely with the client service team to triage and address on-going requests/enquiries from LPs in APAC that are regulatory/compliance-related
- Support with the administration of general compliance programs in the region
- Work on other regulatory compliance projects as designated by the Head of Asia Compliance from time to time

What you bring:

- Strong financial crimes (i.e., anti-money laundering, economic sanctions, anti-bribery/anti-corruption) regulatory knowledge is a must. Specifically, an understanding of the AML regulations that are usually applicable to Asia Pacific clients or investment structures (including Cayman Islands, Luxembourg, Ireland, Singapore, Hong Kong). Intermediate knowledge expected as it relates to economic sanctions and anti-corruption regulations also required
- Working knowledge of the securities laws and MAS rules and regulations in Singapore. Knowledge of other jurisdictional regulatory requirements in Asia Pacific (e.g., Australia, Hong Kong) would be beneficial but not required
- Working experience in managing infrastructural regulatory matters such as personal data privacy laws, cybersecurity and technology risk management, outsourcing, operational resilience/BCP would be highly beneficial
- Experience in working with other Global offices and the headquarters based in the United States

Education Preferred
- Bachelor of Arts or Science or equivalent, preferably with a concentration in law, business, finance or accounting

Experience
- 5-7 years of compliance experience at a financial institution/private equity firm, law firm, regulatory agency, major consulting firm or in law enforcement, with demonstrated ability to operate across diverse business units. Experience focusing on financial crimes will also be considered