Senior Manager Client Lifecycle & Onboarding

Vistra•Guernsey, WY

About The Position

It’s never been a more exciting time to join Vistra. At Vistra our purpose is progress. We believe that our clients have the power to change the world and to do great things for global progress, and we exist to remove the friction that comes from the complexity of global business – to help our clients achieve progress without friction. But progress only happens when people come together and take action. And we’re absolutely committed to building a culture where our people can do just that. We have an exciting opportunity for you to join our team as Senior Manager Client Lifecycle and Onboarding Reporting to the Associate Director, Funds, this full-time and permanent position is based in our Guernsey office, allowing you to make a significant impact on our Funds business and its’ growth. Purpose of Role: The Senior Manager – Client Lifecycle & Onboarding is responsible for the leadership, oversight and continuous improvement of client lifecycle management activities in Guernsey. This role provides senior subject matter expertise across complex and high risk onboarding, client reviews, reliance frameworks and bank account opening, while ensuring regulatory compliance, operational effectiveness and high quality client outcomes.The role holds end to end accountability for the client lifecycle function, including governance, risk management, stakeholder engagement and people leadership, and acts as a key escalation point for complex matters.

Requirements

Sound judgement in complex, high risk and PEP scenarios
Strong risk and control mindset with confidence to challenge
Credible people leader who builds accountability and capability
Trusted senior stakeholder with clear, calm communication
Ownership mentality with end to end accountability
Continuous improvement focus without losing regulatory rigour
Expert client onboarding & lifecycle management in a Guernsey fiduciary/financial services environment
Deep AML/CFT and KYC knowledge, including high risk and complex structures
Oversight of client reviews, trigger events and reliance frameworks
Governance and escalation experience, including senior committees
Operational oversight of offshore/GSC teams and quality frameworks
Banking relationship management and account opening processes
Strong MI, systems and data quality awareness
Typically 5+ years’ relevant experience in Private Wealth, Funds or Fiduciary Services.
Strong knowledge of AML/CFT, client risk assessment, governance and regulatory expectations.
Proven experience leading teams and overseeing complex operational functions.
Senior leadership and people management capability.
Strong judgement and decision making in complex, high risk scenarios.
Excellent stakeholder management and communication skills.
Analytical and strategic thinking with a focus on risk and quality.
Ability to balance operational delivery with governance and oversight.
Experience operating at Senior Officer, Manager or equivalent level within Guernsey.
Relevant professional qualification (e.g. STEP, ICA, CGI or equivalent).
Educated to A Level standard or equivalent.

Responsibilities

Act as the senior subject matter expert and decision maker on complex, high risk and PEP onboarding cases.
Provide oversight and challenge on onboarding decisions to ensure consistency, quality and regulatory compliance.
Support and contribute to senior governance forums (e.g. VBC) for complex new business cases.
Maintain senior oversight of onboarding pipelines, capacity and delivery metrics.
Provide senior decision making and challenge on complex and high risk client reviews.
Oversee the quality, timeliness and outcomes of file reviews conducted by Guernsey and GSC teams.
Act as an escalation point for material issues arising during reviews, ensuring timely resolution.
Own and oversee the end to end client lifecycle management framework, ensuring effective onboarding, review and trigger event processes.
Set priorities and allocate resources to ensure delivery against business and regulatory timelines.
Maintain effective working relationships with the New Business Manager, Head of New Business, Service Delivery teams and Banking partners.
Provide senior oversight of GSC activities, including governance, performance monitoring and issue resolution.
Lead and embed quality assurance frameworks, including periodic quality control reviews and remediation actions.
Identify, escalate and manage operational and regulatory risks, providing clear reporting to the Head of Operations.
Drive continuous improvement across client lifecycle processes, controls and systems.
Support data quality initiatives, reporting accuracy and remediation of identified issues.
Contribute to change initiatives, system enhancements and cross functional projects impacting Operations.
Provide senior people leadership to the Guernsey Client Lifecycle team.
Set clear performance expectations and actively manage performance, conduct and development.
Build capability and succession within the team, supporting long term talent development.
Ensure CPD requirements are met and aligned to business and regulatory expectations.
Manage absence, wellbeing and engagement in line with organisational values.
Ensure records and documentation are accurate, complete and maintained in accordance with internal standards.
Act as a role model for operational excellence, risk awareness and professional conduct.
Support wider business initiatives and represent the client lifecycle function in senior forums as required.
Ensure full compliance with all local and Group policies and procedures.
Maintain senior level oversight of AML/CFT and KYC obligations across the client lifecycle.
Act as an escalation point for suspicious activity and ensure appropriate reporting to the MLRO.
Support regulatory examinations, audits and internal reviews as required.