Compliance Assistant Manager

About Ascentium

Ascentium is a leading global business services platform dedicated to helping businesses and individuals scale greater heights. Headquartered in Singapore, Ascentium drives extraordinary growth through expert people, purpose-led technology, and an unwavering commitment to service excellence.

Drawing on over 50 years of Harneys Fiduciary’s experience in key global jurisdictions such as the British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Cyprus, Hong Kong, and Singapore, our teams combine deep local expertise with global reach, offering time zone and language-appropriate services to clients around the world.

About the Role

You will be collaborating with a team of Hong Kong–based compliance professionals and a network of global specialists across the Ascentium Fiduciary business, acting as a key point of contact for day‑to‑day AML/KYC activities and the first line of escalation for junior team members.

What You'll Be Doing

As a Compliance Assistant Manager, you will play a crucial role within the firm’s Compliance team. Your primary responsibility will be to ensure the accuracy and updating of all client information in the database with exceptional attention to detail. You will review and quality‑assure analysts’ work, manage case queues to agreed SLAs, and provide clear guidance on complex or higher‑risk matters. Additionally, you will be responsible for ensuring that both management and employees comply with the rules and regulations set by regulatory agencies. You will also ensure adherence to company policies and procedures and uphold the minimum standards of conduct and risk management within the organisation, supporting the Head of Department (HoD) with ad-hoc projects and/or monthly reporting as required.

• Evaluate new clients and related KYC parties to understand the nature of their business, ownership and control structure, and identify any areas of higher risk.

• Review current KYC files, performing second‑line quality checks on analyst‑prepared documentation where required.

• Conduct periodic reviews of existing clients to complete Customer Due Diligence (CDD), including risk re‑assessments and event‑driven reviews.

• Perform background checks as necessary for AML, KYC, Sanctions, and PEPs‑related issues.

• Ensure that enhanced due diligence policies and procedures are followed when higher‑risk triggers are identified, documenting rationale and escalating matters to the Head of Department as appropriate.

• Collaborate with internal staff and external third parties regarding general compliance matters, providing practical, risk‑based advice to the corporate services teams.

• Ensure timely updates to the compliance database, owning data integrity controls and periodic reconciliations.

• Assist the Head of Department in ensuring that employees receive appropriate AML induction and refresher training, helping to develop materials and deliver bite‑size briefings.

• Perform quality analysis on the conducted CDD and prepare management reports, including trend analysis and KPIs for senior management.

• Provide compliance guidance throughout the corporate services department.

• Assist in the design and implementation of fit‑for‑purpose administrative processes and procedures in line with firm policy.

• Oversee record‑keeping standards and delegate routine administrative tasks appropriately.

• Other compliance duties may be assigned, such as supporting internal audits, regulatory inquiries, and remediation projects.

Qualification & Experience

• 5+ years of compliance experience, preferably within the Latin American and Asian regions.

• Bachelor’s degree or higher.

• ICA or ACAMS International Advanced Certificate in compliance would be advantageous.

• Proficiency in both written and spoken English and Chinese.

• Ability to identify key compliance risks associated with specific types of structures.

• Experience with management, board, and regulatory reporting would be beneficial..

• Experience with client and employee conflicts would be advantageous, with sound judgement on escalation pathways.

• Thorough working knowledge of KYC/CDD.

• Excellent communication skills (both written and oral) and strong organisational abilities.

• Demonstrated experience reviewing junior colleagues’ work, coaching on AML/KYC standards, and managing workloads against SLAs.