Role Summary
The Client Onboarding Specialist is a dedicated onboarding specialist responsible for coordinating and driving the end-to-end client onboarding process across private wealth client structures, including individual, joint, corporate, trust, family office and VCC-related accounts.
The role supports and co-ordinates the Front Office onboarding activities, acting as the key liaison between Relationship Managers/Assistants and internal onboarding, operations and compliance teams and other relevant internal and external stakeholders to ensure required documentation and inputs are provided on time and operational handovers can be completed in line with internal and regulatory standards.
While the RM and RMA remain the primary client contacts and owners of the client relationship, this role provides specialist onboarding expertise, structure and execution discipline to improve turnaround times, reduce operational risk and deliver a smoother client onboarding experience.
Key Responsibilities
Client Onboarding Management
• Manage end-to-end onboarding for individual, joint, corporate, trust, family office and VCC-related client structures, covering documentation preparation and coordination of the account opening and mandate setup process.
• Review onboarding packs for completeness and accuracy before submission to Onboarding and Lifecycle Management Department.
• Track onboarding progress, manage outstanding items and provide timely status updates to relevant stakeholders.
• Support the preparation of client meetings and onboarding materials, including direct client follow-up to obtain further clarification, information or required documentation where appropriate.
KYC, AML & Due Diligence
• Act as the first line of defence for KYC, AML/CFT and CDD requirements, supporting timely and compliant client onboarding.
• Collect, review and validate KYC, AML/CFT, FATCA, CRS and client due diligence documentation to support timely onboarding.
• Conduct preliminary checks on ownership structures, source of wealth/source of funds and beneficial ownership requirements.
• Escalate documentation gaps, compliance issues and onboarding risks in line with internal policies.
Variable Capital Company (VCC) Support
• Support onboarding and administration of Singapore VCC structures, including shareholders, directors, authorised signatories, related entities and sub-fund account structures.
• Coordinate VCC-related requirements with fund administrators, company secretaries, custodians, legal counsel and internal stakeholders.
• Maintain accurate VCC records and monitor documentation, corporate actions and regulatory submissions where applicable.
Client Servicing & Relationship Support
• Partner with RMs and RMAs on onboarding-related client servicing activities, while the RM and RMA remain the primary client contacts and owners of the client relationship.
• Provide specialist onboarding coordination across internal teams to support accurate, timely and risk-controlled client onboarding.
Account & Portfolio Administration
• Support ongoing account maintenance, including static data updates, mandate changes and documentation refreshes.
• Assist with periodic reviews and ensure account records and documentation remain aligned with regulatory, suitability and internal conduct requirements.
Qualifications / Requirements
• Minimum 5 years’ experience in client onboarding, client servicing, client administration or operations within private wealth, asset management, private banking or related financial services.
• Good understanding of KYC/AML, client due diligence, suitability, conduct and documentation standards, with strong attention to detail.
• Working knowledge of investment products, account structures and portfolio administration processes.
• Strong organisational, communication and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to manage competing priorities under time pressure.
• Proficient in common office systems, CRM tools and client or portfolio platforms, with a practical and process-oriented mindset.
Preferred Qualifications
• Able to operate effectively within a well-established framework while contributing to practical improvements in day-to-day procedures and ways of working.
• Self-directed and able to plan own workload against changing priorities, business needs and external events.
• Comfortable making routine, well-precedented judgments independently, with sound judgment to escalate complex, unusual or higher-risk matters.