Role Overview
We are seeking an experienced Compliance Manager / Compliance Lead to manage and oversee the compliance function across our maritime businesses.
The group operates across two core business verticals:
Ship owning: Management and operation of a globally active fleet comprising tankers, bulk carriers and offshore vessels.
Cash Buying & Maritime Asset Transactions: Acquisition and selling other maritime or energy-related assets.
The role will have a primary focus on the ship owning business, ensuring that vessel operations, counterparties, voyages and commercial activities are conducted in accordance with applicable sanctions, regulatory and internal compliance requirements.
The role will also support the cash-buying business by ensuring appropriate compliance and due-diligence controls are followed in relation to vessel and asset transactions.
The successful candidate will act as the organisation's key point of contact for compliance matters and will work closely with senior management, commercial, operations and finance teams.
Ship Owning & Maritime Compliance
- Lead compliance oversight for global ship owning, vessel employment, voyages and commercial activities.
- Assess compliance risks relating to vessels, charterers, cargoes, ports, terminals, trading areas, jurisdictions and other counterparties.
- Review higher-risk activities and advise commercial and operations teams on enhanced due diligence, controls, approvals or escalation.
Sanctions, KYC/KYB & Due Diligence
- Manage sanctions screening, KYC/KYB and counterparty due diligence for vessels, companies, individuals, UBOs, customers, suppliers, charterers, brokers and agents.
- Assess ownership and control structures, PEPs, adverse media and direct or indirect sanctions exposure.
- Identify maritime sanctions red flags, including unusual vessel movements, AIS irregularities and ship-to-ship transfers, and escalate potential matches or concerns.
AML & Financial Compliance
- Review higher-risk transactions, payment structures, banks and beneficiaries for AML and sanctions-related concerns.
- Work with Finance and support KYC/compliance enquiries from banks, financial institutions and other stakeholders.
Cash Buying & Maritime Asset Transactions
- Conduct compliance due diligence for vessel and maritime asset acquisitions and disposals, including ownership, management, counterparties and sanctions exposure.
- Ensure higher-risk transactions undergo appropriate enhanced due diligence, approvals and documentation before proceeding.
Policies, Regulatory Monitoring & Investigations
- Develop and maintain compliance policies, controls and procedures covering sanctions, KYC/KYB, AML, anti-bribery, conflicts of interest and related risks.
- Monitor relevant regulatory and sanctions developments and update internal controls where required.
- Investigate compliance breaches, sanctions alerts and adverse-media concerns, maintain appropriate records and escalate material risks to senior management or external advisers where necessary.
Training & Compliance Awareness
- Provide practical compliance guidance and training to commercial, operations, finance and other relevant teams.
- Promote awareness of sanctions, KYC, AML and maritime compliance red flags and escalation requirements.
Qualifications & Experience
- Bachelor’s degree in law, Finance, Business, Maritime Studies, International Trade or a related discipline.
- Relevant professional compliance qualification such as ICA, ACAMS or equivalent would be an advantage.
- 5 or more years of relevant compliance experience, preferably with exposure to international shipping, ship owning, ship management, energy, offshore operations or maritime transactions.
- Strong practical experience in sanctions compliance, KYC/KYB, AML and counterparty due diligence.
- Previous experience with a shipowner, ship manager, commodity or energy company, maritime organisation, financial institution or similar international business would be preferred.
- Experience independently managing compliance matters and advising senior management is highly desirable.
Knowledge & Skills
The successful candidate should possess:
- Strong understanding of international sanctions frameworks relevant to global shipping and trade.
- Practical knowledge of OFAC, UK, EU and UN sanctions and their application to maritime activities.
- Strong knowledge of KYC/KYB, AML, UBO and counterparty due-diligence requirements.
- Understanding of vessel ownership and management structures, chartering arrangements and international maritime operations.
- Ability to identify sanctions and compliance risks associated with vessels, voyages, ports, cargoes and counterparties.
- Understanding of maritime compliance red flags, including AIS irregularities and suspicious vessel activity.
- Ability to review complex corporate and beneficial ownership structures.
- Strong analytical, investigative and risk-assessment capabilities.
- Strong written documentation and reporting skills.
- Sound commercial judgement and the ability to apply regulatory requirements practically.
- Ability to work independently and manage multiple compliance matters simultaneously.
- Confidence to challenge or escalate a transaction or activity where significant compliance concerns are identified.
- Strong communication skills and the ability to work effectively with senior management, commercial, operations and finance teams.
