Head of IWM Compliance Hong Kong

Company overview

Nomura is a global financial services group with an integrated network spanning approximately 30 countries and regions. By connecting markets East & West, Nomura services the needs of individuals, institutions, corporates and governments through its three business divisions: Wealth Management, Investment Management, and Wholesale (Global Markets and Investment Banking). Founded in 1925, the firm is built on a tradition of disciplined entrepreneurship, serving clients with creative solutions and considered thought leadership. For further information about Nomura, visit www.nomura.com

Job Title: Head of IWM Compliance Hong Kong

Corporate Title: Executive Director

Department: IWM Compliance            

Location: Hong Kong

Company Overview: 

Nomura is a global financial services group with an integrated network spanning approximately 30 countries and regions. By connecting markets East & West, Nomura services the needs of individuals, institutions, corporates and governments through its three business divisions: Wealth Management, Investment Management, and Wholesale (Global Markets and Investment Banking). Founded in 1925, the firm is built on a tradition of disciplined entrepreneurship, serving clients with creative solutions and considered thought leadership. For further information about Nomura, visit www.nomura.com

Department Overview:

IWM Compliance within Asia Legal & Compliance partners with International Wealth Management (IWM) and other corporate functions to serve and protect the firm as a second line of defence by identifying, analysing and mitigating compliance risks and to promote risk and control ownership across the firm and together with others foster a culture of ethics and compliance.

Role Overview:

We are seeking a highly experienced private banking compliance person to head up our IWM Compliance team in Hong Kong. As an Executive Director reporting into the Head of IWM Compliance AEJ, this senior-level position requires deep expertise in the private banking industry in Hong Kong with good working knowledge of regulatory expectations for cross border dealings from within North Asia. 

The successful candidate will serve as the compliance leader for all activities of IWM in Hong Kong, providing guidance to ensure full adherence to regulatory requirements for IWM. This role demands a seasoned professional who can navigate the intricate regulatory environment while supporting business growth initiatives and maintaining strong relationships with key business stakeholders. This role has one direct report currently for which leadership, coaching and managerial guidance would be expected.

Role Description:

This role is responsible for providing compliance support to the International Wealth Management division in Nomura International (Hong Kong) Limited. Specifically:

• Implement Compliance policies, procedures, systems and controls to ensure regulatory requirements as applicable to the business, are observed. 

• Provide daily compliance support and advice to IWM on regulatory requirements applicable to the business. Such advice could pertain to cross border, new products and services, transactions, conflict assessment, client events, gift and entertainment, marketing materials etc

• Monitor changes and developments in Hong Kong financial laws and regulations. 

• Investigate client complaints and incidents to identify potential compliance/control lapses. 

• Partner with IWM in growth initiatives, participate actively in working group discussions, providing advice and steering the project to fruition in a compliant manner, and drafting new compliance guidance where required.

• Provide training on new or updated compliance policies and procedures. Conduct refresher training where required. Draft and issue Compliance Alerts where necessary.

• Review and assess regulatory implications for potential breaches of Compliance P&P such as client confidentiality breaches by IWM.

• Review escalations of alerts by Compliance Surveillance and Data Loss Prevention teams in relation to internal and external communications of IWM.

• Conduct compliance monitoring and desk reviews as 2nd Line of Defence to ensure the business is meeting the requirements of the relevant AEJ Compliance policies.

• Coordinate submission of periodic or ad hoc regulatory reports.

• Handle regulatory inquiries, examinations and internal/external audits and work with Country Compliance team to liaise with regulators where required.

Skills, experience, qualifications, and knowledge required:

• Minimum 15 years’ experience in regulatory compliance in a private bank or wealth management unit of an international financial institution In Hong Kong. 


• Knowledge of financial services laws and regulations in Hong Kong. Awareness of Singapore financial regulations and international private banking best practices is a plus. Knowledge of foreign banking and securities laws to support compliance advisory for cross border dealings.


• Deep understanding of private banking products such as equities, fixed income, FX such as TARFs, structured products such as FCN, BEN, ELN, derivatives such as accumulators, decumulators, options, swaps, TRS etc. Experienced in advising the business on the suitability and disclosure requirements pertaining to the products.


• Good analytical and investigation skills, experienced in conducting interviews with staff under review.  


• Hands-on and proactive, able to work independently. 


• Experience in handling queries from and dealing with SFC and other regulatory bodies.


• Experience in conducting monitoring, surveillance and desk reviews.


• Degree or equivalent preferably in a relevant discipline.

Nomura Leadership Behaviours

• Explore Insights & Vision: Identify the underlying causes of problems faced by you or your team and define a clear vision and direction for the future.


• Making Strategic Decisions: Evaluate all the options for resolving the problems and effectively prioritize actions or recommendations.


• Inspire Entrepreneurship in People: Inspire team members through effective communication of ideas and motivate them to actively enhance productivity.


• Elevate Organizational Capability: Engage proactively in professional development and enhance team productivity through the promotion of knowledge sharing.


• Inclusion: Respect DEI, foster a culture of inclusion and psychological safety in the workplace and cultivate a "Risk Culture" (Challenge, Escalate and Respect).

Diversity Statement

Nomura is committed to an employment policy of equal opportunities, and is fundamentally opposed to any less favourable treatment accorded to existing or potential members of staff on the grounds of race, creed, colour, nationality, disability, marital status, pregnancy, gender or sexual orientation.

DISCLAIMER:  This Job Description is for reference only, and whilst this is intended to be an accurate reflection of the current job, it is not necessarily an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, skills, efforts, requirements or working conditions associated with the job.  The management reserves the right to revise the job and may, at his or her discretion, assign or reassign duties and responsibilities to this job at any time. 

Nomura is an Equal Opportunity Employer