Risk & Compliance Support Lead – India
Associate Director - 13 or more years of relevant experience
Level: Associate Director
This role will lead and scale India-based support for the US Risk & Compliance team. The individual will oversee service delivery, quality control, team development, process improvement, and escalation support across defined compliance workstreams. The role requires strong judgment, operational discipline, and the ability to work effectively with US stakeholders in a complex professional services environment.
Service Delivery, Quality, and Compliance Support
- Provide high-quality service delivery support to the US Risk & Compliance team and, as needed, members of the multinational platform.
- Lead day-to-day support across assigned compliance workstreams, which may include AML, sanctions, anti-bribery/anti-corruption, data privacy, professional licensing compliance, and related compliance processes.
- Review team deliverables to ensure accuracy, completeness, consistency with US team guidance, and appropriate documentation of rationale and supporting information.
- Identify matters requiring US Risk & Compliance review, prepare clear recommendations, and escalate high-risk, ambiguous, or policy-sensitive issues promptly.
- Develop the capabilities of the GT INDUS Risk & Compliance team by improving processes, strengthening quality standards, and promoting efficient service delivery.
Business Management
- Build effective working relationships with US Risk & Compliance stakeholders, INDUS leadership, and relevant functions to support timely issue resolution and consistent application of practices.
- Plan annual resourcing, development, and activity levels for assigned Risk & Compliance support workstreams.
- Monitor workflow, scheduling, backlog, aging items, and recurring issue themes to optimize processes and resource allocation.
- Maintain and improve standard operating procedures, templates, trackers, dashboards, and other tools used to manage compliance support activities.
- Adhere to high professional standards and maintain strict confidentiality in matters involving sensitive business, client, personnel, or compliance information.
Talent Development
- Lead, coach, and develop assigned team members, including Senior Associates, Managers, and other professionals supporting Risk & Compliance activities.
- Set clear performance expectations, monitor work quality and delivery, and take appropriate action to address performance, capacity, or development needs.
- Provide on-the-job training and help team members build technical, analytical, communication, and stakeholder management skills.
- Provide timely, constructive feedback and ensure team members receive meaningful feedback on work performed for US stakeholders.
- Support talent reviews, performance management, recruiting, onboarding, and retention activities in collaboration with INDUS leaders, People & Culture, and Risk & Compliance leadership.
- Help create a professional, inclusive, and accountable team environment that reinforces CLEARR values, integrity, responsiveness, and continuous improvement.
Stakeholder Communication and Escalation Management
- Communicate regularly with the Senior Director of Compliance and other US Risk & Compliance team members regarding priorities, escalations, workload, process improvements, and emerging issues.
- Prepare clear written updates, summaries, recommendations, and issue analyses for US stakeholders.
- Oversee and drive timely resolution of escalation emails and requests, while ensuring appropriate issues are routed to US Risk & Compliance for final review or decision.
- Share relevant best practices, recurring lessons learned, and process updates with team members and US leaders.
Required and Preferred Qualifications
- Demonstrated experience as a compliance, risk management, and/or legal professional, preferably in a multinational or global business environment, with meaningful hands-on experience in AML, sanctions, client acceptance, or related financial crime compliance processes.
- Strong working knowledge of AML and sanctions screening concepts, including name matching, false positive analysis, beneficial ownership review, sanctions list screening, adverse media review, customer or client risk indicators, escalation criteria, and documentation of screening conclusions.
- Ability to identify, analyze, and resolve complex AML and sanctions-related issues, including matters involving ownership structures, cross-border parties, higher-risk jurisdictions, potential sanctions nexus, politically exposed persons, adverse media, and incomplete or inconsistent diligence information.
- Experience developing, leading, and improving AML and sanctions clearance processes, including triage standards, escalation protocols, quality-control checkpoints, decision documentation, management reporting, and ongoing process improvement.
- Ability to support a transition in which the GT INDUS Risk & Compliance team assumes lead responsibility for sanctions and AML screening activities, subject to oversight, guidance, and final escalation support from the US Risk & Compliance team.
- Strong experience managing workstreams, triaging issues, preparing written analyses and recommendations, and driving resolution across complex stakeholder groups.
- Additional subject-matter exposure to anti-bribery/anti-corruption, data privacy, data governance, professional licensing compliance, or other compliance topics is preferred.
- Five or more years of demonstrated experience leading, developing, and reviewing the work of professional teams.
- Experience working with US-based stakeholders, offshore or shared-services teams, and cross-functional business partners across time zones.
- Proficiency with Microsoft Office tools, including Excel, SharePoint, PowerPoint, Power Automate, and Copilot, and a willingness to learn and apply new technology to improve service delivery.
- Excellent written and oral communication skills, including the ability to prepare concise issue summaries, escalation notes, status updates, and recommendations.
- Strong project management, workflow tracking, problem-solving, and process improvement skills.
- High ethical standards and the ability to handle confidential and sensitive information with professionalism, maturity, and sound judgment.
- Experience designing, implementing, reviewing, and improving complex processes, controls, trackers, templates, and operating procedures.
- Relevant compliance, risk, audit, legal operations, project management, privacy, AML, sanctions, or anti-corruption certifications are preferred but not required.
- Prior experience in the professional services industry is preferred.
Grant Thornton INDUS is the global capability center for Grant Thornton US, the U.S. member firm of Grant Thornton International Ltd., a leading global network of independent audit, tax, and advisory firms. Founded in Chicago in 1924, Grant Thornton US is one of the leading accounting and advisory firms in the U.S., bringing together $4B+ in revenue, 56 U.S. offices, and a multi-national platform spanning 20 countries with 25,000 people. It combines deep expertise, advanced technology, and a collaborative mindset to help clients solve complex challenges and grow with confidence. Since 2012, Grant Thornton INDUS has brought together 3,300+ professionals across Tax, Audit, Advisory, Client Services, Innovation, and Enabling Functions to deliver high-impact solutions for Grant Thornton US and its global network. Recognized as a Great Place To Work® for three consecutive years and among India’s Top 15 Best Workplaces™ in Professional Services 2026, INDUS offers a high-performance culture where people are trusted, supported, and empowered to grow.
