Recruiter's Glossary

Examples: Compliance Calendar • Dodd-Frank • Policy Framework

Sanctions Screening

Term from Compliance industry explained for recruiters

Sanctions screening is a process that banks and companies use to check if they can safely do business with people or organizations. It's like a background check that makes sure no one is on government watchlists or prohibited from doing business. Companies do this to avoid legal trouble and fines by making sure they don't work with suspicious individuals or companies that are banned by governments. You might also hear it called "sanctions checking," "watchlist screening," or "compliance screening." It's a crucial part of what compliance professionals do to keep their companies safe and following the law.

Examples in Resumes

Managed daily Sanctions Screening processes for over 10,000 international transactions

Led implementation of new Sanctions Screening software across multiple departments

Conducted employee training on Sanctions Screening and Watch List Screening procedures

Optimized Sanctions Monitoring workflow reducing false positives by 40%

Typical job title: "Sanctions Screening Analysts"

Also try searching for:

Compliance Analyst AML Analyst Sanctions Officer KYC Analyst Compliance Officer Financial Crime Analyst Due Diligence Specialist

Where to Find Sanctions Screening Analysts

Professional Associations

Online Communities

• LinkedIn Compliance Groups
• Reddit r/CompliancePros

Job Resources

Example Interview Questions

Senior Level Questions

Q: How would you design a sanctions screening program for a global organization?

Expected Answer: The answer should cover creating comprehensive policies, choosing screening tools, setting up review processes, training staff, and ensuring the program meets different country requirements. They should mention managing false positives and staying current with changing regulations.

Q: How do you handle complex sanctions screening cases involving multiple jurisdictions?

Expected Answer: Should demonstrate knowledge of international sanctions lists, ability to coordinate with different departments and regulators, and experience making tough decisions based on various risk factors.

Mid Level Questions

Q: What steps do you take when you get a potential sanctions match?

Expected Answer: Should explain the process of reviewing alerts, checking additional information sources, documenting findings, and escalating serious cases to senior staff when needed.

Q: How do you reduce false positives in sanctions screening?

Expected Answer: Should discuss techniques like improving data quality, adjusting matching rules, using proper name formatting, and regular system tuning based on past results.

Junior Level Questions

Q: What are the main sanctions lists that companies need to check?

Expected Answer: Should mention major lists like OFAC, UN, and EU sanctions lists, and show basic understanding of why different lists exist and when they apply.

Q: Explain the basic process of sanctions screening.

Expected Answer: Should describe the steps of checking names against watchlists, reviewing potential matches, and following company procedures for handling matches.