Senior Manager - Actimize SAM 9 Tuning & Calibration

About the role

A contract Senior Manager position in London to lead transaction monitoring (TM) optimization and tuning within a large-scale banking environment. The role focuses on improving Actimize SAM 9 systems, driving model tuning and scenario optimization, and helping deliver a robust financial crime risk monitoring framework. It is a hands-on leadership role combining technical expertise with stakeholder management and delivery leadership.

Key responsibilities

• Lead end-to-end tuning, configuration and optimization of the Actimize SAM 9 transaction monitoring system, improving detection accuracy, optimizing thresholds and reducing false positives
• Own the bank's TM optimization strategy, align it with regulatory expectations and risk appetite, and run gap assessments on TM configurations
• Work with cross-functional teams on scenario design and data quality best practices
• Use data analytics to assess TM model performance and recommend tuning improvements, including for cross-border, trade finance and retail data
• Act as senior point of contact between compliance, data and technology teams, present strategies to senior stakeholders and lead weekly project updates
• Guide a team of TM specialists and technical consultants, acting as subject-matter expert for juniors and mid-level staff

Required profile

• 8+ years of experience in transaction monitoring, financial crime technology or AML systems optimization
• Prior exposure to large-scale TM frameworks in banking or financial services
• Track record of delivering TM tuning initiatives in regulated environments
• Understanding of AML risk typologies, sanctions exposure and regulatory drivers for TM optimization
• Experience managing senior stakeholders and leading multi-disciplinary teams under tight timelines
• Preferred: large banking environment experience, data management knowledge, and prior consulting or project delivery experience

Required skills

• Mandatory hands-on experience with Actimize SAM 9 (versions 8 or 9 preferred)
• Deep understanding of TM tuning, optimization and rule configuration
• Troubleshooting data ingestion, threshold management and scenario segmentation