Senior UX Designer – AML & Sanctions Technologies (Enterprise Tech)

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Senior UX Designer – AML & Sanctions Technologies (Enterprise Tech) - VP Company: Citi Location: London, England, United Kingdom Job Type: FULL_TIME Category: User Experience (UX) Design / Product Design / Enterprise Technology Date Posted: August 5, 2025 Experience Level: 5-10 Years Remote Status: On-site

🚀 Role Summary

This role focuses on designing complex, enterprise-scale digital products within the financial crime compliance space, specifically for Anti-Money Laundering (AML) and Sanctions Screening technologies.
The Senior UX Designer will act as a strategic individual contributor, deeply embedded within cross-functional teams including UX Research, Product Management, Engineering, and Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) in Compliance.
The position requires exceptional systems thinking and interaction design skills to simplify intricate investigative workflows and data-dense user interfaces.
Responsibilities include driving end-to-end design processes, from initial concept and exploration to delivery and refinement, ensuring solutions are insight-led, accessible, and outcome-driven.
A key aspect of the role involves contributing to the growth of Citi's internal UX practice, including mentoring junior designers and shaping best practices within the global UX community.

📝 Enhancement Note: While the input data indicates a UX Design role, the nature of the focus (AML & Sanctions Technologies, Financial Crimes, Enterprise Tech) strongly aligns with the operational needs of financial institutions. This role requires a deep understanding of complex workflows, regulatory environments, and data-intensive applications, which are core concerns in operations. Therefore, the description is framed to highlight these operational aspects relevant to candidates with an operations mindset, even though the primary title is UX Designer.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

Drive the end-to-end design of large-scale, mission-critical AML and Sanctions Screening investigation platforms, translating complex business and regulatory requirements into human-centered, scalable design solutions.
Act as a key strategic partner within cross-functional teams, collaborating closely with UX Researchers, Product Managers, Engineers, and Compliance SMEs to define product vision, priorities, and design principles that align with operational efficiency and regulatory compliance.
Apply advanced interaction design and systems thinking methodologies to simplify complex investigative workflows and data-dense user interfaces, improving the efficiency and effectiveness of financial crime investigators and analysts.
Develop comprehensive design artifacts, including wireframes, user flows, journey maps, high-fidelity prototypes, and final design specifications using Figma, while also contributing to and extending the existing Design System for enterprise applications.
Lead and guide the entire design lifecycle, from initial problem framing and concept exploration through to detailed design, implementation support, and iterative refinement, ensuring all work is grounded in user insights, accessibility standards, and measurable business outcomes.
Facilitate design critiques, co-creation workshops, and persuasive presentations to effectively communicate design strategies, rationale, and user-centric decision-making to diverse audiences, including technology partners and senior compliance stakeholders.
Provide crucial collaboration and support to engineering teams during the implementation phase, ensuring high design fidelity is maintained and proactively addressing any design gaps or challenges through regular reviews and constructive feedback loops.
Partner with UX Researchers to champion the needs and workflows of AML investigators and sanctions screening analysts through robust usability testing, iterative design cycles, and the integration of data-informed improvements to enhance operational performance.
Contribute to the enhancement of Citi's internal design culture and capabilities by actively mentoring junior designers, participating in design operations initiatives, and shaping best practices within the broader global UX community.
Play a role in the growth and evolution of Citi’s internal Design System, contributing to the definition and enforcement of design standards for enterprise-scale applications to ensure consistency and scalability.

📝 Enhancement Note: The core responsibilities are framed to emphasize the impact on operational efficiency, regulatory adherence, and the complexity of enterprise systems, aligning with the expectations of candidates in operations-adjacent roles. Specific mention of "investigative workflows," "data-dense UIs," and "financial crime investigators" highlights the operational context.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education:

Bachelor’s degree in Design, Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), or a closely related field.
Equivalent practical experience will be considered as a strong substitute for formal education, particularly for candidates with extensive experience in complex enterprise systems.

Experience:

A proven track record of designing and delivering impactful user experiences for enterprise-scale digital products, with a strong preference for experience within financial services, regulatory compliance, or other data-intensive domains.
Demonstrable experience in designing for highly regulated environments or complex internal tooling, where precision, scalability, and user efficiency are paramount.
Experience in improving internal tooling, automating workflows, or enhancing case management platforms is highly desirable.

Required Skills:

Exceptional systems thinking and interaction design skills, with the ability to conceptualize and create modular, scalable, and maintainable UX patterns for complex systems.
Proficiency in Figma for wireframing, prototyping, and creating high-fidelity designs, including experience working with and contributing to design component libraries and preparing detailed design documentation.
Strong communication and presentation skills, with the ability to synthesize complex information, influence decision-making, and drive alignment across product, engineering, and business stakeholders.
Demonstrated ability to work confidently on ambiguous, cross-team initiatives with multiple stakeholders and evolving requirements, maintaining focus on strategic objectives.
A strong commitment to inclusive and accessible design principles, with a thoughtful approach to identifying and addressing edge cases and systemic risks within user interfaces.
Experience in facilitating design critiques, conducting usability testing, and incorporating user feedback into iterative design processes.
Ability to contribute to design operations and mentor junior designers, fostering a collaborative and high-performing design environment.

Preferred Skills:

Experience working within agile, iterative product development methodologies in enterprise or regulated environments.
Exposure to or direct experience with Financial Crime, Compliance, Anti-Money Laundering (AML), or Sanctions Screening technologies and workflows.
Master’s degree or advanced continued education in UX, design leadership, or systems thinking.

📝 Enhancement Note: The skills section is tailored to highlight transferable skills for operations professionals, such as systems thinking, handling complexity, data-driven design, and understanding regulatory environments. The emphasis on Figma and design documentation also points to process-oriented work.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

Showcase end-to-end design process examples, clearly illustrating problem definition, user research insights, ideation, wireframing, prototyping, user testing, and final design execution.
Include case studies demonstrating experience with complex data visualization, intricate workflows, or highly regulated user interfaces, ideally within enterprise software or financial services.
Highlight contributions to or work within existing Design Systems, demonstrating an understanding of component-based design, scalability, and design governance.
Provide evidence of strong systems thinking and the ability to design for modularity, scalability, and maintainability within large applications.
Demonstrate proficiency in Figma, presenting well-structured files that showcase organized layers, components, and clear prototyping logic.
Include examples where user insights and data analysis directly informed design decisions and led to measurable improvements in user experience or business outcomes.
Showcase effective communication of design rationale and strategy, potentially through presentation slides or annotated design documentation.

Process Documentation:

Portfolio pieces should clearly articulate the design process followed, including methodologies for user research, competitor analysis, and user journey mapping.
Include documentation of how designs were iterated upon based on feedback from stakeholders, usability testing, or performance metrics.
Demonstrate an understanding of how to translate complex requirements into structured design specifications for engineering teams, including interaction details and states.
Showcase experience in documenting design decisions and rationale, which is critical for maintaining consistency and knowledge transfer in enterprise environments.

📝 Enhancement Note: This section is crucial for operations candidates, as it emphasizes the structured, process-driven nature of design work and the need for clear documentation and demonstrable impact, mirroring operational project management and execution standards.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: Given the "Senior UX Designer – AML & Sanctions Technologies (Enterprise Tech) - VP" title and the London location, the estimated salary range is £75,000 - £110,000 per annum. This estimate is based on industry benchmarks for senior-level UX designers in London's financial technology sector, considering the specialized domain knowledge required (AML/Sanctions) and the seniority implied by the "VP" designation. Benefits:

Comprehensive health and wellness programs, including medical, dental, and vision insurance.
Generous paid time off (PTO), including vacation days, sick leave, and public holidays.
Retirement savings plan (e.g., pension scheme) with potential company matching.
Opportunities for professional development, including training, certifications, and conference attendance, particularly relevant for staying current in UX and financial crime technologies.
Access to Citi's internal Design System and UX community for continuous learning and collaboration.
Employee assistance programs and wellness resources.
Potential for performance-based bonuses.
Citi's global mobility and career advancement opportunities within the enterprise.

Working Hours:

The role is designated as full-time, typically aligning with standard business hours in London (e.g., 9:00 AM to 5:30 PM, Monday to Friday).
While the role is on-site, Citi often promotes a culture that balances productivity with employee well-being, potentially offering some flexibility within core working hours where operational needs permit.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary estimate is based on common practice for senior roles in London's financial sector. Benefits are assumed to be comprehensive, as is typical for large financial institutions like Citi. The working hours are standard but noted with potential for flexibility, which is a common consideration in modern enterprise environments.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Financial Services / Banking Technology. Citi operates within a highly regulated global financial industry, demanding rigorous standards for security, compliance, data integrity, and operational efficiency. The Enterprise Technology division supports these critical functions. Company Size: Citi is a global financial services corporation, employing hundreds of thousands of people worldwide. This large scale means established processes, significant resources, and opportunities for broad impact, but also necessitates navigating complex organizational structures. Founded: 1812. With a long history, Citi has a deep understanding of financial markets and a commitment to innovation within established frameworks. This long-standing presence suggests a culture that values stability, expertise, and long-term strategic vision.

Team Structure:

The UX team is likely embedded within the Enterprise Technology division, specifically focusing on Financial Crimes Technologies. This means the team is probably composed of UX Designers, UX Researchers, and potentially UX Writers, working alongside Product Managers, Engineers, and Compliance SMEs.
The Senior UX Designer will report into a UX Lead or Design Manager within this technology group and will work as an individual contributor, collaborating closely with peers in Product Management and Engineering.
Cross-functional collaboration is essential, with designers working daily with Product Managers to define requirements, Engineers to ensure feasibility and implementation quality, and Compliance SMEs to understand regulatory nuances and user needs within financial crime investigations.

Methodology:

Data Analysis & Insights: Designs are expected to be informed by user research, usability testing data, and potentially operational metrics related to system performance and user efficiency in compliance workflows.
Workflow Planning & Optimization: A core part of the role involves understanding and simplifying complex investigative workflows, aiming for maximum efficiency and accuracy in AML and Sanctions Screening processes.
Automation & Efficiency Practices: While the role is design-focused, an understanding of how design can support automation and improve operational efficiency is key, especially in an enterprise technology context.

Company Website: citi.com

📝 Enhancement Note: The company context highlights the operational demands of the financial services industry and the scale of Citi, which implies a structured, process-oriented environment. The team structure emphasizes collaboration with technical and business stakeholders, typical in enterprise operations.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is at a Senior Individual Contributor level (VP designation), indicating significant autonomy, responsibility for major design initiatives, and a leadership presence within design projects. It's a role that requires deep expertise and the ability to influence without direct authority. Reporting Structure: The Senior UX Designer will likely report to a Director or VP of UX within the Enterprise Technology or Financial Crimes Technology group. They will work closely with Product Managers (often Director level) and Engineering Leads (often VP or Director level) on specific platform initiatives. Operations Impact: The designs created will have a direct impact on the efficiency, accuracy, and compliance adherence of financial crime investigators and analysts globally. By improving these tools, the role contributes significantly to risk mitigation, regulatory adherence, and the operational effectiveness of Citi's compliance functions, which are critical to the business.

Growth Opportunities:

Operations Skill Advancement: Deepen understanding of financial crime compliance, AML, and sanctions screening processes, gaining specialized domain knowledge highly valued in the financial sector.
Design Leadership: Progress into lead design roles for larger initiatives, manage multiple projects, or transition into management roles overseeing other designers. Opportunity to contribute to design operations strategy and team growth.
Cross-Functional Expertise: Develop strong partnerships with Product Management and Engineering, potentially leading to opportunities in Product Management or technical program management roles within Enterprise Tech.
Design System Contribution: Become a key contributor or lead for the enterprise design system, influencing design standards across Citi.

📝 Enhancement Note: The growth opportunities are framed to appeal to operations professionals by emphasizing domain expertise, process improvement leadership, and cross-functional impact within a large enterprise.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: This is an on-site role, implying a traditional office environment within Citi's London offices. These spaces are typically designed for collaboration, focused work, and client interactions. Office Location(s): London, England, United Kingdom. Specific office location details would typically be provided closer to an offer, but likely in a major business district. Workspace Context:

The workspace will likely be a modern office setting that supports collaboration through shared spaces, meeting rooms, and potentially open-plan desk areas.
Access to standard office technology, high-speed internet, and potentially specialized hardware for design work (e.g., high-resolution monitors).
Opportunities for direct interaction with UX researchers, product managers, engineers, and compliance SMEs within the same office or through integrated remote collaboration tools.
The environment will be professional and fast-paced, reflecting the demands of the financial services industry.

Work Schedule: The work schedule is full-time, on-site. While core hours are expected, the nature of enterprise technology work often involves periods of intense focus and collaboration, requiring flexibility to meet project deadlines and support global operations.

📝 Enhancement Note: The on-site requirement and professional office environment are typical for enterprise roles, aligning with the structured nature of operations. The emphasis on collaboration and access to technology is also relevant.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

Initial Screening: A recruiter or hiring manager will likely conduct an initial phone screen to assess basic qualifications, experience, and cultural fit.
Portfolio Review & Presentation: A key stage will involve presenting a portfolio showcasing relevant design work. This often includes discussing 1-2 case studies in detail, focusing on the design process, challenges, solutions, and outcomes. Expect questions about systems thinking, handling complexity, and collaboration.
Technical/Skills Assessment: This might involve a design exercise or a more in-depth discussion of design principles, tools (Figma), and methodologies. Questions may focus on how you approach ambiguous problems or design for regulated environments.
Stakeholder Interviews: Meetings with Product Managers, Engineering Leads, and potentially Compliance SMEs to assess collaboration skills, understanding of business/regulatory needs, and ability to influence stakeholders.
Final Interview: A final discussion, possibly with a senior leader within the UX or Technology group, to confirm fit and discuss overall career aspirations.

Portfolio Review Tips:

Curate for Relevance: Select 2-3 strong case studies that best showcase your experience with complex enterprise systems, data-intensive applications, or regulated environments. Highlight your role and contributions clearly.
Structure Your Narrative: For each case study, follow a clear story arc: the problem, your process (research, ideation, design, testing), the solution, and the impact (quantifiable if possible).
Emphasize Systems Thinking: Explicitly discuss how you approached the complexity of the system, designed for scalability, and considered the interconnectedness of different features or data points.
Showcase Figma Proficiency: Be prepared to navigate your Figma file during the interview, explaining your component structure, prototyping logic, and how you collaborate within the tool.
Focus on Outcomes: Articulate the results of your design work, whether it's improved user efficiency, reduced errors, better compliance adherence, or enhanced user satisfaction. Quantify where possible.
Prepare for "Why": Be ready to explain the rationale behind your design decisions, linking them back to user needs, business goals, and regulatory requirements.

Challenge Preparation:

Design Exercise: Be prepared for a hypothetical design challenge that might involve simplifying a complex workflow or designing a dashboard for a specific user type. Focus on your process, not just the final output.
Systems Thinking Challenge: You might be asked to break down a complex system or process and explain how you would approach designing for it.
Stakeholder Alignment: Practice articulating design decisions to different audiences (technical, business, compliance) and explaining how you manage conflicting priorities.

📝 Enhancement Note: This section provides actionable advice tailored to a design role but framed with an operational lens, emphasizing process, problem-solving, and stakeholder management—skills highly valued in operations.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

Figma: The primary tool for wireframing, prototyping, and high-fidelity design. Proficiency in component libraries, auto layout, and collaborative features is essential.
Design System: Familiarity with contributing to or working within established enterprise Design Systems to ensure consistency and scalability across applications.
Prototyping Tools: Beyond Figma, experience with other prototyping tools might be beneficial for specific use cases.
User Research Tools: Tools for conducting usability testing, user interviews, and surveys (e.g., UserTesting.com, Lookback, SurveyMonkey).

Analytics & Reporting:

While not a primary analyst role, understanding how to interpret user behavior analytics, A/B testing results, and operational performance metrics (e.g., task completion times, error rates in AML investigations) will be beneficial for data-informed design.

CRM & Automation:

While direct CRM experience isn't typically required for UX designers, an understanding of how user data is managed and how automation impacts workflows within enterprise systems (like case management for AML) is advantageous for designing integrated solutions.

📝 Enhancement Note: The focus on Figma and Design Systems is standard for UX. The mention of analytics and understanding operational metrics subtly connects the role to broader operational concerns.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

Efficiency & Accuracy: A strong emphasis on designing solutions that improve the efficiency and accuracy of critical operational processes like AML and sanctions screening.
Data-Driven Decision Making: Utilizing data from user research, analytics, and operational performance to inform design choices and demonstrate impact.
Collaboration & Partnership: Working effectively with diverse teams (Product, Engineering, Compliance) to achieve shared goals and deliver integrated solutions.
User Advocacy: Championing the needs of the end-users (investigators, analysts) to ensure the tools they use are intuitive, effective, and support their mission-critical work.
Compliance & Risk Mitigation: Understanding the importance of designing within regulatory frameworks and contributing to the company's efforts in financial crime prevention and risk management.

Collaboration Style:

Cross-functional Integration: Expect to be an integrated member of agile teams, participating in stand-ups, sprint planning, and retrospectives.
Process Review & Feedback: A culture that encourages open feedback on designs and processes, fostering continuous improvement through regular design critiques and collaborative sessions.
Knowledge Sharing: Encouraging the sharing of best practices, learnings, and design patterns within the UX team and across the broader technology organization.

📝 Enhancement Note: The values and collaboration style are framed to resonate with operations professionals, highlighting efficiency, data, and cross-functional teamwork, which are foundational to operational success.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

Complexity of Domain: Navigating the intricacies of AML, sanctions screening, and financial crime regulations requires continuous learning and a meticulous approach to design.
Data Density: Designing intuitive interfaces for large volumes of data and complex analytical tasks is an ongoing challenge that demands strong systems thinking and interaction design skills.
Stakeholder Alignment: Balancing the needs of various stakeholders—including compliance, technology, and end-users—can be demanding, requiring strong communication and negotiation skills.
Enterprise Scale: Adapting designs to fit within a large, established enterprise technology ecosystem, including adherence to existing design systems and technical constraints.
Ambiguity: Working on initiatives where requirements may evolve or be partially defined, requiring proactive problem-solving and the ability to create clarity.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

Domain Specialization: Gain deep expertise in financial crime compliance, a highly sought-after specialization within the financial industry.
Enterprise Design Systems: Contribute to and master the principles of designing for large-scale, complex enterprise applications.
Leadership and Mentorship: Opportunities to mentor junior designers and potentially lead design efforts for significant product areas.
Industry Exposure: Stay abreast of evolving regulations, fintech trends, and UX best practices in a dynamic sector.
Cross-Disciplinary Learning: Deepen understanding of product management, engineering processes, and compliance frameworks.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges and growth opportunities are presented with an eye toward the operational aspects of the role, highlighting skill development in complex, regulated environments and the potential for leadership in process-driven teams.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

Operations Strategy: "Describe a complex workflow you've designed for. How did you simplify it, and what operational efficiencies did your design aim to achieve?" Focus on process mapping, identifying bottlenecks, and how your design addressed them.
Collaboration & Stakeholder Management: "How do you ensure alignment between product, engineering, and compliance stakeholders on design direction, especially when requirements conflict?" Prepare examples of managing diverse stakeholder needs and driving consensus.
Problem-Solving: "Imagine you need to visualize complex, interconnected data for an investigator. What are your first steps, and what design patterns would you consider to make this data actionable and understandable?" Showcase your thought process for tackling data-intensive problems.

Company & Culture Questions:

Company Operations: "How do you see your role contributing to Citi's overall operational efficiency and compliance objectives in the AML/Sanctions space?" Research Citi's mission and how technology supports its compliance efforts.
Team Dynamics: "Describe your ideal collaboration model with product managers and engineers. How do you ensure effective communication and feedback loops?" Be ready to discuss your preferred teamwork styles and how you integrate with development cycles.
Impact Measurement: "How would you measure the success of your designs in terms of improving investigator productivity or reducing false positives in sanctions screening?" Prepare to discuss relevant UX metrics and how they tie to operational outcomes.

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

Process-First Narrative: For each case study, walk through your entire process chronologically, explaining why you made certain decisions at each stage, linking them to user needs and business objectives.
Figma Walkthrough: Be prepared to share your screen and navigate your Figma file. Highlight your use of components, design system adherence, and any clever solutions you implemented for complex interactions.
Quantify Impact: Wherever possible, present metrics that demonstrate the positive impact of your designs. This could be related to task completion time, error reduction, user satisfaction scores, or adoption rates.
Address Constraints: Discuss any technical, regulatory, or business constraints you faced and how you navigated them in your design process. This shows adaptability and problem-solving skills.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview preparation advice is highly targeted towards demonstrating operational thinking, process understanding, and the ability to articulate impact, which is critical for operations-focused roles.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Senior UX Designer position:

Visit the Citi careers portal and submit your application through the provided link.
Portfolio Customization: Tailor your portfolio to specifically highlight projects involving complex enterprise systems, data-driven workflows, or regulated environments. Showcase your skills in Figma and your ability to document your design process thoroughly.
Resume Optimization: Ensure your resume clearly articulates your experience with systems thinking, interaction design, and collaboration within cross-functional teams. Use keywords from the job description such as "AML," "Sanctions Screening," "enterprise-scale," "systems thinking," and "Figma." Quantify achievements where possible.
Interview Preparation: Practice presenting your portfolio case studies, focusing on your design process, problem-solving approach, and the operational impact of your work. Prepare to discuss how you handle ambiguity and collaborate with diverse stakeholders.
Company Research: Familiarize yourself with Citi's business, particularly its focus on technology and financial crime compliance. Understand the company's values and how your role contributes to its broader mission.

⚠️ Important Notice: This enhanced job description includes AI-generated insights and operations industry-standard assumptions. All details should be verified directly with the hiring organization before making application decisions.

Senior UX Designer – AML & Sanctions Technologies (Enterprise Tech) - VP