Director, Financial Crime Analytics, Model Validation

Sun Life

Director of Financial Crime Analytics & Model Validation at Sun Life. Leading model validation efforts and regulatory compliance activities across global teams.

Posted 6/26/2026full-timeToronto • 🇨🇦 CanadaLead💰 CA$110,000 - CA$180,000 per yearWebsite

Tech Stack

Tools & technologies

PythonSQL

About the role

Key responsibilities & impact

Own the enterprise model governance framework for FC detection models
Lead independent validation across NS, TM, and CRR models
Assess conceptual soundness, data integrity, and model assumptions
Execute validation techniques (back-testing, sensitivity, benchmarking)
Evaluate key performance metrics (e.g., false positives, alert conversion)
Ensure alignment with global regulatory standards and model risk principles
Produce clear, defensible validation reports for senior management and regulators
Lead ongoing model calibration to reflect evolving financial crime risks
Optimize thresholds to balance detection effectiveness and efficiency
Establish model performance monitoring frameworks and KPIs/KRIs
Identify model drift, data issues, and emerging risk typologies
Recommend model enhancements, recalibration, or redevelopment
Oversee data sourcing, lineage, and controls supporting FC models
Define and enforce data quality standards (accuracy, completeness, timeliness)
Leverage analytics to identify model gaps and emerging risks
Ensure end-to-end traceability from data to model outputs
Promote advanced analytics (AI/ML) with strong explainability standards
Support adoption of model interpretability tools where appropriate
Act as primary lead for regulatory and audit interactions on FC models
Provide subject matter expertise on model validation practices
Support regulatory exams and remediation initiatives
Ensure findings are documented, prioritized, and tracked to closure
Define and evolve the FC model validation strategy and governance framework
Lead the roadmap for analytics and model validation capabilities
Present recommendations to executive governance forums (e.g., Model Committees)
Balance detection, operational impact, and regulatory expectations in decisions
Drive enterprise alignment across regions and stakeholders
Promote a culture of independence, challenge, and continuous improvement

Requirements

What you’ll need

10+ years in financial crime analytics, model validation, or model risk
Expertise across TM, sanctions screening, and risk scoring models
Advanced knowledge of statistical techniques, model validation methodologies, and performance metrics.
Deep understanding of regulatory expectations and audit defensibility
5+ years with hands-on experience with screening and transaction monitoring systems (e.g., Actimize, NetReveal, Firco)
Proficiency in analytics tools (Python, R, SQL, SAS)
Strong data governance and data quality knowledge
Proven ability to communicate complex models to executives and regulators
Strong judgment, stakeholder management, and influencing skills

Benefits

Comp & perks

Hybrid work environment
A friendly, collaborative, and inclusive culture
20 vacation days per year
Flexible Benefits from the day you join to meet the needs of you and your family
Pension, stock and savings programs to help build and enhance your future financial security
The opportunity to move along a variety of career paths with amazing networking potential
Access to our Global Learning Centre, available 24/7 for your learning needs
Wellness programs that support the three pillars of your health – mental, physical and financial

ATS Keywords

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Applicant Tracking System Keywords

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Hard Skills & Tools

model validationfinancial crime analyticsstatistical techniquesperformance metricsdata governancedata qualityscreening systemstransaction monitoring systemsanalytics toolsmodel risk

Soft Skills

communicationstakeholder managementinfluencingjudgmentindependencechallengecontinuous improvement