Client Onboarding Associate; Customer Verification - Mergers & Acquisitions, Business Escrows, and Corporate

Position: Client Onboarding Associate (Know Your Customer Verification - Mergers & Acquisitions, Business Escrows, and Corporate
Overview:

Join M&T Bank's Client Onboarding and Support Team (COAST) and play a critical role in protecting the bank while supporting complex Global Capital Markets and Institutional Services clients. As a Client Onboarding Associate, you will conduct detailed Know Your Customer (KYC) and account onboarding reviews to ensure new client relationships are established accurately, efficiently, and in full compliance with regulatory requirements.

This role serves as a key first line of defense for the bank, helping mitigate regulatory, operational, and reputational risk through thorough document review and due diligence. You'll gain exposure to a diverse portfolio of financial products and client structures, including mergers and acquisitions, corporate debt transactions, business escrows, complex trust relationships, and Global Capital Markets custody accounts. This is an excellent opportunity for individuals who thrive in a detail-oriented environment, enjoy problem-solving, and have an interest in banking operations, compliance, risk management, or financial services.

Primary Responsibilities:

* Perform comprehensive KYC, Customer Due Diligence (CDD), and client onboarding reviews to ensure all documentation is complete, accurate, and compliant with applicable regulatory requirements.

* Review account-opening documentation, validate signatures, dates, entity information, and ownership structures, and ensure all required information has been properly captured.

* Analyze client documentation and supporting materials to identify discrepancies, missing information, or potential compliance concerns.

* Open and maintain client accounts on bank systems while ensuring proper coding and setup of account information.

* Partner with internal business teams, relationship managers, and service partners to obtain required information and resolve documentation issues.

* Escalate complex, high-risk, or unusual situations as appropriate.

* Prioritize competing requests and manage workload effectively while meeting established service-level commitments.

* Support audits, regulatory reviews, and compliance-related initiatives by maintaining high standards of accuracy and documentation quality.

* Identify opportunities to improve processes, enhance controls, and strengthen the overall client onboarding experience.

* Maintain a strong understanding of applicable banking regulations, KYC requirements, and internal policies governing client onboarding activities.

What Makes This Role Unique:

* Serve as a critical first line of risk defense for the bank.

* Gain exposure to sophisticated financial products and transactions.

* Work with a broad range of client types, from corporate entities to complex trust and escrow structures.

* Develop valuable experience in KYC, regulatory compliance, client onboarding, and operational risk management.

* Build a strong foundation for future career growth within banking, operations, compliance, risk, and financial services.

Ideal Candidate:

* The ideal candidate is highly detail-oriented, naturally organized, and takes pride in producing accurate work.

* They are comfortable working independently, enjoy reviewing and validating information, and understand the importance of maintaining compliance in a regulated environment.

* They bring a strong sense of accountability and recognize that the quality of their work directly contributes to protecting the bank and delivering an exceptional client experience.

* Recent graduates with degrees in Business Administration, Accounting, Finance, Economics, Management, or related fields who have internship or prior work experience are encouraged to apply.

Education and Experience

Required:

* 5+ years' of combined higher education and/or work experience.

Education and Experience Preferred:

* Strong attention to detail with the ability to identify inconsistencies and potential risks.

* Ability to work independently and exercise sound judgment in a process-driven environment.

* Strong organizational, analytical, and problem-solving skills.

* Effective verbal and written communication skills.

* Experience in banking, financial services, branch banking, or operations environments.

* Knowledge of KYC, Customer Due Diligence (CDD), FinCEN requirements, compliance programs, audits, or regulatory review processes.

* Experience supporting client onboarding, account opening, or back-office banking operations.

* Background in accounting, bookkeeping, accounts payable, accounts receivable, financial operations, or similar detail-oriented financial functions.

* Understanding of financial products, client account structures, and regulatory compliance requirements.

* Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications, including Excel and Word.

Work Model & Office

Location:

* This is a hybrid role requiring four days per week in the office.

* Eligible candidates must live within reasonable commuting distance to 1100 North Market Street, Wilmington, DE 19801.

Required Availability:

* Monday-Friday, 10:00am-7:00pm (with a…