Director of Financial Crime and MLRO

Job Description

As the Director of Financial Crime and MLRO you will provide leadership and accountability for the organisation's financial crime framework, strategy and risk management activities across Anti-Money Laundering, Counter Terrorist Financing, sanctions, fraud and anti-bribery and corruption.  You will act as the designated MLRO, ensuring robust governance, regulatory compliance and effective controls that protect the organisation from financial crime, regulatory exposure and reputational harm.

You will also lead the development of a forward-looking financial crime strategy aligned to business objectives, regulatory expectations and risk appetite, while providing independent oversight, challenge and assurance to the Executive and Board.

As a Director of Financial Crime and MLRO we are looking for someone to:

• Define and lead the enterprise-wide Financial Crime Strategy and risk appetite framework 
• Act as the SMF 17 MLRO with accountability for the firms AML and financial crime control framework
• Provide expert advice and independent challenge to the Chief Risk Officer, the Board, Executive Committee and senior leadership on financial crime risks and regulatory developments
• Own the Financial Crime Risk Assessment framework, ensuring emerging and existing risks are identified, assessed, managed and reported
• Oversee AML, sanctions, fraud, anti-bribery and corruption, customer due diligence, enhanced due diligence and transaction monitoring programmes
• Lead regulatory engagement with the FCA, NCA, law enforcement agencies, auditors and other external stakeholders
• Sponsor and oversee financial crime transformation initiatives, ensuring systems, controls, data and technology remain effective and scalable
• Deliver Board and Committee reporting, management information and key risk indicators relating to financial crime exposure and control effectiveness
• Ensure robust advice, monitoring, assurance and testing programmes are in place and that remediation activities are delivered effectively
• Promote a strong financial crime culture through leadership, communication, training and accountability across the organisation
• Lead and develop a high-performing Financial Crime function, ensuring succession planning, capability development and talent management
• Represent the organisation externally and act as the senior thought leader on financial crime risks, trends and industry best practice
• Meet the expectations of the SMCR regime and in particular the SMF17 prescribed responsibilities
• Implement appropriate compliance and risk management, controls, processes, and procedures to deliver effectively and efficiently in the 2LOD Financial Crime function/processes.
• Ensure colleagues have the appropriate skills and knowledge to enable good performance now and in the future, supporting career development and succession planning across the firm.

Qualifications

Essential: 

• Must have held an SMF17 position in Financial Services
• 10 years in Financial Crime
• Experience working for a lender
• Extensive knowledge in AML Frameworks and strategy
• Demonstrates gravitas and delivers with impact

Additional Information

Together embraces diversity and inclusion, and are proud to be an equal opportunity workplace. Not only do we welcome difference – we celebrate it, support it and really value our colleagues for who they are. We are committed to building a team that represents a variety of backgrounds, perspectives and skills.

If you feel you'd benefit from any support or reasonable adjustments during any stage of the recruitment process, please don’t hesitate to let us know when completing your application. This information will be picked up by our team, so we can try and put steps in place to help you be at your best through this process.

Click here for more information on our Recruitment Process

Please note that all successful applicants will undergo relevant employment reference, financial and criminal record checks.

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