Head of Financial Crime Compliance

We are seeking an experienced and motivated financial crime professional to lead our Financial Crime Compliance function and undertake the role of Money Laundering Reporting Officer, where appointed and approved.

This is a senior leadership role with responsibility for the Bank’s Financial Crime Risk Management Framework, covering AML, CFT, CPF, ABC, sanctions and fraud. The successful candidate will play a key role in protecting the Bank, maintaining an effective financial crime control environment, supporting sustainable growth and ensuring compliance with applicable regulatory obligations.

The role combines financial crime risk stewardship, regulatory engagement, governance, Board and Committee reporting, and leadership of a specialist Financial Crime Compliance team.

You are an experienced financial crime professional looking for the opportunity to lead a strategically important function within a growing standalone bank where your expertise, judgement and leadership can make a visible difference.

You may already be operating as a Head of Financial Crime Compliance, MLRO or senior financial crime leader within a bank or regulated financial institution. Equally, you may be an experienced Deputy MLRO or senior financial crime specialist ready to take the next step into a broader leadership role with responsibility for risk stewardship, governance, regulatory engagement and management of a specialist Financial Crime Compliance function.

You are comfortable engaging with Executive Management, Board Committees, regulators and law enforcement agencies, providing independent challenge whilst supporting the business in achieving its strategic objectives within the Bank’s risk appetite.

Most importantly, you are committed to maintaining high regulatory standards, protecting the integrity of the financial system and developing a strong financial crime culture across the organisation.

• Serve as the Bank’s designated Risk Steward in the second line of defence (“2
  
  LoD”) for AML, CFT, CPF, ABC, sanctions and fraud (together Financial Crime, “FC”) Risk, maintaining oversight of the FC risk profile, control environment, risk appetite adherence, emerging risks, remediation activities and associated management information.
• Own and maintain the Bank’s Financial Crime Risk Management Framework (“FC RMF”), including FC policies, procedures, controls, systems, methodologies and governance arrangements, ensuring they remain risk-based, proportionate, effective and subject to periodic review.
• Lead and develop the Financial Crime Compliance (“FCC”) Team, including the Deputy MLRO, ensuring appropriate capability, capacity, succession planning, performance, development and regulatory competence.
• Provide independent 2
  
  LoD oversight, challenge and advisory support in relation to FC risks and controls, ensuring business strategy and execution remain consistent with the Bank’s risk appetite, regulatory obligations and internal policies.
• Oversee customer risk assessment, customer risk categorisation, PEP management, trigger events, EDD, sanctions screening, customer screening, transaction monitoring and High‑Risk Committee (“HRC”) approvals as Chair of the HRC.
• Act as MLRO, where appointed, including assessment of ISARs, determination of external reporting obligations, maintenance of defensible records and independent discharge of statutory responsibilities.
• Report on the effectiveness of the FC RMF to senior management, Committees and the Board, including material risks, breaches, incidents, control weaknesses, remediation activities and required management actions.
• Liaise with regulators, law enforcement agencies and other competent authorities in relation to FC, fiscal transparency, judicial and criminal matters.
• Promote a strong financial crime culture across the Bank, supporting clear 1
  
  LoD ownership of financial crime risks and controls

• Significant experience within Financial Crime, Compliance, Risk Management, AML/CFT or a related function within the banking or financial services sector.
• Strong knowledge of AML, CFT, CPF, sanctions, ABC, fraud risk management and wider financial crime…