Group Economic Crime Director & MLRO

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The Group Economic Crime Director is the Head of Connells 'Group Economic Crime' (GEC) function and is part of the Risk & Compliance senior leadership team reporting directly to the Connells Group Chief Risk Officer.

The Group Economic Crime Director will hold MLRO/SMF
17 responsibilities for the FCA Regulated entities within Connells and be the registered senior manager for Economic Crime for the purposes of HMRC supervision. They are responsible for the design and effective operation of Connells' economic crime risk management framework covering all relevant risk types, and across all businesses and branches across the Connells Group.

• Design and oversee the target operating model for managing economic crime; for providing overall leadership, strategic direction and ongoing management of the 2nd Line Group Economic Crime team, including making prioritisation decisions, approving budgets and leading ad-hoc projects as required.
• Oversee the 1st Line of Defence, including performing necessary 2nd Line Quality Assurance over the activities they perform with respect to economic crime systems and controls.
• Design and delivery of Sanctions, AML, Fraud, ABC and Facilitation of Tax Evasion Risk Assessment, including identifying new and emerging threats and risks, and making sure that the business implements appropriate controls to manage those risks.
• Provide advice, guidance and challenge to all departments in relation to economic crime risks. Ensure that the 1st line have controls in place to risk assess new customers, products, and services for economic crime purposes.
• HMRC, FCA and OFSI relationship management regarding economic crime, including required reporting
• Preparing and submitting timely and accurate management information and reports (including the Annual MLRO Report) to senior management and relevant governance fora, ensuring that they have a clear and representative view of economic crime risks and issues; provide group-wide intelligence and reporting on crime threats, typologies, and emerging risks to senior leaders and the Board.
• Assisting in setting the Connells Group economic crime risk appetite, liaising with relevant stakeholders and illustrating relevant factors for consideration; responsible for ensuring the right mechanisms are in place to monitor the Groups' adherence to appetite.
• Manage the Group Economic Crime team, driving a high-performance culture and ensuring a continual assessment of resource capacity and competence, including regular performance reviews and ongoing development plans; increase capability and build a strong risk-aware culture.
• Oversee and conduct high-profile special investigations (e.g., fraud, money laundering, and insider threats). Collaborate with IT, Data, Enterprise Risk, Compliance, HR and Legal teams for holistic prevention, detection, investigation, and remediation.

• Previous experience operating as an MLRO with substantial experience at senior leadership-level of overseeing financial crime processes and procedures in a regulated financial institution.
• Experienced in developing and managing high-performing teams, fostering talent and promoting diversity.
• Excellent interpersonal skills; ability to communicate, support, influence and challenge at all levels of the organisation
• Ideally an International Compliance Association (ICA) qualification in a field specific to economic crime prevention, or equivalent
• Extensive practical knowledge and experience of drafting, implementing and rolling out risk management and compliance plans, frameworks and policies driving continuous improvement in efficiency and risk management knowledge
• Significant experience in team leadership and management