AML Director

Overview: An exciting and rare opportunity has arisen for an experienced Financial Crime Compliance professional to lead and enhance the financial crime framework within a well-established financial services organisation operating in the UK market. This role involves working closely with key stakeholders across compliance, legal, and risk management functions to ensure regulatory adherence and effective risk mitigation strategies. Initially this will be a 12-month FTC with the opportunity to extend/ transition to permanent.

Key Responsibilities:

- Develop, implement, and continuously enhance the Financial Crime Framework to manage regulatory risks effectively.

- Advise senior management, Board, and relevant committees on financial crime risk management, ensuring awareness of risk controls, compliance measures, and resource requirements.

- Oversee financial crime risk assessments, regulatory filings, alert monitoring, and mitigation strategies, escalating issues where necessary.

- Ensure alignment with global financial crime policies and procedures while addressing local market requirements.

- Identify and implement necessary changes to financial crime processes in response to evolving regulations, industry best practices, and regulatory guidance.

- Act as the subject matter expert on financial crime compliance, providing advisory support across business lines, partnerships, and product developments.

- Lead and manage a team of compliance professionals, overseeing due diligence processes, sanctions screening, and suspicious activity reporting.

- Develop and execute financial crime training programs to promote a culture of compliance and accountability.

- Conduct and oversee the local Money Laundering Risk Assessment, ensuring that appropriate action plans address identified weaknesses.

- Maintain and update all relevant financial crime policies and procedures.

- Manage internal audits and regulatory examinations related to financial crime, ensuring timely resolution of any findings.

- Prepare and present the annual MLRO report to senior stakeholders and governance bodies.

Required Skills & Experience:

- Extensive leadership and people management experience.

- Strong background in AML, sanctions, and anti-bribery & corruption within financial services.

- Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to influence at senior levels.

- In-depth knowledge of financial crime compliance in an international context, particularly within the UK regulatory framework.

- Strong operational expertise in developing and maintaining compliance programs, including risk assessments and governance structures.

- Proficiency in preparing MLRO reports and ensuring risk escalation to governance bodies.

This role offers a unique opportunity to join as a senior leader and drive financial crime compliance within a dynamic financial services environment. If you have the expertise and leadership experience required for this position, we encourage you to apply.