Position: Head of Financial Crime & MLRO

Our client is an established eCommerce business based in the West Midlands looking to recruit an MLRO into their Senior Leadership Team

Reporting directly to the board, you will lead their compliance and risk management functions, taking responsibility for maintaining and improving compliance frameworks and embedding a culture of compliance across the company. As the appointed Money Laundering Reporting Officer (MLRO), you will be responsible for ensuring the business operates in full alignment with UK and international money laundering regulations.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead and continuously develop the compliance function, ensuring alignment with UK and international regulations.
• Act as the Money Laundering Reporting Officer (MLRO), ensuring full compliance with relevant money laundering laws, including the filing of Suspicious Activity Reports (SARs) when necessary.
• Maintain, enhance, and enforce the business’s Anti-Money Laundering (AML) and Know Your Customer (KYC) due diligence policies, ensuring they are robust and up-to-date.
• Manage and mentor the compliance team, overseeing their personal development and ensuring the team is well-equipped to support the wider business in all compliance matters.
• Oversee the client onboarding process, ensuring all KYC and AML procedures are followed, and sign off on escalated cases that require additional scrutiny.
• Drive a culture of compliance across the business by delivering training and providing advice and guidance to other departments on risk and regulatory requirements.
• Evaluate existing compliance frameworks, making recommendations for improvements, and ensuring that all regulatory policies are documented, communicated, and properly implemented.
• Conduct regular internal compliance reviews, audits, and risk assessments to ensure that business operations align with legal standards and best practices.
• Act as the primary point of contact with third-party stakeholders, including the FCA, financial institutions, and law enforcement agencies, managing these relationships professionally and effectively.
• Regularly review and update compliance policies to reflect any changes in UK and international legislation, ensuring the business remains proactive in its compliance efforts.
• Work closely with senior leadership to provide regular reports on compliance and risk management activities, as well as offer strategic input on compliance-related issues.

Essential Requirements:

• Extensive professional experience in a senior compliance or risk management role, ideally within a financial services or eCommerce setting, with a deep understanding of UK regulatory requirements.
• Strong knowledge and experience in Anti-Money Laundering (AML), Know Your Customer (KYC), and financial crime prevention measures.
• Experience in a leadership capacity, managing a compliance team, and driving strategic compliance initiatives.
• A solid grasp of UK financial regulations and reporting, including SAR filing, PEP and sanction screening, fraud prevention, and regulatory frameworks such as FCA requirements.
• While prior experience as an MLRO is desirable, experience as a Deputy MLRO or similar senior compliance role will also be considered.
• Familiarity with European and international regulatory frameworks and markets, particularly in regard to AML and financial crime compliance, would be advantageous but not essential.
• Exceptional interpersonal skills, with the ability to build strong relationships across all levels of the business, as well as with external regulatory bodies and third-party stakeholders.
• A proactive and organised approach, with a strong ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced, high-pressure environment.
• Demonstrated experience in developing and implementing compliance policies and frameworks that are scalable as the business grows.
• A strategic thinker, able to identify and mitigate potential risks while ensuring the company remains fully compliant with all relevant regulations.