Financial Crime Risk Lead
📍 West / North Yorkshire Border | Hybrid (2 days per week in the office)
Are you an experienced Financial Crime professional looking for a role where you can genuinely influence strategy, shape frameworks and work closely with senior leadership?
Our client is a purpose-led lender with a strong social and environmental mission. As a smaller organisation entering an exciting period of growth and evolution, this is a unique opportunity to join a business where your voice will be heard and your contribution will make a visible impact.
Reporting directly into the Chief Risk Officer, you'll enjoy short reporting lines, broad exposure across the business and the opportunity to work closely with senior stakeholders. This is a highly visible, multifaceted role offering excellent career development for someone looking to deepen their expertise within financial crime risk.
The Opportunity
As the Financial Crime Risk Lead, you will act as the organisation's subject matter expert across AML, KYC, Sanctions and Fraud, providing second line oversight, challenge and guidance to the wider business.
Key responsibilities will include:
• Owning and maintaining the Business Wide Financial Crime Risk Assessment
• Supporting the MLRO and acting as a trusted adviser across the business
• Reviewing and enhancing financial crime controls, frameworks and processes
• Developing and maintaining financial crime policies and procedures
• Conducting investigations and submitting Suspicious Activity Reports (SARs)
• Liaising with the National Crime Agency and other external bodies where required
• Producing insightful reporting for senior management and committees
• Delivering training and promoting a strong financial crime culture throughout the organisation
What We're Looking For
This role requires an established Financial Crime professional with experience operating within the second line of defence.
Essential requirements:
✔ Previous second line Financial Crime, AML or Financial Crime Risk experience
✔ Experience within a UK regulated lender
✔ Strong knowledge of AML, KYC, Sanctions and Fraud regulations
✔ Experience preparing and submitting SARs to the National Crime Agency
✔ Experience interacting with the NCA and other relevant authorities
✔ Experience developing, maintaining and enhancing financial crime policies and frameworks
✔ Experience producing Business Wide Financial Crime Risk Assessments
✔ Ability to engage, influence and challenge stakeholders at all levels
Highly desirable:
✔ Experience within a retail mortgage lender, building society or deposit-taking institution
✔ Relevant professional qualifications such as ICA or IRM
Why Apply?
• Join a values-driven lender making a positive difference through its lending activities
• Work directly with senior leadership and decision-makers
• Gain broad exposure across risk, compliance and financial crime disciplines
• Play a key role in a growing organisation where your impact will be visible
• Enjoy a collaborative culture with genuine opportunities for professional development
• Hybrid working with just 2 days per week in the office
For a confidential discussion, please get in touch.