Head of Fraud, hybrid working based in Northern Home Counties, A background of both enforcement agencies and commercial roles is required. An Executive Compensation package is on offer. You must have the right to work in the UK.
We are recruiting an individual with significant experience in fraud risk management, investigations, or financial crime. Probably degree educated with proven leadership experience in building and managing teams. You will need strong knowledge of fraud typologies, AML, and regulatory frameworks, with experience in digital transformation and aligning fraud technologies. An analytical mindset with experience in fraud detection technologies, communicating with senior stakeholders about the value of solutions presented.
The Role
Leading a small team, the Head of Fraud will align the organisation's efforts to develop and lead the best-in-class fraud prevention, detection, and investigation strategy. The function is bank-wide, independent of business lines, and operates as the First Line of Defence owner of fraud risk. It has standing authority to act during live events, including instructing payment holds, account restrictions, and client contact, without seeking business-line consent. This role safeguards the business against internal and external fraud risks, ensures compliance with regulatory standards, and protects financial, reputational, and operational integrity. You will provide expert advice to the Executive Committee, Board and Stakeholders on mitigating fraudulent risk. A proven track record of designing defensive strategies, utilising statistical/econometric modelling, and deploying modern anti-fraud technologies. You will be someone who can engage across an organisation, recognised as the expert by your peers in the business.
Strategic Objectives
The mandate is operationalised through six objectives. Together, they describe what “good” looks like and how the function is judged.
Maintain a live threat picture
- The Bank has a current, prioritised view of the fraud and organised crime threats it faces, refreshed continuously and understood by ExCo and the Risk Committee
Detect fraud earlier
- Detection moves upstream from after-the-event discovery to interception while activity is in-flight, across payments, channels and internal processes.
Respond at the speed of the threat
- When fraud is identified, response is fast, coordinated and decisive, with one accountable owner during live events
Protect clients without unnecessary friction
- Clients are protected in a way that respects judgment and relationship, meeting Consumer Duty and APP obligations without defaulting to blunt or infantilising controls
Manage internal and process-enabled fraud risk
- Insider, contractor and process-enabled fraud risks are identified, actively controlled and investigated
Make the Bank smarter over time
- Every event and near-miss feeds back into better controls, training and policy. Lessons are codified and reused, not left with individuals
Scope/authority
The function covers three threat surfaces:
- Client fraud -impersonation, social engineering, APP fraud, account takeover and related attacks
- Internal fraud -Colleague or contractor-enabled fraud, abuse of access, payment manipulation
- Fraud against the Bank -supplier fraud, third‑party impersonation, reconnaissance and attempted process infiltration
The Person
- Significant experience in fraud risk management, investigations, or financial crime
- Proven leadership experience in building and managing teams
- Strong knowledge of fraud typologies, AML, and regulatory frameworks
- Experience in digital capabilities and aligning fraud technologies
- Analytical mindset with experience in fraud detection technologies
- Excellent stakeholder management and communication skills
- Experienced in delivering value at a senior leadership level
- A blended background of formal and commercial roles
Preferred education certification
- Degree in relevant Legal, LLB, Risk
- Chartered Security Professional (CSyP)
- Industry-recognised certification
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