Head of Compliance & MLRO (SMF & SMF) in London - K-People Europe Limited

K-People Europe is a London based recruitment consultancy and we’ve been recruiting top talents for our clients in UK & Europe since 2007.

Our client, a reputable international bank located in the heart of City of London, is looking for a Head of Compliance & MLRO(SMF16 & SMF17).

The role requires a practical and proportionate approach to compliance and financial crime oversight, while ensuring that the Bank maintains an effective control framework, clear governance, appropriate documentation and robust evidence of oversight, challenge and remediation.

[Overview]

The post holder will be responsible for performing the Senior Management Functions of Compliance Oversight and Money Laundering Reporting Officer under the Senior Managers and Certification Regime(“SM&CR”), namely SMF16 and SMF17, subject to regulatory approval.

The post holder will provide independent oversight of the Bank’s regulatory compliance, AML/CTF, sanctions and wider financial crime framework. The role holder will also be responsible for maintaining, enhancing and embedding the Bank’s compliance governance arrangements, policies and procedures, compliance monitoring programme, regulatory reporting processes, Management Information(“MI”), audit trails and remediation tracking. The role will require both strategic oversight and hands-on execution, reflecting the Bank’s size, business model and governance structure. The post holder will work closely with the Board, the Audit & Risk Committee, senior management and relevant 1st line functions.

[Responsibilities]

(1) Compliance Oversight – SMF16

• Act as the Bank’s SMF16 Compliance Oversight function holder, subject to regulatory approval, and provide effective oversight of the Bank’s compliance with applicable FCA and PRA requirements.

• Develop, execute, maintain, review and enhance the Bank’s regulatory compliance framework, including the Compliance Manual, policies, procedures, regulatory obligations inventory, compliance monitoring framework and related governance documents.

• Prepare and deliver compliance Management Information (“MI”) and reports to the Board, the Audit & Risk Committee, senior management and other relevant governance committees.

(2) Financial Crime, AML/CTF and MLRO Responsibilities – SMF17

• Act as the Bank’s SMF17 Money Laundering Reporting Officer, subject to regulatory approval, and serve as the focal point for the Bank’s AML, counter-terrorist financing, sanctions and wider financial crime compliance activities.

• Develop, execute, maintain, review and enhance the Bank’s financial crime framework, including policies and procedures covering AML/CTF, sanctions, customer due diligence, enhanced due diligence, transaction monitoring, suspicious activity reporting, bribery and corruption, fraud and related controls.

• Review and challenge customer risk assessments, KYC files, enhanced due diligence cases, sanctions screening results and transaction monitoring alerts, particularly for higher-risk customers, counterparties, sectors or transactions.

• Report material financial crime risks, control weaknesses, suspicious activity matters and remediation progress to senior management, the Audit & Risk Committee and the Board.

(3) Data Protection Officer Responsibilities

• Act as the Bank’s Data Protection Officer (“DPO”), where formally appointed, and act as the main point of contact for data protection matters.

• Develop, execute, maintain, review and enhance the Bank’s data protection policies, procedures and control arrangements, including privacy notices, records of processing, data retention, data subject rights and personal data breach escalation.

(4) Wider Regulatory Responsibilities

• Support oversight of other relevant regulatory areas applicable to the Bank’s business model, including conduct risk, complaints handling, MiFID II, operational resilience, outsourcing, safeguarding, conflicts of interest and regulatory change management.

• Ensure that relevant regulatory responsibilities are clearly documented, allocated, monitored and reported through appropriate governance channels.

[Requirements]

(1) Must have 7+ years' experience within banks in UK with previous SMF16 & SMF17 approval.

(2) Strong knowledge of the UK regulatory framework, including FCA and PRA expectations, SM&CR, financial crime requirements, AML/CTF, sanctions, conduct risk and governance standards.

(3) Good understanding of corporate banking, wholesale banking, lending, securities investment, treasury or correspondent banking activities highly desirable.

(4) Experience in developing, maintaining and enhancing compliance and financial crime frameworks, policies, procedures, risk assessments and monitoring plans.

(5) Experience in managing or supporting regulatory remediation, audit findings, compliance reviews, assurance actions or regulatory change programmes.

(6) Strong Microsoft Office skills, including Word and Excel, for preparing reports, MI, action trackers, policies and governance documents.

(7) Ability to operate effectively in a small-bank environment where the role requires both strategic oversight and hands-on execution.

[Conditions]

(1) Job type: full-time & permanent

(2) Job location: City of London

(3) Working hours: 9am~5pm (including 1 hour lunch break)

(4) Salary: fully negotiable depending on experience

(5) Annual leave: 28 days (including 8 Bank/Public Holidays)

(6) Benefits: discretionary bonus, pension, medical insurance

[Before you apply]

(1) The right candidate must be able to commute to City of London regularly

(2) Please send your CV in MS Word format

(3) The right candidate must be eligible to work full-time in UK immediately without any restriction.

(4) ONLY right candidates will be contacted, and if your application is successful, we’ll contact you within 5 working days.