MLRO – London

Job Description

On behalf of our client, a UK FCA-regulated Electronic Money Institution, we are seeking a practical, commercially aware, and proactive compliance professional to take ownership of the company’s financial crime and AML framework.

This opportunity may suit either an experienced MLRO or a strong Compliance, Risk, Financial Crime, or Regulatory Compliance professional looking to step into a formal MLRO position. The key requirement is not simply previous job title, but strong practical experience, sound judgement, accountability, and the ability to operate effectively within a regulated financial services environment.

The successful candidate will play a key role in protecting the company’s licence, reputation, and operational resilience, while ensuring compliance supports the business in a structured, risk-based, and commercially sensible manner.

This is a hands-on position requiring a strong understanding of AML/CTF controls, transaction monitoring, governance, regulatory expectations, investigations, and cross-functional collaboration.

Key Responsibilities

Regulatory Oversight & Financial Crime Framework

• Support and oversee the company’s AML/CTF and financial crime compliance framework in line with UK regulatory requirements and FCA expectations.
• Maintain, develop, and improve AML/CTF policies, procedures, controls, and governance processes.
• Act as a key point of contact for AML and financial crime matters internally and, where applicable, with external advisers, auditors, and regulatory stakeholders.
• Monitor regulatory developments and translate them into practical internal actions.
• Support the business in maintaining a strong compliance culture without creating unnecessary operational barriers.

SARs, Escalations & Investigations

• Manage internal suspicious activity escalation processes.
• Review, assess, and document financial crime concerns, red flags, and unusual activity.
• Prepare and submit Suspicious Activity Reports (SARs) to the National Crime Agency where required.
• Maintain accurate records for all decisions, escalations, investigations, and outcomes.
• Work closely with internal teams to ensure issues are handled efficiently and appropriately.

Risk Management & Controls

• Support business-wide financial crime risk assessments across customers, products, jurisdictions, transactions, and delivery channels.
• Improve the company’s risk-based approach to onboarding, monitoring, and ongoing client review.
• Identify gaps in controls, processes, or documentation and implement practical improvements.
• Support AML, onboarding, monitoring, governance, and regulatory readiness initiatives.
• Ensure controls are properly embedded and followed across the business.

Transaction Monitoring & Operational Oversight

• Oversee the effectiveness of transaction monitoring processes, alerts, thresholds, and typologies.
• Work closely with Operations, Compliance, Risk, Product, and Technology teams to improve monitoring logic and escalation procedures.
• Review complex or high-risk cases and ensure clear documentation and decision-making.
• Support improvements in systems, reporting, dashboards, and management information.
• Ensure monitoring frameworks remain proportionate and aligned with the company’s risk profile.

Business Support & Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Advise the business on onboarding, new products, jurisdictions, operational changes, and associated risks.
• Work closely with senior management to ensure compliance is embedded into business decisions from an early stage.
• Collaborate with Group Compliance and related entities where relevant.
• Support governance forums and provide clear reporting on AML and financial crime matters.
• Bring a practical and solution-oriented mindset to regulatory and operational challenges.

Training, Culture & Awareness

• Deliver AML/CTF and financial crime training across relevant departments.
• Prepare annual training plans and knowledge assessments where appropriate.
• Ensure employees understand escalation procedures, red flags, and regulatory responsibilities.
• Promote a culture of accountability and proactive financial crime awareness across the business.

Governance, Documentation & Reporting

• Maintain accurate records of AML/CTF activities, investigations, risk assessments, and governance actions.
• Prepare management information and reporting for senior leadership and governance meetings.
• Support regulatory audits, reviews, and internal assessments.
• Ensure policies, procedures, and registers remain accurate and reflective of business operations.
• Help create structure, visibility, and accountability across financial crime processes.

Skills & Experience

• 10+ years of experience within Compliance, Risk, Financial Crime, AML, Regulatory Compliance, or a related function within financial services.
• Experience within an EMI, PI, fintech, payments, banking, crypto, or regulated financial services environment is highly preferred.
• Previous MLRO experience is advantageous but not essential.
• Strong practical understanding of AML/CTF controls, customer due diligence, enhanced due diligence, transaction monitoring, suspicious activity escalation, and governance frameworks.
• Familiarity with UK FCA expectations and UK financial crime regulations is strongly preferred.
• Strong documentation, investigation, analytical, and decision-making skills.
• Ability to work effectively with senior management, operational teams, compliance teams, and external stakeholders.
• Comfortable improving processes and building structure within a growing regulated business.
• Excellent communication skills and strong command of English.
• High level of ownership, integrity, accountability, and professional judgement.

Profile We Are Looking For

We are looking for someone who is ready to step into a highly responsible role and grow within a regulated environment.

The ideal candidate does not necessarily need to have previously held the MLRO title but must possess strong practical compliance, risk, or financial crime experience and understand how effective controls operate in real-world regulated businesses.

The successful individual will be hands-on, commercially aware, calm under pressure, structured in their approach, and confident enough to challenge where necessary — while still supporting the business in achieving its commercial objectives responsibly and compliantly.