Assistant Manager - Financial Crime Operations

Location: Harrow
Salary: 40,000 per annum
Contract: Full-Time, 11-12 Month Fixed Term Contract
Department: Financial Crime Operations
Reports to: Manager - Financial Crime Operations

We are seeking an experienced Assistant Manager - Financial Crime Operations to join our Financial Crime Operations team on an 11-12 month fixed-term contract. This is a crucial role for a professional with a strong Anti-Financial Crime (AFC) background and expertise across Sanctions Compliance, AML, CDD, Name Screening, Transaction Monitoring, and APP Fraud Prevention.

You will support the effective running of the Financial Crime Operations department, ensuring the timely execution of all AFC processes and safeguarding the organisation against financial crime risk. This includes overseeing payment screening, fraud prevention activities, transaction monitoring, and CDD reviews while ensuring full compliance with UK regulations.

• Manage the Financial Crime Operations team, ensuring timely handling of alerts and fraud tickets.

• Provide guidance, mentoring, and ongoing support to associates.

• Act as deputy to the Manager - Financial Crime Operations when required.

• Oversee all sanctions and name screening across onboarding, periodic reviews, and payments.

• Manage real-time live payment screening processes and escalate potential sanctions or suspicious activity.

• Review sanction and high-risk payment alerts, ensuring full documentation.

• Maintain and update the Screening Process Manual in line with regulatory standards.

• Oversee transaction monitoring alerts, ensuring timely investigation and escalation.

• Review scenarios, thresholds, and suggest enhancements to improve detection.

• Support fraud monitoring controls and APP fraud prevention initiatives.

• Collaborate with Fraud Operations and Customer Services to resolve suspected fraudulent cases.

• Support the review of onboarding and CDD files for high-risk customers.

• Participate in ongoing monitoring, ensuring AML/CTF compliance.

• Provide feedback to onboarding and compliance teams.

• Review screening and monitoring systems, recommending enhancements.

• Liaise with IT and system vendors on upgrades and model changes.

• Maintain MI dashboards tracking alerts, productivity, and escalations.

• Prepare reports for Manager - FCO, MLRO, Committees, and Board meetings.

• Draft internal updates on emerging risks and regulatory changes.

• Participate in audits, regulatory reviews, and cross-functional projects.

• Support initiatives to strengthen the organisation's AFC framework.

• Strong understanding of UK Sanctions, AML, CTF, APP Fraud and related FCA/PRA/OFSI/NCA/ICO regulatory requirements.

• Experience with financial crime systems including sanctions screening and transaction monitoring tools.

• Practical knowledge of retail banking products.

• Strong analytical skills with experience identifying suspicious activity and red flags.

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with experience preparing reports for senior management.

• Knowledge of risk-based approaches to AFC processes.

Internal: Branches, Payments, Operations, KYC Review Units, Account Opening, Credit, Legal, Compliance, Risk, IT (UK & India).
External: Regulators, auditors, consultants, system vendors, correspondent banks, and law enforcement agencies.

• Strong leadership ability with excellent analytical and problem-solving skills.

• Effective communicator, able to present findings confidently to senior leadership and Committees.

• Strong interpersonal skills, particularly when conducting interviews and internal investigations.

• Proficient in MS Office and familiar with analytical tools used in AFC.

• A collaborative team player with the flexibility to manage competing priorities.