MLRO

Senior Compliance & Financial Crime Lead (MLRO)

Hammersmith, London (Office-based, 5 days/week)
£Competitive + Bonus + Benefits

The Opportunity

We're partnering with a well-established, profitable international payments business to hire a Senior Compliance & Financial Crime Lead who will operate as the MLRO and Compliance Officer for the organisation.

This is a critical, high-impact role where you'll take ownership of the financial crime framework, ensure regulatory compliance, and play a key part in supporting the company's continued international growth.

The business operates in the cross-border payments/remittance space, serving global customers and handling high-volume transactions across multiple jurisdictions.

Why This Role?

• Established & Profitable Business - Not a start-up. A trusted player with a strong reputation in international payments

• Meaningful Impact - Your work directly supports global communities and financial inclusion

• Growth & Expansion - Entering new markets and jurisdictions, creating real scope for influence

• Autonomy & Ownership - A key leadership hire with direct impact on compliance strategy

• Values-Driven Culture - Customer-first, fast-moving, and commercially aware

The Role

You will act as the MLRO and senior compliance lead, responsible for strengthening and managing the organisation's AML/CTF framework and broader compliance programme.

This role requires someone who can operate both strategically and hands-on, partnering with stakeholders across the business while maintaining robust regulatory standards.

Key Responsibilities

• Act as the primary point of contact for all financial crime and compliance matters

• Lead and enhance the AML/CTF framework, ensuring ongoing effectiveness

• Stay ahead of regulatory developments and advise the business on risks, trends, and changes

• Conduct financial crime risk assessments and deliver clear reporting to senior stakeholders

• Own and evolve the Compliance Monitoring Programme (including transaction monitoring tools)

• Oversee transaction surveillance and reporting, including SARs to the NCA

• Maintain and develop AML policies, procedures, and compliance documentation

• Contribute to the annual MLRO report and enterprise risk assessments

• Deliver training and promote a strong compliance culture across the business

• Support expansion into new jurisdictions, ensuring regulatory readiness

What We're Looking For

Essential

• Current or prior MLRO, Deputy MLRO, or Financial Crime Compliance Lead experience

• Registered as a PSD Individual (FCA) or Fit & Proper (HMRC)

• Strong experience within:

  • Money transfer/remittance

  • Payments/e-money institutions (EMIs)

• Deep understanding of:

  • UK & EU AML frameworks

  • Sanctions regimes

  • Financial crime risk in payments businesses

• Proven ability to translate complex regulation into practical business actions

Desirable

• Experience across multiple jurisdictions

• Exposure to scaling or expanding businesses

• Familiarity with transaction monitoring systems (eg Remittance platforms)

The Person

• Commercially aware, not just regulatory

• Confident advising senior stakeholders

• Hands-on and detail-oriented

• Comfortable operating in a growing, fast-paced environment

• Collaborative, pragmatic, and solutions-focused

Working Pattern & Benefits

• Hours: 9:00am - 6:00pm

• Location: Hammersmith (5 days in office)

• Discretionary annual bonus

• 25 days holiday + birthday off

• Pension (statutory)

• Laptop provided

Apply

If you're an experienced MLRO or Financial Crime leader looking for a role where you can truly shape compliance strategy within a growing international payments business, we'd love to hear from you.