Financial Crime Operations Manager

Deputy Manager - Financial Crime Operations

Location: London
Working Pattern: Fully Office Based
Salary: -65,000 - -70,000 per annum

We are currently seeking an experienced Deputy Manager - Financial Crime Operations to join a leading financial services organisation based in London.

This is a senior operational role within Financial Crime Operations, with responsibility for overseeing key areas including transaction screening, customer screening, transaction monitoring, KYC screening, fraud investigations and regulatory reporting.

The successful candidate will provide strong operational leadership, ensure high-quality financial crime investigations, support regulatory compliance, and develop a high-performing team in a fast-paced banking environment.

As Deputy Manager, you will manage and oversee the Financial Crime Operations function, ensuring that processes, investigations and escalations are completed accurately, efficiently and within agreed timescales.

You will work closely with senior stakeholders across Compliance, Risk, Operations, Technology and other business functions, while providing subject matter expertise and leadership to the Financial Crime Operations team.

Transaction & Customer Screening

• Lead the transaction and customer screening function, overseeing investigations into potential sanctions, money laundering and other financial crime risks.
• Conduct Level 2 reviews of transaction screening alerts and provide support for customer/name screening reviews.
• Ensure investigations are thorough, risk-based and completed within agreed turnaround times.
• Support and coach team members in identifying financial crime red flags and suspicious activity.
• Ensure timely and accurate escalation of potential suspicious activity and SARs to the MLRO.
• Maintain appropriate MI relating to alerts, investigations, escalations and SAR activity.
• Review and enhance transaction and customer screening procedures and process documentation.
• Act as a Financial Crime subject matter expert, providing guidance and training across the wider business.
• Support the implementation and optimisation of screening technology and systems.

Transaction Monitoring

• Manage the transaction monitoring function, overseeing investigations into potential money laundering and financial crime risks.
• Ensure effective workflows, procedures and controls are maintained.
• Review transaction monitoring scenarios and thresholds and make recommendations for improvements where appropriate.
• Identify opportunities to strengthen systems, processes and controls.
• Ensure suspicious activity is identified, investigated and escalated appropriately.
• Provide coaching and technical guidance to Transaction Monitoring Analysts.
• Maintain accurate MI and ensure timely escalation of relevant cases to the MLRO.
• Support the implementation of new AML systems and ongoing system optimisation.

KYC Screening

• Support the development and implementation of effective KYC screening systems and procedures.
• Establish clear roles and responsibilities across the wider Financial Crime Operations team.
• Monitor performance and provide regular management information.

Fraud Investigations & Reporting

• Oversee fraud investigation and reporting procedures.
• Coordinate with relevant departments and branches regarding suspected fraud incidents.
• Lead and coordinate fraud investigations and associated reporting.
• Manage CIFAS coordination and reporting requirements.
• Maintain appropriate fraud-related MI and reporting.

Leadership & Stakeholder Management

• Manage escalations and ensure issues are resolved promptly and effectively.
• Lead, coach and develop the Financial Crime Operations team to achieve performance and quality targets.
• Support employee development through training, coaching, role rotation and career development opportunities.
• Build strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders.
• Present findings and financial crime-related information to senior management and, where required, Board-level stakeholders.
• Participate in ad hoc projects and financial crime initiatives.
• Keep up to date with regulatory developments, emerging financial crime risks and industry best practice, ensuring relevant changes are communicated to the team.

We are looking for an experienced Financial Crime professional with strong operational leadership skills and a detailed understanding of AML, sanctions, transaction monitoring and financial crime controls within a banking environment.

You will ideally have:

• Significant experience within Financial Crime Operations, AML, Compliance or a related banking function.
• Strong knowledge of AML transaction monitoring and transaction screening.
• Experience managing or leading teams within a financial crime environment.
• Good knowledge of KYC, AML, sanctions and fraud regulations and processes.
• Experience investigating unusual or suspicious transactions and documenting clear, risk-based rationale.
• Strong understanding of a risk-based approach to AML and financial crime processes.
• Experience working with complex financial transactions.
• Good understanding of banking products and operations, including exposure to SWIFT operations.
• Strong knowledge of the regulatory environment, including relevant FCA, PRA and ICO requirements.
• Excellent analytical skills and a high level of attention to detail.
• The confidence and ability to communicate effectively with senior stakeholders and present findings to senior management/Board-level audiences.
• Strong interpersonal skills, including the ability to conduct investigative discussions and debrief colleagues effectively.
• Excellent organisational and problem-solving skills.
• Strong Microsoft Office skills.
• A collaborative approach, with the ability to work as part of a team while taking ownership of issues within your remit.

This role would suit an experienced Financial Crime Manager, Deputy Manager, Assistant Manager or Senior Financial Crime professional who is ready to take on broader operational responsibility and lead a multi-disciplinary Financial Crime Operations function.

You will be a confident people leader with the technical knowledge to challenge and improve existing processes, alongside the judgement required to manage complex financial crime investigations and escalations.

Salary: -65,000 - -70,000 per annum
Location: London
Working arrangement: Fully office based

If you are an experienced Financial Crime professional looking for a senior operational leadership opportunity within a banking environment, we would be keen to hear from you.