Director of Anti-Financial Crime and UK MLRO

About IFX Payments

We're an award-winning global provider of foreign exchange and payment solutions. At IFX, our mission is to become the number one service-led alternative banking partner in EMEA for corporates and Financial Institutions that add value beyond the transaction. We have one guiding principle: to Win. Properly.

What we offer

Everyone at IFX Payments has a meaningful and impactful role to play in helping us achieve that goal. We take pride in the quality of our work but balance that with the speed, intent, tenacity, and focus needed to win. We're a high-performance team who can trust each other as individuals to get the job done so we can be successful together.

Being part of IFX Payments, you'll receive every opportunity to thrive in your role to contribute to that success. We'll invest in you along the way to genuinely help you grow and take your career to new and exciting places. You'll work alongside experienced industry leaders, receive guidance from pioneering performance coaches and have the option to gain qualifications in your field that help you realise your ambitions. In exchange, we don't expect anything extra from you during your time here. We only ask you to do one thing: Make it count.

Benefits

• 25 days of annual leave + bank holidays and your birthday off.
• Pension auto-enrolment with salary sacrifice contributions.
• Healthcare cash plan including support for dental, physio and therapies.
• Discounts on fitness, cinema discounts, shopping, travel, entertainment and more!
• Life Insurance.
• Cycle to work.
• Nursery fees salary exchange.
• Employee Assistant Programme.
• Career progression with excellent training and development.
• Company events - Pub nights, sporting events, seasonal parties, socials.

Overview of the role

The Director of Financial Crime and UK MLRO is a critical leadership role within our organisation, responsible for overseeing the financial crime risk control framework. This position requires a strategic leader with extensive experience in financial crime compliance, adept at liaising with counterparty banks, stakeholders, and regulatory bodies. The ideal candidate will have oversight of the Financial Crime teams, ensuring the implementation of robust policies and controls to safeguard against financial crime and ensure compliance with regulatory requirements.

Responsibilities

1. Global SME: Act as the group SME for all Financial Crime matters, providing expertise and guidance to other group MLROs and Financial Crime staff.
2. Team Oversight: Lead and mentor high-performing Financial Crime teams and embed the IFX culture.
3. Training and Development: Ensure all relevant staff are adequately trained in money laundering and terrorist finance prevention, that the standards of training are appropriate and that records are kept. Ensure that all staff are aware of their personal obligations and the firm's policies and procedures and that the basis for the firm's risk-based approach is understood and applied.
4. Policy Implementation and Updating: Develop and maintain all policies and procedures related to financial crime, AML, ABC, and fraud prevention.
5. Regulatory Liaison and Reporting: Represent the firm to all external agencies, e.g. regulators or law enforcement agencies, and in any other third-party enquiries related to money laundering prevention, investigation or compliance.
6. Systems and Controls: Ensure that systems and controls are adequate and effective for IFX Payments, constantly reviewing and enhancing them to meet evolving regulatory and business needs.
7. Suspicious Activity Reporting: Oversee both internal and external suspicious activity reporting processes, ensuring timely and accurate reporting in compliance with legal obligations.
8. Risk Management: Develop and maintain a comprehensive risk management framework to identify, assess, and mitigate financial crime risks including maintenance of the FC risk assessment.
9. Stakeholder Engagement: Engage with senior management, external partners, and regulatory bodies to ensure alignment of financial crime strategies with business objectives and regulatory expectations.
10. Reporting: Provide management information as necessary to the CCO, the Board and the ARC, including an Annual Report each year for the Board and senior management on the firm's compliance with its obligations.
11. Assurance: Regularly review the effectiveness of money laundering compliance policies and procedures to prevent money laundering and counter the financing of terrorism. Make recommendations for action to remedy any deficiencies in policies, procedures, systems or controls and ensure remediation plans are in place.
12. Act as Nominated Officer and MLRO.

Requirements

• Experience: Extensive experience in financial crime compliance, AML, and fraud prevention, preferably in a senior role.
• Regulatory Knowledge: In-depth knowledge of financial crime regulations, including AML and FCA requirements. Familiarity with REP 17 and REP 18 reporting.
• Leadership Skills: Proven leadership and team management skills, with the ability to oversee multiple teams effectively and drive high performance.
• Strategic Thinking: Strong strategic thinking and planning abilities, with a focus on developing and implementing effective financial crime prevention strategies.
• Analytical and Investigative Skills: Exceptional analytical and investigative skills, with a history of effectively managing complex financial crime cases.
• Communication Skills: Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, capable of effectively liaising with various stakeholders and presenting complex information clearly.
• Problem-Solving: Strong problem-solving skills and the ability to think critically in high-pressure situations.
• Technical Proficiency: Proficiency in using relevant software and systems for financial crime detection and management.
• A true team player with a winning mentality and strong work ethic committed to continuous improvement and high performance.
• Adaptable, tenacious and flexible who is able to perform under pressure.

Diversity & Inclusion

We believe that diversity and inclusion are essential to our success. We are committed to fostering a culture where everyone feels valued and respected, regardless of their background, identity or experiences. By embracing diverse perspectives and promoting equity, we aim to create an environment where all employees can perform and reach their full potential.

Additional Information

- We work on a hybrid basis from our office in central London.
- You must be eligible to work in the UK to be considered for this position.
- Full background check will be carried out.