Head of Compliance / MLRO (SMF16 / 17)

Head of Compliance / MLRO (SMF16/17)

City of London

(5 days in the office)

Permanent

£90,000 + bonus + pension

cer Financial are working alongside an international bank, who are based in the City of London. They are seeking a Head of Compliance / MLRO (SMF16/17) to work with them on a permanent basis.

THE ROLE:

• Lead the Bank's Compliance, Internal Controls, AML/MLRO, and Governance functions.
• Ensure all activities comply with FCA/PRA regulations, UK law, banking standards, and internal policies.

Key Regulatory Responsibilities

• Hold FCA Senior Management Functions:
• SMF16 - Compliance Oversight
• SMF17 - Money Laundering Reporting Officer (MLRO)
• Ensure compliance with SMR, SYSC, Conduct Rules, AML/CTF, and Anti-Bribery requirements.

Compliance

• Monitor regulatory compliance across the Bank.
• Develop and maintain compliance policies and monitoring programmes.
• Liaise with FCA, PRA, and other regulators.
• Investigate fraud, misconduct, and compliance breaches.
• Deliver compliance reporting and staff training.

Internal Controls

• Monitor operational controls and review transactions.
• Coordinate with Internal Audit and oversee audit follow-up actions.
• Report control issues and whistleblowing matters to senior management and the Board.

MLRO / Financial Crime

• Oversee AML and financial crime frameworks.
• Review suspicious activity and submit reports to authorities where required.
• Maintain AML policies, controls, and staff training.
• Act as the Bank's primary contact for AML-related regulatory matters.

Policy & Governance

• Monitor regulatory developments and governance requirements.
• Ensure policies and procedures remain current and effective.
• Support Board governance, committee oversight, and regulatory training.

Additional Responsibilities

• Secretary to the Audit & Risk Management Committee.
• Primary contact for FCA/PRA and liaison with Internal Audit.
• Voting member of Management, Credit, and ALCO Committees.
• Regularly report to the CEO, Board, and Audit & Risk Management Committee.

Overall Objective

• Provide independent oversight of compliance, governance, internal controls, and financial crime risk to protect the Bank and support regulatory compliance.