Financial Crime Compliance & Commercial Risk, Assistant Vice President

Crown Agents Bank is a vastly growing and regulated UK bank that connects emerging and frontier markets to the rest of the world, using FX and payments technology. We are transforming the way payments and FX move through emerging markets, reducing friction so that more money gets to those who need it. Emerging markets payments are usually challenging, expensive, unreliable and opaque. Our solutions help fix these pain points. Ultimately, we connect traditionally hard-to-reach regions to global financial infrastructure, giving access to the best prices and the fastest, most reliable settlement.

FX and cross-border payments are often complex and expensive, especially when operating in emerging markets. Crown Agents Bank (CAB) wraps its deep and trusted relationships and strength of network around innovative digital capabilities, and cross-border transaction banking solutions to enable fintech, corporates, governments, development organisations and banks to move money to, from, and across often hard-to-reach markets.

The Role

Crown Agents Bank (‘CAB’) is seeking a financial crime advisor to work across both the Risk & Compliance and Financial Markets & Banking departments. The role will require the candidate to support the development of the Financial Crime Compliance (FCC) annual risk-based assurance monitoring plan as well as demonstrate an in-depth knowledge of the financial crime risks present in areas such as correspondent banking, international money remittance and investment banking.

Role Responsibilities

• Acts as point of reference for relating to Assurance and demonstrate a good all-round technical knowledge on FCC programmes ensuring CABs programmes are aligned with changes and highest standards observed in the marketplace.
• Use understanding/knowledge to provide new ideas and solutions to current challenges relating to Assurance and proactively identify new tasks/methods that will add value.
• Conducting assurance of 1st line Operations, IT, Sales and Trading teams by undertaking assurance to ensure that financial crime policies and procedures are understood and applied as expected in line with regulatory expectations.
• Support the Business with client selection and retention in accordance with CABAIM’s Financial Crimes Risk Appetite and internal policies.
• Perform enhanced Client Risk Assessment reviews, either onsite or remotely, for existing and new bank and non-bank financial institution clients. Reviews involve detailed qualitative assessment of financial crime programmes and controls against CABAIM minimum standards, transaction data review, extensive report writing and well-reasoned risk-based and outcome-based decisions.
• Provide expert advice and guidance to the Business on complying with applicable financial crime prevention policies and procedures. Act as a point of contact for escalation of financial crime concerns including money laundering, sanctions violations, bribery, corruption and fraud.
• Stay up to date with international legal, regulatory and industry developments within the financial crimes space and ensure that the FCC programme updates and evolves in line with these changes.
• Prepare and deliver management information and report findings to senior management and at business forums.
• International travel will be required.

• Preferred: Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent; ICA and ACAMs qualifications or equivalent.
• French and/or Spanish proficiency.
• Willingness to conduct overseas business travel across emerging markets (at least 25%).
• Previous audit or assurance experience (inhouse or via consultancy).
• Broad financial crimes regulatory knowledge including international best practices for financial crime controls and correspondent banking.
• Working knowledge of JMLSG, FCA and Wolfsberg guidance.
• Exceptional written and oral communication skills; clear, well-reasoned and concise presentations for senior management, delivering on time to expectations. A writing sample may be requested.
• Attention to detail; experience in report writing, conducting gap analyses and transaction data review.
• Stakeholder management experience with a focus on interaction with the Business; an ability to balance risk management considerations and commercial factors through a dynamic and flexible approach.
• Proactive and entrepreneurial; using understanding and experience to take an innovative approach to introducing and enhancing reporting, controls and solutions to challenges.
• Desirable experience in correspondent banking, payments or mobile money products.
• Previous financial services, law enforcement, legal, consultancy, government or regulatory experience.
• Experience in client-facing projects; direct collaboration with prospective and existing clients, which may involve dealing with challenging situations.

• Hybrid working
• Contributory personal pension plan: - Minimum: Employee 2% and Employer 7%. Employer matches contributions in 1% increments to a maximum of: Employee 5% and Employer 10%
• Life Assurance – 4 times annual salary
• Group Income Protection
• Private Medical Insurance – this may include cover for partner and or children at company cost. Cover includes Optical, Dental and Audiology
• Discretionary Bonus
• Competitive Annual Leave
• 2 Volunteering Days
• Benefit Hub