Senior Financial Crime Manager/Deputy MLRO

Summary

Join AJ Bell as a Senior Financial Crime Risk Manager / Deputy MLRO and play a key role in shaping and strengthening the financial crime framework across our investment platform and asset management business. This high-impact role involves leading strategy, oversight, and regulatory engagement. You will develop and maintain the financial crime risk management framework, conduct risk assessments, monitor financial crime risks, and ensure compliance with regulatory changes. The position requires extensive experience in financial crime risk management within a financial services environment, strong knowledge of relevant legislation and regulations, and excellent communication skills. AJ Bell offers a competitive salary and benefits package, including pension schemes, bonus schemes, health benefits, and professional development opportunities.

Requirements

• Extensive experience in financial crime risk management, ideally within an investment platform or similar FS environment
• Strong knowledge of financial crime legislation, regulatory frameworks, and industry best practices
• Excellent stakeholder engagement, influencing, and communication skills
• Relevant professional qualifications (e.g., ICA Diploma in Financial Crime Prevention, CAMS)
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to work under pressure and juggle priorities
• Integrity, discretion, and a commitment to high ethical standards

Responsibilities

• Develop, implement, and maintain the financial crime risk management framework
• Conduct and review risk assessments, ensuring appropriate controls are in place
• Monitor financial crime risks and report key findings to senior stakeholders
• Keep up to date with regulatory changes and ensure continued compliance
• Draft, review, and update financial crime policies and procedures
• Provide training and expert guidance across the business
• Offer challenge and oversight to first-line teams on financial crime practices
• Lead independent reviews and assessments to ensure control effectiveness
• Identify gaps and recommend enhancements to mitigate risk
• Serve as the go-to contact for financial crime matters within Risk & Compliance
• Liaise with regulators, law enforcement, and internal stakeholders as needed
• Foster collaboration with business units to embed a strong risk culture
• Use deep knowledge of financial crime (AML, market abuse, fraud, bribery, etc.) to identify risks
• Conduct thematic reviews and manage system optimisation and tuning for crime detection tools
• Produce and present insightful reports, dashboards, and MI to senior management and committees
• Ensure timely and accurate submission of financial crime-related regulatory reporting
• Align with Internal Audit and Compliance to support a joined-up approach to risk management

Benefits

• Competitive starting salary
• Starting holiday entitlement of 27 days, increasing up to 31 days with length of service and a holiday buy and sell scheme
• A choice of pension schemes with matched contributions up to 8%
• Discretionary bonus scheme
• Annual free share awards scheme
• Buy As You Earn (BAYE) Scheme
• Health Cash Plan – provided by SimplyHealth
• Private healthcare scheme and dental plan
• Free gym membership, with an on-site gym providing a wide range of free classes
• Employee Assistance Programme
• Bike loan scheme
• Sick pay+ pledge
• Enhanced maternity, paternity, and shared parental leave
• Discounted nursery fees at Kids Planet on Exchange Quay
• Loans for travel season tickets
• Death in service scheme
• Paid time off for volunteer work
• Charitable giving opportunities through salary sacrifice
• Calendar of social events, including monthly payday drinks, annual Christmas party, summer party and much more
• Parking at Exchange Quay (subject to availability)
• Ongoing technical training
• Professional qualification support
• Talent development programmes
• Peer recognition scheme, with rewards including restaurant and shopping vouchers or time off
• Monthly leadership breakfasts and lunches
• Hybrid working