Head of Financial Crime & MLRO (SMF17 Function Holder) Location: London, SE1 2PD About the Company: Currency Solutions is a global payments and risk management company based in central London. Being founded in 2003, we are proud to be one of the UK's leading FX companies and serving over 30,000 clients globally.We are seeking a Head of Financial Crime & MRLO with knowledge of the Financial Crime prevention requirements facing Authorised Payment Institutions (APIs) or E-money Institutions (EMIs), and with experience of working in a fast-paced business environment.The candidate will be acting as MLRO and will hold the Senior Management Function 17 position. Leading a team of three staff. Head of Financial Crime & MLRO Duties: Reporting directly to the CEO and working close with the Head of Compliance, the roles remit will firstly be to support and protect the business against Fraud and Money Laundering Risk, Internal Fraud, Security and related reputational risk and secondly to ensure a swift and effective detection of money laundering activity and embed anti money laundering legislation, rules and guidance throughout the business.You will be part of a team with members from a wide range of academic and professional backgrounds, such as law, accounting, sales, and trading. We look for those who possess sound judgment, curiosity, drive innovation, solve difficult problems, and finally you can adapt to a changing regulatory landscape.Currency Solutions is currently investing heavily in its AML/CTF framework and experience in testing, embedding and implementing new systems and controls is highly desirable.Key Responsibilities-Provide risk and Financial Crime compliance advice to the business and management on a range of regulatory issues, including process enhancements and controls and new product developments.Provide face to face training to all parts of the business, primarily first line of defence but ownership of the training requirements related to the financial crime in the firm overall. Provide advice mentoring and help train and manage junior members of the compliance team.Review and report SARs received and thereafter draft reports to the NCA, as required.Assist with delivering the ongoing Culture and Conduct Programme.Involvement in the ongoing assessment of client base, including periodic review of the customer risk assessment.Adapt and update governance frameworks, policies, procedures, and systems related to financial crime (for example the fraud prevention framework, and the client risk assessment model).Help oversee and monitor the implementation of the compliance program, including reviewing the compliance program from time to time, considering changes in the firm’s businesses and the law / regulatory requirements.Manage compliance and financial crime projects, including implementation of legislation / regulation (for example upcoming).Liaise with and report to the authorities and regulatory agencies, as required.Investigate, record and ensure timely and effective responses policy breaches, including developing the necessary corrective solutions.Assist the Compliance Monitoring and testing team in their design and testing.Work closely with technology and operations teams to identify and implement automated solutions to continually enhance compliance processes.Provide subject matter expertise in Screening provider and list configuration as well as day to day approvals ownership in cases of high-risk alerts.Ownership of the Financial Crime related risk and updating the CSL EWRA.Ownership of Fin Crime Management Information and active participation in thisProactive involvement in the governance framework with leadership in fin Crime related committees.Maintain and enhance the financial crime policies and procedures to ensure operational efficiency within the firm and promote business in a compliant way and undertake MLRO responsibilities such as the annual Risk Assessment and the MLRO report.The Head of Financial Crime & MLRO will support the business in the following areas:Deliver, manage and execution of ad hoc projects to ensure the correct implementation of new systems and controls.Regulatory Relationships / Engagement in collaboration with the Head of Regulatory Compliance (acting as a point of contact between the firm and all regulatory bodies)Regulatory Developments (Research and understanding changes in AML / CTF regulation)Policies and Procedures (develop, maintain, and review internal policies relating to AML / CTF and oversee the implementation of those policies)Training: (develop and deliver the required AML and Financial Crime training to the company’s staff)Governance / Providing Advice: (Act as an AML / CTF subject matter expert for the business and point of reference to address related queries)Reporting (in the filing of Suspicious Activity Reports (SARs) and subsequent actions.)Head of Financial Crime & MLRO Requirements:The ideal candidate will have 5 years compliance experience within the Financial Crime space ideally within a Money Service Business, Authorised Payment Institution or Electronic Money organisation.An existing Head of Compliance, MLRO or Deputy MLRO Professional looking to take the step up.Strong communicator and be able to effectively work across multiple teams and levels within the business.Experience in working within the Agile framework (Advantageous however not essential)Held MLRO responsibilities previously (SMF17 or CF11)Academic qualifications in Law or Compliance (Advantageous however not essential) Holding the professional certifications ICA or CAMS (Advantageous however not essential)Experience in Financial Crime compliance advice (Essential)Experience designing and Implementing Financial Crime FrameworksExperience reviewing and updating Financial Crime / AML PoliciesExperience working with the following: Money Laundering Regulations 2017, Proceeds of Crime Act 2002, Bribery Act 2010, Terrorism Act 2010, Fraud Act 2006, JMLGS guidance and EU MLDsExperience with international regulations and requirements in order to support the firm in its rapid expansion plans overseas.Personable, with ability to work well within a team environment and build relationships both within the team and with the other departments.Ability to deal with problems in a practical and common-sense way, and make sound decisions (commercial approach and understanding of issues facing the firm)If you think that you are suitable for this Head of Financial Crime & MLRO role, then please apply now!