Money Laundering Reporting Officer

About The Role

LOCATION: London, ENG
SALARY: £51,700 per year – estimate

We’re looking for an experienced MLRO to lead our UK AML/CTF and Sanctions Compliance function. You’ll serve as the firm’s Money Laundering Reporting Officer (SMF17) and primary point of contact for the FCA and other UK authorities, providing strong second-line oversight and ensuring our financial crime framework remains robust, forward-looking, and fully compliant with UK regulatory expectations.

This is a senior, high-impact role within a fast-growing fintech, suited to someone comfortable operating with autonomy, bringing deep technical expertise, and thriving in a fast-paced environment.

What you’ll do

• Lead, develop, and continuously enhance a risk-based AML/CTF and Sanctions programme aligned with UK financial crime legislation and FCA expectations.
• Act as MLRO (SMF17), with oversight of SARs, internal reporting processes, NCA engagement, and broader financial crime governance.
• Serve as the primary liaison with the FCA and other UK authorities on AML/CTF and sanctions matters, including supervisory reviews, information requests, and regulatory engagement.
• Provide clear and independent second-line oversight of AML/CTF and sanctions risk management, controls, monitoring, and assurance across the business.
• Deliver timely and effective reporting to the Board and senior management, ensuring clarity on risks, themes, issues, and emerging threats.
• Oversee AML/CTF risk assessments, gap analyses, policies, procedures, and governance frameworks, ensuring alignment with UK regulations (MLRs, POCA, OFSI, JMLSG).
• Manage internal and external audits, regulatory reviews, and thematic assessments to ensure high-quality outcomes.
• Build AML/CTF and sanctions awareness across the organisation through targeted training and ongoing engagement with first-line teams.
• Oversee the effectiveness of customer monitoring, sanctions screening, and suspicious activity reporting processes.
• Partner closely with fraud, risk, compliance, and product teams to strengthen financial crime controls and respond to evolving risks and regulatory expectations.
• Ensure appropriate oversight of any outsourced AML/CTF activities, in line with FCA requirements and internal outsourcing frameworks.
• Contribute to the continued development of the Three Lines of Defence model as the business scales.

What you’ll bring

• Extensive hands-on UK AML/CTF and sanctions experience within payments, e-money, card issuing/acquiring, or fintech.
• Strong working knowledge of UK financial crime requirements, including MLRs, POCA, OFSI, JMLSG guidance, and FCA expectations.
• Proven experience overseeing AML/CTF monitoring, assurance, SAR processes, and regulatory engagement with the FCA and NCA.
• A track record of building or leading end-to-end AML/CTF and sanctions frameworks in a regulated environment.
• Confident communication skills, with the ability to provide effective challenge to senior stakeholders.
• High levels of ownership, sound professional judgement, and the ability to operate autonomously.
• A proactive, detail-oriented mindset and a strong sense of accountability.