Head of Financial Crime Operations Transformation

Who you are

• Deep subject matter expertise in UK Financial Crime regulatory guidelines, MLRs, JMLSG, PEPs, and Sanctions
• Technical competency in understanding models, data, MI, statistical analysis, and operational workflows
• Proven track record of managing and transforming financial crime operations and risk frameworks within regulated banking
• Accountable, resilient, and customer-focused leadership style that role models Starling Group values and makes difficult decisions with full transparency
• Analytical mindset with the ability to champion simplicity across functions, encourage external input and disruptive thinking, and raise the bar for strategic performance
• Excellent communication and listening skills, creating a safe environment to share feedback, surface issues, and resolve conflicting requirements across functions

What the job involves

• Reporting to: Director of Specialist Banking Operations
• The Head of Financial Crime Operations Transformation holds accountability for Starling Bank’s financial crime interim operational delivery and transformation across multiple teams, including Anti-Money Laundering (AML), Counter-Terrorist Financing (CTF), Customer Due Diligence (CDD/EDD)
• As an Experienced People Leader (PL6) in the First Line of Defence, this role leads a team of senior professionals and team managers, influences the transformation of the strategic direction and ensures robust governance aligned with departmental strategy and the Bank's Risk Appetite
• Oversee the Operations transformation and operational delivery for AML, CTF, CDD, and EDD across customer segments in line with agreed SLAs
• Ensure alert handling and case reviews are responded to in a high-quality, timely manner, maintaining resourcing to handle workload demand and manage operational KPIs, OKRs, and KRIs
• Lead the continuous improvement of the control environment to focus teams on taking a risk-based approach and reducing false-positive alerts
• Maintain awareness of specific financial crime typologies unique to SME customers and partner closely with SME leadership and commercial teams to build, develop, and align financial crime capabilities and operating models specifically for SME customers
• Partner effectively across 2nd Line Risk, Compliance, Product, Engineering, and Data to embed new initiatives and regulatory updates
• Proactively identify opportunities to optimise processes, drive continuous improvements, and improve customer outcomes across Financial Crime Operations
• Deliver consistent communication across teams and engage with operational managers to create an empowered problem-solving culture
• Navigate complex organisational challenges, including change management, and resolve significant team or functional conflicts while making risk decisions with departmental impact

The application process

• Closing date: Friday, 17th November at 5pm

Benefits

• Time off: 25 days holiday, plus your birthday as an extra freebie. You can also opt out of bank holidays and take them when works for you!
• Health insurance: Private health insurance with Vitality Health, one of the UK's leading private medical insurers
• Pension scheme
• Paid volunteering leave: We encourage all our employees to give back. You can take up to 16 hours paid leave a year, specifically to help causes meaningful to you
• Gym & cycle to work schemes: We offer discounted gym memberships and cycle to work schemes through salary sacrifice
• Perkbox: For a wide range of retail, entertainment and leisure discounts (as well as cash back) at a huge variety of businesses