Financial Crime Operations Lead in Birmingham

We are looking for a Financial Crime Operations Lead to join our team!

About Unity Trust Bank plc

Unity is a specialist business bank with a difference. Unity supports SMEs and organisations that share its values in wanting to contribute to positive economic, social and environmental change. We operate throughout the UK, with offices in Birmingham, London and Manchester.

For over 37 years the bank has worked with organisations and SMEs that share its values and philosophy, offering a full range of banking services including current accounts, savings accounts, and loans.

Independent since December 2015, its purpose is to help create a better society, not just maximise profit. Unity’s focus on its customers, employees, and the communities it serves is what sets it apart and allows it to deliver on the bank’s ‘Double Bottom Line’ strategy through volunteering, education and fundraising.

As we look to grow our reach further, Unity, our people and our customers, are committed to helping to create a better society for all.

Unity is a Real Living Wage employer, a Fair Tax Mark business, a Women In Finance Charter signatory, member of the Banking Standards Board and currently holds the Investors in People Gold standard.

The role

Reporting to the Head of Financial Crime, the role holder will lead the Financial Crime Operations team, within the Customer Fulfilment function sitting in the First Line. The role holder will be responsible for implementation and execution of the Banks Financial Crime framework including but not limited to, Anti Money Laundering (AML), Counter Terrorist Financing (CTF), Sanction compliance & Fraud Standards, Customer Due Diligence (CDD), Know your customer (KYC) and Anti bribery and corruption (ABC) , delivery of training and awareness initiatives and provision of 1st line advice and guidance of Financial Crime matters.

Some of your responsibilities will include:

• Be responsible for the day-to-day management of the Financial Crime 1LOD Operation, ensuring that pre-defined service levels are met, operational issues resolved or where appropriate, escalated.
• Provide input to policies and suggest policy enhancements whilst identifying MI reporting requirements for critical Financial Crime metrics to continuously build on the banks Financial Crime defence position within the 1st line, working closely and collaboratively with the 2nd line policy owners.
• Support and maintain development of key risk indicators to support the Banks’ Financial Crime risk appetite, working with 2nd line to operationalise the risk appetite monitoring and reporting on compliance.
• Support in the creation and mapping of Financial Crime Data requirements and needs e.g. ensuring a list of key data fields essential to Financial Crime processes are collated and maintained, the purpose of this responsibility is to make sure there is 100% clarity on essential data to support Financial Crime processes.
• Provide input and guidance to the 1st line business units for the Financial Crime Business Wide Risk Assessment
• Support the Head of Financial Crime with the creation and execution of industry standard quality assurance frameworks to regularly assess the Banks position on Financial Crime and understand by gap analysis further required scope of activities required for delivery. This role will work closely with other Heads of departments and the Executive.
• Be required to write professional briefings/papers to governance committees at Executive and Board level with the banks current state of play and provide clear plans further enhance Financial Crime Operations
• Work closely with the DMLRO & MLRO providing status updates and briefing progress on new regulatory developments and Financial Crime enhancements.
• Have line management responsibilities for the Financial Crime team, responsible for the performance delivery and performance management and development of this team, providing coaching and continuous improvements with overall accountability on the delivery outputs in Financial Crime projects or workstreams.
• Conduct horizon scanning, support on change and innovation for Financial Crime projects and regulatory changes now and in the future, understanding FCA requirements and expectations within Financial Crime
• Ensure the reporting and investigation of suspicious activity reporting liaising with the MLRO/DMLRO.

The person

We are keen to hear from experienced Financial Crime Operations Lead’s who can work collaboratively and have the following skills:

Professional qualifications

Banking qualifications (D)

Financial Crime qualifications (E)

Knowledge requirements

Operational knowledge of bank processes and key regulatory/legal issues (E)

Banking technology, payment systems and processes, telephony etc (E)

Extensive experience leading and delivering SME Financial Crime teams and frameworks including compliance requirements and expectations (ideally within commercial banking) (E)

Extensive people leadership and presentation skills (D)

High levels of analytical skills (E)

Good communication skills (E)

Numeracy (E)

(E = essential D= desirable)

The role will be Birmingham based.