Regional Head of Financial Crime Operations

Hello, we’re Starling. We built a new kind of bank because we knew technology had the power to help people save, spend and manage their money in a new and transformative way. We’re a fully licensed UK bank with the culture and spirit of a fast-moving, disruptive tech company. We’re a bank, but better: fairer, easier to use and designed to demystify money for everyone. We employ more than 3,000 people across our London, Southampton, Cardiff and Manchester offices.

Our recruitment process:

Interviewing is a two way process and we want you to have the time and opportunity to get to know us, as much as we are getting to know you! Our interviews are conversational and we want to get the best from you, so come with questions and be curious. 

Following your application being reviewed, you can expect the below:

Stage 1 - Telephone prescreen with Anna Griffin, Talent Acquisition Partner

Stage 2 - Role related interviews

About the role:

Reporting to our Director of Financial Crime Operations, this new role will provide leadership across teams responsible for both AML and Fraud Operations at Starling Bank. This role requires a deep understanding of Operations management, with experience in managing Fraud, Anti-Money Laundering and Customer Due Diligence operations and developing strategies, an ability to foresee potential vulnerabilities, and the skills to lead a multidisciplinary team in a dynamic, fast-paced environment. 

The successful candidate will be Manchester based and spend a minimum of 10 days per month in the office, with the rest from home. Travel to our other operational sites (Cardiff, London & Southampton) will be required.

This individual should possess a wealth of Senior Operations leadership experience ideally in the financial crime space.

Key Responsibilities include:

• Operational Leadership: Oversee daily operations of the AML & CTF, CDD, EDD  and all fraud departments, ensuring optimal performance and compliance.
• Defining strategy: Collaborate with the Head of Financial Crime Governance & Strategy to design and enhance operational analytics, reporting, planning, change, risk, governance and controls. Bringing Operational needs to the front of this design
• Project Management: Oversee and provide insight, leadership and guidance in relation to projects that fall outside of BAU operations. Engage with Project leads and provide support for example to FinCrime Remediation projects, updates to CRA models etc.
• Implement Operational frameworks and structure to enhance and develop the Fin Crime Operational teams.
• Develop and maintain strong working relationships with key internal stakeholders (e.g. second line of defence / MLRO, Risk and Control, Change) 
• Accountable for the Operational performance of the Financial Crime Operation. Ensuring management of internal and external SLA’s are delivered and operational risk is managed
• Team Development and Leadership. Develop, coach and lead Head of departments and their teams (Change, Risk and Controls and AML and Fraud Strategy)
• Ensure regular collaboration with stakeholders and participate in the development of new (Fraud,AML & CTF) rules and controls

Behaviours & Competencies:

• Operational Excellence: Enthusiasm and drive to produce the best operational teams, supporting and developing the operational processes and performance to ensure Starling aim to be top of class in financial crime industry
• Inspirational - The ability to inspire and motivate their team to achieve organisational goals.
• Time Management - need to be able to manage time and juggle various tasks.
• Stakeholder Management - build and maintain good working relationships with all areas of fin crime but in particular building internal relationships with (FinCrime Operations, Customer Support, Engineering, Data Team, Strategy Team, Risk and Control, Planning, Change and 2LOD)
• Communication - Exceptional communication and presentation skills, capable of articulating complex data issues to diverse audiences
• Knowledge: A deep understanding of financial crime prevention, anti-money laundering regulations, sanctions, and insurance laws
• Highly organised and structured way of working. The role will require governance and controls around how data/analysis is completed

Skills & Experience:

• A strong background in FC operations with a broad knowledge of Fraud, AML and CTF Operations
• Subject Matter Expert: A detailed understanding of AML, KYC, Sanctions, Fraud, CTF, Tax Evasion and the UK regulatory environment
• Ability to deliver presentations across all business levels  (from Analyst to Board Level). Capability to tailor the presentation according to the audience experience and subject knowledge. Specific confidence and experience in presenting to the Board level.
• Strong data interpretation skills and persuasive presentation abilities.
• The ability to efficiently integrate, transform, model, and visualise data from various sources.
• Excellent communication and people leader skills

• 25 days holiday (plus take your public holiday allowance whenever works best for you)
• An extra day’s holiday for your birthday
• Annual leave is increased with length of service, and you can choose to buy or sell up to five extra days off
• 16 hours paid volunteering time a year
• Salary sacrifice, company enhanced pension scheme
• Life insurance at 4x your salary & group income protection
• Private Medical Insurance with VitalityHealth including mental health support and cancer care. Partner benefits include discounts with Waitrose, Mr&Mrs Smith and Peloton
• Generous family-friendly policies
• Incentives refer a friend scheme
• Perkbox membership giving access to retail discounts, a wellness platform for physical and mental health, and weekly free and boosted perks
• Access to initiatives like Cycle to Work, Salary Sacrificed Gym partnerships and Electric Vehicle (EV) leasing

About us:

You may be put off applying for a role because you don't tick every box. Forget that! While we can’t accommodate every flexible working request, we're always open to discussion. So, if you're excited about working with us, but aren’t sure if you're 100% there yet, get in touch anyway.We’re on a mission to radically reshape banking – and that starts with our brilliant team. Whatever came before, we’re proud to bring together people of all backgrounds and experiences who love working together to solve problems.

Starling Bank is an equal opportunity employer, and we’re proud of our ongoing efforts to foster diversity & inclusion in the workplace. Individuals seeking employment at Starling Bank are considered without regard to race, religion, national origin, age, sex, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, marital status, medical condition, ancestry, physical or mental disability, military or veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law. When you provide us with this information, you are doing so at your own consent, with full knowledge that we will process this personal data in accordance with our Privacy Notice. By submitting your application, you agree that Starling Bank will collect your personal data for recruiting and related purposes. Our Privacy Notice explains what personal information we will process, where we will process your personal information, its purposes for processing your personal information, and the rights you can exercise over our use of your personal information.