Director of Financial Crime Risk

1w1 week ago

Starling Bank

London, GB · Full-time · £200,000 – £300,000

About this role

Starling Bank is a fully licensed UK bank with the culture of a fast-moving tech company, designed to demystify money for everyone. As Director of Financial Crime Risk and a designated Material Risk Taker, you provide strategic oversight for the framework combating money laundering, sanctions violations, fraud, and bribery. Reporting to the Chief Compliance Officer, this Second Line of Defence role influences bank safety and soundness.

You lead the Economic Crime Risk Framework, ensuring resilience against threats while supporting innovation within the bank's risk appetite. Design and maintain a robust compliance program encompassing AML, CTF, Sanctions, ABC, and Fraud prevention. Define bank-wide policies aligned with evolving legal requirements and best practices.

Lead the annual Business-Wide Risk Assessment for Economic Crime, identifying emerging threats and mitigation strategies. Support the CCO in regulatory liaison with FCA/PRA and as Chair of the Economic Crime Risk Committee. Oversee bank-wide training to embed regulatory obligations across 3,500 staff in London, Southampton, Cardiff, and Manchester offices.

Provide high-level reporting and strategic counsel to the CCO and Risk Committees on the risk environment. Foster a collaborative, customer-focused culture with personal resilience and integrity. Adapt strategically in a fast-paced setting, combining commercial acumen with technical challenge.

Requirements

In-depth knowledge of UK Financial Crime regulatory guidelines, including AML, CTF, PEPs, and sanctions
Proven track record of leading senior specialists and influencing C-suite stakeholders at Director level
Ability to interpret complex data and regulatory changes into actionable operational requirements for the First Line
Sound understanding of risk culture, Consumer Duty, and the Senior Managers and Certification Regime (SMCR)
Competency in understanding models, data, MI, and statistical analysis
Collaborative working style, customer-focused with the end customer at the heart of decisions
Personal resilience, interpersonal credibility, and unwavering integrity

Responsibilities

Design, implement, and maintain a robust Second Line Economic Crime Risk compliance program encompassing AML, CTF, Sanctions, ABC, and Fraud prevention
Lead the annual Business-Wide Risk Assessment (EWRA) for Economic Crime, identifying emerging threats and directing mitigation strategies
Define bank-wide Economic Crime policies ensuring they meet evolving legal requirements and industry best practices
Act as key support to the CCO in managing contact and information requests from regulators (FCA/PRA) on economic crime matters
Support the CCO as Chair of the Economic Crime Risk Committee with accurate data, management information, and technical challenge
Oversee bank-wide training programs to ensure all staff understand regulatory and reporting obligations
Provide high-level reporting and advice to the CCO and relevant Risk Committees on the risk and control environment