Associate Director, Financial Crimes Advisory - Remote, UK

Job Description:

AML RightSource is the leading expert solutions provider of managed services and advisory, dedicated exclusively to financial crime compliance. As financial crime continues to evolve, we help organizations stay ahead through expert-led services and deep industry knowledge. 

Specializing in anti-money laundering, financial crime prevention, and third-party compliance, we deliver tailored solutions that enhance operational efficiency and reduce business risk. With a global presence and a team of more than 7,000 specialized, trained professionals, AML RightSource partners closely with clients to transform their compliance programs into strategic advantages. 

Our focused expertise and partnership-driven approach ensure adaptable, scalable solutions that meet today’s complex regulatory demands. We empower organizations to strengthen compliance, protect their businesses, and confidently navigate an ever-changing financial crime landscape.

The Financial Crime Advisory (FCA) Practice at AML RightSource is made up of a team of industry and subject matter specialists that provide advisory services specific to financial crime programs, policies, and technology to C-suite-level executives across the world. Our scope of services includes, but is not limited to, program transformation, gap analysis, model validations, policy redesign, system implementation, and model optimization. Our FCA team aims to help clients build and optimize their financial crime compliance programs by leveraging a technology-enabled approach for some of the world's largest organizations.

About the Position

As an Associate Director in our Financial Crimes Advisory (FCA) team you will primarily be responsible for leveraging your subject matter expertise and partnering with Financial Crimes Advisory leadership to successfully deliver projects/engagements for clients and execute strategic initiatives designed to grow the FCA practice.  

As a result, a successful candidate is an experienced professional with deep expertise in AML, Sanctions, and Fraud, inclusive of being knowledgeable about regulations, regulatory guidance and industry best practices in these subject matter areas.  They must be experienced in successfully leading projects, delivering on time, within budget and meeting client expectations.  They must also be experienced in coaching more junior resources to successfully deliver on their responsibilities, all while fostering an inclusive and supportive environment.  The ideal candidate will be proactive and able to work autonomously.  In addition to client delivery, Associate Directors will be engaged in our sales and marketing efforts, including developing proposals. As a result, a successful candidate will possess strong communication and presentation skills, a strategic mindset, and the ability to collaborate effectively across teams. They should be comfortable engaging with clients and stakeholders, identifying business opportunities, and contributing to the growth of the firm through thought leadership.

Primary Responsibilities

Engagement Delivery

• Successfully lead or participate in multiple, sometimes simultaneous, AML, Sanctions and fraud (collectively "financial crimes") engagements being delivered across the three lines of defense. Projects include but not limited to those focused on risk assessments, audits, gap assessments, policy and procedure development, training development and delivery, program design and transformation, regulatory remediation, system implementations, model validations, coverage assessments, and systems tunings. 
• On smaller engagements, effectively serve as the lead point of contact (i.e., engagement leader) for engagement teams and clients, providing day-to-day direction to engagement teams and coaching/mentoring to team members.
• Evaluates the extent to which clients’ financial crimes programs adhere to regulations and guidelines, as well as industry best practices, and provide value added insights and practical recommendations to clients.
• Prepare reports and written documents utilizing Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, Excel, writing in a clear, concise and articulate manner.
• Provide guidance and oversight to junior team members, reviewing their work and offering constructive feedback to support skill development and enhance overall quality.
• Utilize effective project management practices to ensure deliverables meet client expectations, while the project stays within agreed budgets and timelines.
• Effectively identify, escalate and manage risks and issues as they arise during engagements.   Serve as an escalation point for more junior team members.
• Actively participate in or lead, where necessary, key client meetings.
• During the course of engagements, identify opportunities for additional work to be delivered to existing clients.
   

Sales and Go-To-Market

• Take a leading role in SOW preparation and budgeting.  Support other sales-related efforts.
• Stay up to date on emerging regulatory requirements and guidance, as well as industry trends.
• Develop, maintain and nurture an internal and external network of financial crimes advisory services buyers.
   

Internal Initiatives and People Leadership

• Lead by example and provide leadership to ensure that the mission, core values and strategy of the company are put into practice.
• Demonstrate support in advancing company revenue and profitability objectives.
• Assist leadership with the execution of an effective growth strategy for the FCA practice.
• Train, mentor and develop FCA team members. 
• Provide balanced, periodic performance reviews to team members.
• Serve as a People Leader to junior team members.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree.  If not available, equivalent years of relevant AML/Sanctions/Fraud experience are required.  Relevant experience includes time spent providing financial crimes consulting advice to the financial services industry; performing AML, Sanctions or Fraud operational processes; managing financial crimes programs; introducing process improvements or transforming financial crimes programs; performing exams, audits or other testing functions over financial crimes programs.
• A minimum of nine (9) years of relevant AML/Sanctions/Fraud experience working in industry or at professional services / management consulting firms in an advisory consulting role
• A minimum of five (5) years in a managerial or leadership role, managing and directing junior resources
• Robust understanding of anti-financial crime program concepts, including rules and regulations, as well as regulatory and industry trends, as well as the vendor solutions utilized to fight financial crime
• Proven experience examining, assessing, and/or enhancing aspects of a financial crimes program
• Ability to interact seamlessly with financial crimes program leaders and senior executives
• Strong problem solving and analytical skills
• Excellent interpersonal skills
• Highly organized, able to work on multiple projects simultaneously
• Ability to communicate succinctly and clearly in writing and verbally
• Demonstrated ability to work independently with minimal supervision; a strong self-starter who takes initiative
• Proactive in identifying opportunities, solving problems, and driving tasks forward
• Highly accountable with a strong sense of ownership over deliverables, timelines, and outcomes
• Highly proficient in Microsoft Office, with a focus on Word, Excel and Powerpoint
• Experience working with diverse teams
• Ability to travel as needed
• Must be able to work in the UK or U.S. without sponsorship now or in the future

For D&A Associate Directors Only:

• Bachelor's degree preferred in Mathematics, Statistics, Information System Management, and Data Science (or equivalent)
• 8+ years' experience in BSA/AML, Sanctions, and/or Fraud compliance
• A strong project management professional able to lead a small project team and deliver project deliverables accurately and on time.
• 8+ years’ experience using Microsoft SQL and/or other relational databases
• 6+ years of Python experience (or another scripting language for data wrangling/ cleaning)
• Deep Model Validation experience with strong Verafin experience
• Proficient in Microsoft Office (Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Outlook, etc.)
• Strong analytical and quantitative skills to be able to explain a story based on data analytics (trend analysis, A/B Testing, reconciliation, Regression Models, etc.)
• Strong communication skills and able to speak clearly and professionally while in meetings with clients/stakeholders
• Demonstrates the ability to deliver outcomes by collaborating seamlessly across Data and Advisory teams.

Preferred Qualifications

• CAMS, CFE, ICA or similar certification
• Experience and/or knowledge in: (i) non-traditional financial services organizations (e.g., payments, fintech, crypto, etc.); and (ii) understanding and/or knowledge of North American, European and Asia Pacific financial crimes laws and regulations.
• Experience with AI and Machine Learning capabilities and models

AML RightSource is committed to fostering a diverse work environment and is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We provide equal employment opportunities to all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws.  

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