At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead complex financial crime investigations and tackle high-value, cross-border cases.
- Company: Fast-growing global fintech with a focus on innovation and impact.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, strong rewards, and opportunities for career growth.
- Other info: Dynamic role with real influence and direct collaboration with senior leaders.
- Why this job: Be a pioneer in building a new team and shape the future of financial crime investigations.
- Qualifications: 4-9 years of financial crime experience and hands-on SAR expertise.
The predicted salary is between 56700 - 69300 £ per year.
Alexander Barnes have partnered with a fast-growing global fintech to hire complex financial crime investigators as they build out and grow their financial crime team.
The first-line team in place today handles the volume, the KYC and the monitoring.
What it doesn't have yet is a core of senior investigators who take the cases that don't fit a process, and that's where you come in.
This isn't an alert queue.
It isn't a policy role either.
You'll spend your days inside live investigations, working the ones that cross borders, involve multiple accounts and individuals, touch high-risk jurisdictions or carry serious value.
If your strength is clearing volume, this probably isn't the one.
If your strength is the handful of cases that land on your desk because nobody else can resolve them, the ones with layered networks, multiple individuals and accounts, cross-border or high-risk jurisdictions and serious value, where you're the last point of escalation and the answer isn't in any playbook, keep reading.
What you'll do
- Own complex and escalated investigations end to end: layered, multi-entity, cross-border and high-value cases that first-line analysts can't close through a standard process
- Map networks across accounts, entities and counterparties to uncover mule activity, organised crime structures, sanctions evasion and other criminal behaviour that doesn't announce itself
- Write and file SARs and make the hard calls (including consent and DAML decisions) where the policy alone doesn't give you the answer
- Be the person others come to when a case goes beyond standard triage, giving direction and not just reviewing someone else's work
- Turn what you find into better detection rules, training and escalation routes, so the same case doesn't slip through twice
- Help shape how AI tools and vendors are used in investigations, from testing and feedback through to holding outsourced teams to the standard
- Take your most complex findings to senior stakeholders and make them clear and decision-ready
- What you'll bring
- Around 4-9 years of financial crime experience, with a track record of complex cases you personally owned, not ones your team worked on
- Hands-on SAR experience: reports you have written and filed yourself, including on high-risk, high-scrutiny cases
- Strong transaction monitoring and KYC investigation experience, plus depth in at least one or two complex typologies (mule networks, organised crime, trade-based laundering, sanctions evasion or similar)
- A background in fintech, payments or retail banking
- Experience with AI in investigations or workflow (testing, design or feedback) and with vendor or outsourced team oversight
- Sound working knowledge of UK and/or EU AML regulation, including sanctions and PEP frameworks
- The confidence to work without a precedent and to be the final word for your peers on difficult cases
- CAMS, ICA or an equivalent qualification
- Nice to have: SOP or QA work that you have fed back into monitoring, screening or case handling
Team leads and managers are welcome, as long as you're still investigating every day. This is a hands-on role at every level.
Why apply?
- You'll help build it. You'd be one of the first senior investigators in a function being built from the ground up, with real say in how complex casework is run
- The work is the work. Complex, cross-border, high-value cases are the core of the role, not a side project, and you'll investigate every day at any level
- Scale is coming.
- Room to grow. The structure leaves space for team lead and manager roles later, and for those who want it, a route into leading a team without leaving the investigations behind
- Real influence. You'll work directly with senior financial crime leaders, and what you find will shape detection, controls and how AI and vendors are used across the function
- Strong rewards and competitive salary & package.
If you've been waiting for a role where the hardest cases are yours and the team is built around people like you, this is it.
Senior Complex Financial Crime Investigator in London employer: Alexander Barnes
Join a dynamic fintech that prioritises innovation and security, where your expertise in fraud analytics will directly influence the customer experience and business growth. With a collaborative work culture that values teamwork and strategic thinking, you'll have ample opportunities for professional development and career advancement. Located in the heart of the UK, this fast-growing company offers a unique environment that fosters creativity and encourages you to make a meaningful impact.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Senior Complex Financial Crime Investigator in London
✨Tap into Campus Networks
If you're still in uni, don’t forget to engage with your campus's career services and attend finance-related events. Banks often do presentations and recruitment drives on campus, so put yourself out there and make use of these opportunities to show off your passion for the field.
✨Get Certified
Consider pursuing relevant certifications like the CFA or ACCA while you’re job hunting. They not only beef up your CV but also connect you with professional bodies which can lead to networking opportunities and even job openings in banking and financial services.
✨Connect on Professional Platforms
Join finance-focused groups on platforms like LinkedIn and engage in discussions. This can really help you stand out from the crowd, allowing potential employers to see your knowledge and interest in industry trends. Plus, you might stumble upon job postings shared exclusively within the group.
✨Apply Directly and Be Proactive
Don’t shy away from reaching out directly to firms like Alexander Barnes. Use their websites and apply through them, but also consider following up with a polite email to express your enthusiasm. Being proactive can make a huge difference in getting noticed in the competitive financial services sector.
We think you need these skills to ace Senior Complex Financial Crime Investigator in London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Off Your Numbers!:In the banking and financial services world, quantifiable achievements are key. Make sure your CV highlights your grades in relevant subjects, any financial certifications you hold, and specific projects where you've delivered measurable results. Employers love to see how your skills translate into real-world success.
Tailor Your Cover Letter to the Role:When applying for a full-time position, your cover letter should make a direct connection between your experience and the job description. Don't just state your enthusiasm for finance—dive into how your background in banking or financial analysis sets you apart. Let your passion shine through while being specific about what you can bring to Alexander Barnes.
Include Relevant Financial Software Experience:If you've worked with financial modelling tools or software like Excel, SAP, or specific analytical tools during your studies or internships, bring that up! Highlighting your proficiency can really make your application pop and show you're ready to hit the ground running in a full-time role.
Research and Reflect:Before hitting that 'apply' button on Alexander Barnes's website, do a little digging. Look up their recent projects, values, and culture. Reflecting their ethos in your application can make a huge difference and show you’re genuinely interested in being part of the team!
How to prepare for a job interview at Alexander Barnes
✨Brush Up on Financial Analysis Skills
Make sure you're well-versed in financial concepts and analytical techniques relevant to banking and financial services. Get comfortable with tools like Excel for modelling or financial forecasting, as technical questions in this area are common during interviews with Alexander Barnes.
✨Prepare for Case Studies
Expect to tackle case studies that demonstrate your problem-solving skills in real-world banking scenarios. Familiarise yourself with the types of problems you might face—think risk assessments or investment evaluations—and be ready to articulate your thought process clearly.
✨Show Your Passion for Finance
Since this is a full-time position, employers at Alexander Barnes will be keen to see your genuine interest in finance. Be prepared to discuss recent industry trends or news articles that excite you, showcasing your enthusiasm and engagement with the field.
✨Network with Industry Professionals
Before your interview, reach out to current or former Alexander Barnes employees on platforms like LinkedIn. They'll offer unique insights into the company's culture and the interview process, which can give us a delightful edge in showcasing a good fit for the team.
