Head of AML & MLRO in Leeds

Head of AML & MLRO UK & Ireland

Department: 12-994 - Operations - AML, Fraud & Risk

Employment Type: Permanent - Full Time

Location: UK - Leeds

Reporting To: David Smith

Description

Why Join DAZN Bet? At DAZN Bet, we’re redefining the sports betting experience by combining the excitement of live sport with innovative technology and world‑class customer experiences. As part of the DAZN ecosystem, you’ll play a critical role in ensuring our business operates with the highest standards of integrity, governance and regulatory compliance.

We’re looking for an experienced Head of AML & MLRO (UK & Ireland) to lead our Anti‑Money Laundering function and serve as the nominated Money Laundering Reporting Officer (MLRO) for Great Britain and Ireland. This is a highly visible leadership role responsible for protecting the business against financial crime, ensuring regulatory compliance, and supporting DAZN Bet’s continued international growth.

If you’re passionate about financial crime prevention, regulatory excellence and building high‑performing compliance teams, we’d love to hear from you.

The Role

As Head of AML & MLRO (UK & Ireland), you will hold the statutory responsibility of acting as the nominated Money Laundering Reporting Officer for Great Britain and Ireland, while providing strategic leadership and second‑line oversight of DAZN Bet’s Anti‑Money Laundering framework.

You’ll lead the AML function, oversee the Business Risk Assessment, own Suspicious Activity Reporting obligations, and act as the primary point of contact with regulators and law enforcement agencies. Working closely with Compliance, Customer Due Diligence (CDD), Safer Gambling, Fraud, Payments, Product and Legal teams, you’ll ensure a robust and scalable financial crime framework that supports both regulatory compliance and commercial growth.

Operating within a dedicated second‑line compliance function, you’ll help strengthen DAZN Bet’s Three Lines of Defence (3LOD) model while supporting expansion into new regulated markets.

What You’ll Be Doing:

• Act as the nominated Money Laundering Reporting Officer (MLRO) for Great Britain and Ireland, fulfilling all statutory responsibilities and overseeing Suspicious Activity Reporting (SAR) obligations with the National Crime Agency (NCA), Criminal Assets Bureau (CAB) and other relevant authorities.
• Own and maintain DAZN Bet’s AML framework, Business Risk Assessments, policies and procedures, ensuring compliance with the Money Laundering Regulations, Proceeds of Crime Act, Terrorism Act, Criminal Justice Act, Gambling Commission LCCP and GRAI requirements.
• Lead and develop the AML function, creating a high‑performing team focused on regulatory excellence, continuous improvement and effective financial crime prevention.
• Act as the primary point of contact for regulators and law enforcement agencies, supporting audits, licence applications, investigations, production orders and regulatory enquiries.
• Partner with Compliance, Customer Due Diligence (CDD), Safer Gambling, Fraud, Payments, Product and Legal teams to ensure a joined‑up, risk‑based approach to financial crime prevention across the business.
• Provide strategic oversight of AML governance by monitoring emerging financial crime risks, regulatory developments and industry best practice, recommending improvements to strengthen DAZN Bet’s control framework.
• Deliver regular reporting to senior leadership on AML performance, Business Risk Assessments, SAR activity, investigations, regulatory developments and key financial crime risks.
• Drive continuous improvement through technology, data analytics and Artificial Intelligence, enhancing investigative capability, operational efficiency and supporting DAZN Bet’s expansion into new regulated markets.

What You’ll Bring:

• Significant experience in Anti‑Money Laundering, Financial Crime Compliance or Risk Management within the online gambling, betting, financial services or regulated sectors.
• Previous experience as a nominated MLRO or Senior AML leader within a licensed gambling operator or regulated financial services organisation is highly desirable.
• Extensive knowledge of UK and Irish AML legislation, including the Money Laundering Regulations, Proceeds of Crime Act, Terrorism Act, Criminal Justice Act and Gambling Commission regulatory requirements.
• Strong understanding of Customer Due Diligence (CDD), Enhanced Due Diligence (EDD), Know Your Customer (KYC) and financial crime frameworks.
• Demonstrable experience managing Suspicious Activity Reports (SARs) and engaging directly with the National Crime Agency (NCA), Criminal Assets Bureau (CAB), Gambling Commission and other regulatory bodies.
• Proven experience developing Business Risk Assessments and implementing effective AML governance frameworks.
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to assess complex financial crime risks and make sound regulatory decisions under pressure.
• Experience using Business Intelligence tools, data analytics and Artificial Intelligence to improve investigative quality and operational efficiency.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to influence senior leaders and present complex regulatory matters clearly.

Benefits

Benefits include access to DAZN, 25 days’ annual leave (increasing by 3 days after 3 years), private medical insurance, life assurance, pension contributions up to 5%, family friendly community including enhanced parental leave, electric vehicle benefit option, learning and development resources, opportunity for flexible working, and access to our internal speaker series and events.