Financial Crime Risk Manager

About Us at GoCardless GoCardless is a global bank payment company. Over 100,000 businesses, from start-ups to household names, use GoCardless to collect and send payments through direct debit, real‑time payments and open banking. GoCardless processes US$130bn+ of payments annually, across 30+ countries; helping customers collect and send both recurring and one‑off payments, without the chasing, stress or expensive fees. We use AI‑powered solutions to improve payment success and reduce fraud. And, with open banking connectivity to over 2,500 banks, we help our customers make faster, more informed decisions. We are headquartered in the UK with offices in London and Leeds, and additional locations in Australia, France, Ireland, Latvia, Portugal and the United States.

The Financial Crime Risk Team We’re part of the Risk Organisation and are at the forefront of GoCardless’s global expansion. We ensure that GoCardless adopts, implements and maintains innovative and appropriate processes and controls, paving the way for our company to deliver superb products in a compliant manner.

The Role The Financial Crime Risk Manager will report directly to the Group MLRO and will play both a regional and global role. The Financial Crime Risk Manager will be primarily tasked with building and maintaining effective AML/CTF and sanctions systems and controls to ensure compliance with laws and regulations in the U.K. and other GoCardless locations.

What excites you:

• Closely follow legal, compliance, and regulatory developments in relation to AML/CTF and sanctions in the Fintech industry, to ensure our processes keep pace;
• Advising on CDD escalations based on internal policies and procedures;
• Monitoring and responding to AML / Sanctions‑related escalations in JIRA;
• Review and approval of high risk customers at onboarding (e.g. PEPs);
• Review and approval of requests for waivers, dispensations and minor policy exceptions from the first line defence;
• Providing financial crime management information to senior management, analysing trends and recommending enhancements to first line controls;
• Deliver targeted financial crime training to the Compliance Operations team and Sales team on areas that are identified as requiring improvement;
• Executing the firm’s annual financial crime Enterprise Risk Assessment, including risk identification, inherent risk assessment and control evaluation;
• Draft annual external reports to regulatory authorities, and liaise with the FCA, NCA and other external agencies where applicable;
• Promoting a culture of good financial crime management across the firm;
• Cover MLRO annual leave / absences.

Project work Support on the Financial Crime Risk roadmap project to design and deploy control enhancements throughout the company.

Objective:

• You have strong knowledge of JMLSG, FCA, FATF, Wolfsberg Group etc. guidelines and requirements;
• You have experience in designing internal controls from scratch and driving their implementation;
• You have experience conducting AML/CTF and sanctions compliance monitoring reviews and/or audits;
• You have exceptional writing and presentation skills.

Bonus points if:

• You have a professional qualification from an internationally recognised body (e.g. ICA, ACAMS);
• You have worked within a fast growing, scale‑up business;
• You have good knowledge of French and/or US financial crime regulations;
• Experience in managing or coordinating 6-12 month projects with multiple stakeholders.

The Good Stuff!

• Wellbeing: Dedicated support and medical cover to keep you healthy.
• Work Away Scheme: Work from anywhere for up to 90 days in any 12‑month period.
• Hybrid Working: Our hybrid model offers flexibility, with in‑office days determined by your team.
• Equity: All permanently employed GeeCees get equity to share in our success.
• Parental leave: Tailored leave to support your life’s great adventure.
• Time Off: Generous holidays, 3 volunteer days, and 4 wellness days annually.

Life at GoCardless We’re an organisation defined by our values; We start with why before we begin any project, to ensure it’s aligned with our mission. We make it happen, working with urgency and taking personal accountability for getting things done. We act with integrity, always. We care deeply about what we do and we know it’s essential that we be humble whilst we do it. Our Values form part of the GoCardless DNA, and are used to not only help us nurture and develop our culture, but to deliver impactful work that will help us to achieve our vision.