Head of Financial Crime Operations (Central London)

Please note: This is a single position. We are considering candidates from both our London and Manchester locations, so you may see this role advertised for either. There is only one role available, and we welcome applications from candidates based in or able to work from either location.

Key responsibilities

• Lead, inspire and oversee all Financial Crime operational functions across the bank, including KYC, AML, Transaction Monitoring, Fraud, Quality, Strategy and Controls.
• Ensure outstanding management of a complex, high‑volume operation, ensuring the department consistently meets its Service Level Agreements while robustly managing regulatory and operational risks.
• Motivate, mentor and develop a diverse team of financial crime professionals and foster a supportive, high‑performing culture.
• Support our technology journey, drawing on knowledge of financial crime technology and experience managing third‑party platform providers to collaborate effectively with product and engineering teams.
• Manage daily operations to ensure all tasks are executed within agreed SLAs and quality standards, maintaining maximum efficiency without compromising compliance.
• Build and maintain highly collaborative partnerships across the bank, particularly with Customer Service Operations to ensure seamless customer journeys.
• Act as a key bridge between first‑line operations and the Second Line of Defence, translating risk policies into clear, actionable operational processes.
• Cultivate a culture of continuous learning, motivation, and career progression, ensuring team members are supported, engaged, and highly skilled.
• Serve as the senior escalation point for complex financial crime cases, applying sound, risk‑based judgement to resolve difficult scenarios.
• Monitor and report on key operational metrics, SLAs, and risk indicators, providing clear and actionable management information to senior leadership.
• Ensure operational frameworks, processes, and controls are robust, audit‑ready, and continuously optimised to address emerging financial crime risks.
• Support financial crime change and transformation initiatives, collaborating with product and technology teams to help shape system enhancements and automated workflows.
• Manage key relationships with third‑party financial crime technology and service providers to ensure service delivery aligns with Kroo Bank standards.
• Support the Chief Operating Officer and MLRO in representing the bank’s operational financial crime framework to regulators, auditors, and external partners.
• Ensure effective resource planning, capacity management, and workload prioritisation across all financial crime teams to support business growth.
• Other duties as assigned to meet business needs.

Skills

• Ability to lead and inspire multiple teams across different financial crime disciplines.
• Ability to design and implement scalable financial crime frameworks and operational strategies.
• Ability to interpret and apply complex regulatory requirements within a fast‑paced environment.
• Ability to make high‑impact decisions within the bank’s risk appetite and governance structure.
• Ability to oversee and enhance transaction monitoring, investigations, and fraud prevention systems.
• Ability to communicate effectively with executive stakeholders including the COO and MLRO.
• Ability to analyse complex data, identify emerging risks, and implement proactive mitigation strategies.
• Ability to manage competing priorities and drive operational efficiency across large functions.
• Ability to influence stakeholders and embed a strong financial crime culture across the organisation.
• Ability to produce clear, concise, and high‑quality reporting for senior management and regulators.

Qualifications

• Professional certification in financial crime or compliance such as ICA, ACAMS, or equivalent would be ideal but not essential.
• Strong working knowledge of UK regulatory frameworks including FCA expectations and the Proceeds of Crime Act.
• Significant experience in financial crime operations within banking, fintech, or financial services.
• Demonstrable experience operating at senior leadership level within AML, Fraud, or Financial Crime functions.
• Experience managing multiple financial crime disciplines including AML, transaction monitoring, investigations, and fraud.
• Proven experience engaging with regulators, auditors, and external stakeholders.
• Evidence of leading large teams and managing senior managers or team leads.

What we offer

• Generous holiday time: 25 days annual leave, 8 bank holidays, 1 Kroo bank holiday (June 24th), and 1 day off during the week of your birthday.
• Personal days: 3 personal days to use as needed.
• Employer‑sponsored volunteer programme: up to 4 hours per month of employer‑sponsored volunteer time.
• Mental health support: access to Spill, our mental health support partner.
• Workplace pension: workplace pension with a 5% employee contribution and a 3% employer top‑up.
• Top‑notch equipment: MacBook laptop and support for establishing a home office setup if required.
• Modern office: access to a modern, bustling workspace in Central London.
• Cycle to Work scheme.
• Electric Car scheme.
• Enhanced parental leave.
• Room for growth in a fast‑paced, high‑growth start‑up.
• Full healthcare for you and your nuclear family via Vitality.

Hybrid working

At Kroo Bank, we have a hybrid policy that combines working from the office with working from home, giving individuals and teams a good level of flexibility. The ideal candidate will be able to work from the office relatively regularly, as we do need a presence in the office. Working hours for this role are Monday to Friday, 9am to 5:30pm.

Diversity and Inclusion

We wholeheartedly uphold our commitment to fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace. Every employee is highly regarded, respected, and supported without any form of judgement or prejudice. We consider Diversity, Equality, and Inclusion as fundamental pillars guiding our path in all aspects of our bank. We also ensure that reasonable adjustments are made available to all candidates throughout the recruitment process.