Head of Financial Crime Operations in London

Head of Financial Crime Operations in London

London Full-Time 60000 - 80000 € / year (est.) No home office possible
LemFi

At a Glance

  • Tasks: Lead investigations and optimise workflows to prevent financial crime while enhancing user experience.
  • Company: Join LemFi, a dynamic fintech company transforming financial access for the Global South.
  • Benefits: Competitive salary, inclusive culture, and the chance to make a real impact.
  • Other info: Diverse and inclusive workplace, welcoming applicants from all backgrounds.
  • Why this job: Be part of a mission-driven team that empowers families and promotes financial inclusion.
  • Qualifications: 5+ years in AML or Fraud operations, with leadership experience and strong analytical skills.

The predicted salary is between 60000 - 80000 € per year.

This job is brought to you by Jobs/Redefined, the UK's leading over-50s age inclusive jobs board. LemFi (Series B) is building the go-to financial app for the Global South. Moving to a new country shouldn't mean starting from zero. That's why our team of 400+ spanning 20+ countries is building a financial ecosystem that helps immigrants stay connected to home, build stability, and create wealth regardless of where they are from or where they live. What began as fast, affordable remittances is now evolving into a complete platform for multi-currency accounts, payments, credit, and long-term financial growth. With over 2 million users across the globe, we process over $1.5B in monthly transactions to 30+ countries, proving that borders shouldn't limit financial opportunity.

The Role

You will be the engine behind LemFi's Financial Crime Operations. Your primary focus will be leading investigations, streamlining unblocks, and improving operational efficiency to protect our customers while maintaining regulatory compliance. You won't just manage queues; you will design and optimise workflows, implement data-driven improvements, and lead a high-performing team that ensures financial crime is prevented without compromising the user experience.

How You'll Contribute

  • Lead & Develop: Manage and mentor the Financial Crime Operations team, overseeing investigations, unblocks, and analyst performance.
  • Drive Operational Excellence: Own key KPIs such as Time-to-Unblock, investigation turnaround, and QA accuracy, ensuring workflows are efficient and reliable.
  • Optimise Processes: Maintain and enhance SOPs, QA processes, and operational dashboards, identifying and addressing inefficiencies using data insights.
  • Collaborate Across Teams: Partner with Product to refine rules and unblock experiments, and with Compliance and the MLRO on escalations, SARs, and regulatory reporting.
  • Data-Driven Insights: Provide actionable insights on false positives, alert quality, and investigation trends to continuously improve financial crime operations.
  • Stakeholder Management: Manage communications with banking partners and law enforcement, ensuring timely, high-quality responses within SLAs.
  • Support Compliance & Audits: Assist Compliance with regulatory reporting and audits, implementing improvements through the change-control framework.

Who You Are

  • Impact-Oriented: You thrive in a fast-paced, high-volume environment, balancing fraud prevention, customer experience, and regulatory safety.
  • Analytical & Process-Focused: You enjoy solving complex problems, improving workflows, and leveraging data to optimise operations.
  • Leadership-Driven: You are experienced in leading teams, mentoring analysts, and driving high performance.
  • Collaborative: You communicate effectively with Product, Compliance, and external partners, ensuring alignment across the business.
  • Curious & Adaptive: You seek opportunities to improve systems, unblock bottlenecks, and scale operations across multiple markets.

What You'll Bring

  • 5+ years of experience in AML or Fraud operations, including at least 2 years in a leadership role.
  • Strong knowledge of AML/Fraud frameworks, ideally in the UK, US, and Canada.
  • Proven experience managing investigations, alerts, and escalations in a fintech or financial institution.
  • Excellent analytical skills with proficiency in Excel or similar analysis tools.
  • Experience in fintech or payments companies, with ability to collaborate across Product and Compliance teams.
  • Desirable: Knowledge of AML/CFT regulations in Africa, Asia, and Europe, and CAMS certification or equivalent.

The Interview Process

  • Chat with a Talent Partner (30 mins)
  • Behaviours & Culture Interview (45 mins)
  • Case Study (3 days to complete + 1-hour presentation)
  • Final Interview (30 mins)

Why Join LemFi?

Love shouldn't be expensive, yet those working hardest for their families often face predatory fees and banking exclusion. We're changing this. At LemFi, you won't be just a cog in a machine. Whether designing products, scaling operations, or telling our story, you'll tackle complex challenges with real, immediate impact. Your work goes beyond metrics - it puts money back in families' pockets and offers access to the previously excluded. Join us to make a meaningful difference, where high performance is a lifeline for millions.

Our Values: How We Win

  • Sharp Customer Focus: We cut through the noise and prioritise ruthlessly based on what drives real value.
  • Lead with Data: We trade instinct for insight. We test, analyze, and own the outcomes.
  • Ownership: We take responsibility for global outcomes, not just local wins.
  • Grit: We navigate ambiguity with resilience and keep pushing until the customer feels the impact.

You can connect with us on LinkedIn and Instagram and if you haven't already, download the app on the App Store or Google Play.

Diversity & Inclusion at LemFi

To build the best financial tools for the global diaspora, we need a team that reflects the world we serve. We welcome builders from all walks of life who embody our values over a perfect resume. Don't meet every single requirement in the job ad? Research shows that candidates from underrepresented backgrounds often hesitate to apply if they don't check every box. If you are excited about this role and our mission, we encourage you to apply anyway. You might be just the right person for this, or other roles.

Head of Financial Crime Operations in London employer: LemFi

At LemFi, we pride ourselves on being an exceptional employer that champions diversity and inclusion while fostering a collaborative and innovative work culture. As the Head of Financial Crime Operations, you will lead a dynamic team dedicated to making a meaningful impact in the financial lives of millions, with ample opportunities for professional growth and development. Our commitment to operational excellence and data-driven insights ensures that your contributions will not only enhance our services but also empower individuals across the globe to achieve financial stability and success.

LemFi

Contact Detail:

LemFi Recruiting Team

StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫

We think this is how you could land Head of Financial Crime Operations in London

Tip Number 1

Network like a pro! Reach out to people in your industry on LinkedIn or at events. A friendly chat can lead to opportunities that aren’t even advertised yet.

Tip Number 2

Prepare for those interviews! Research the company, understand their mission, and think about how your skills can help them achieve their goals. Show them you’re not just another candidate.

Tip Number 3

Practice makes perfect! Do mock interviews with friends or use online resources. The more comfortable you are speaking about your experience, the better you’ll perform when it counts.

Tip Number 4

Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen. Plus, we love seeing candidates who take that extra step!

We think you need these skills to ace Head of Financial Crime Operations in London

Leadership
Financial Crime Operations
AML/Fraud Frameworks
Investigations Management
Data Analysis
Process Optimisation
Regulatory Compliance

Some tips for your application 🫡

Show Your Passion:When writing your application, let your enthusiasm for the role shine through! We want to see how much you care about financial crime operations and helping our customers. Share your motivation for joining LemFi and how you can contribute to our mission.

Tailor Your Experience:Make sure to highlight your relevant experience in AML or fraud operations. We’re looking for specific examples that demonstrate your leadership skills and analytical abilities. Don’t just list your past jobs; show us how they’ve prepared you for this role!

Be Data-Driven:Since we love data at LemFi, include any metrics or KPIs you've worked with in your previous roles. This could be anything from improving investigation turnaround times to enhancing operational efficiency. Numbers speak volumes, so make them count!

Keep It Clear and Concise:While we appreciate detail, clarity is key! Make sure your application is easy to read and straight to the point. Use bullet points where necessary and avoid jargon unless it’s relevant. We want to understand your qualifications without wading through fluff!

How to prepare for a job interview at LemFi

Know Your Stuff

Before the interview, dive deep into AML and fraud operations. Familiarise yourself with the latest regulations and frameworks, especially in the UK, US, and Canada. This will not only show your expertise but also demonstrate your commitment to staying updated in a fast-paced environment.

Showcase Your Leadership Skills

Prepare examples of how you've successfully led teams in the past. Think about specific situations where you mentored analysts or improved team performance. Highlighting your leadership experience will resonate well, as this role requires someone who can drive high performance and manage a diverse team.

Data is Your Best Friend

Since the role involves optimising processes using data insights, come prepared with examples of how you've used data to improve workflows or solve complex problems. Be ready to discuss your proficiency in Excel or similar tools, as this will be crucial for demonstrating your analytical skills.

Collaborate Like a Pro

Think about times when you've worked cross-functionally with teams like Product and Compliance. Be ready to share how you ensured alignment and tackled challenges together. This will show that you understand the importance of collaboration in achieving operational excellence.