Head of Financial Crime Compliance, EMEA

The EMEA Head of Financial Crime Compliance (FCC) is a senior leadership role accountable for firm-wide and branch-level financial crime compliance, leading the EMEA AML & sanctions efforts, implementing and overseeing the Global AML, Countering the Financing of Terrorism and Countering Proliferation Financing Program, advising senior leadership, engaging regulators, overseeing key controls and technologies, and building a high-performing FCC team. The EMEA Head of FCC ensures policies, procedures, and governance effectively counter financial crime risk, aligned to applicable laws, regulations, and conduct rules. This role oversees a regional team of FCC professionals and reports to the Global Head of Financial Crime Compliance.

Key Responsibilities

• Own the firm’s policies and procedures for countering financial crime risk, with local responsibility for legal entities inclusive of branches in the region.
• Develop and execute the EMEA AML & Sanctions strategy in partnership with the Global Head of FCC.
• Lead and enhance a dynamic regional AML & Sanctions framework that supports the ongoing enhancement of the program in response to regulatory change and shifting client, product and service trends.
• Provide forward-looking guidance on regulatory change, emerging risks, and business initiatives.
• Identify, assess, and monitor emerging AML and Sanctions risks.
• Take corrective action to implement solutions to improve control effectiveness.
• Oversee key controls, quality assurance, and surveillance technologies.
• Serve at the appropriate governance forums and regional financial crime risk assessments.
• Act as the primary EMEA regulatory contact for AML and Sanctions matters.
• Lead regulatory examinations, responses, and remediation.
• Provide updates to governance bodies on programme performance.
• Provide advice and support on current and new business initiatives.
• Assist with the regulatory change management process for FCC.
• Provide subject matter expertise to enhance FCC training.
• Advise senior leaders on FCC risks and regulatory expectations.
• Promote a culture of accountability and ethical conduct and abide by all regulatory requirements, including the UK regulator’s Conduct Rules.
• Lead, mentor, and develop a high-performing regional FCC team.
• Ensure succession planning and continuous skills development.
• Embed FCC requirements across products, operations, and governance.

Skills And Experience

• Deep expertise in global AML, sanctions, and financial crime compliance, with experience operating within large, complex financial institutions.
• Proven ability to foster a strong culture of financial crime risk management, accountability, and ethical conduct across the organisation.
• Demonstrated leadership capability, providing clear guidance, mentorship, and direction to teams while promoting innovation, transparency, and collaboration.
• Strong influencing skills with the ability to engage effectively with senior management, regulators, and cross-functional stakeholders globally.
• A track record of leading and developing globally distributed teams in a complex regulatory environment.
• Strategic mindset with sound judgment, capable of anticipating, assessing, and mitigating emerging financial crime risks.
• Clear commitment to ethical decision-making, accountability, and the continuous strengthening of the firm’s compliance culture.
• Acts as a senior culture-carrier, consistently demonstrating Northern Trust’s values: relentlessly client-centric, actively managing risk, respectfully candid, intentionally inclusive, and always accountable.
• Champions Northern Trust’s OneNT strategy by strengthening resiliency, enhancing risk management, and driving productivity through technology, talent, and data.

Qualifications

• 15+ years of progressive experience in Compliance, with significant exposure to financial crime compliance.
• Deep knowledge of global regulatory frameworks, including FCA, PRA, CBI, CSSF, and GFSC.
• Strong understanding of financial crime compliance, conduct risk, and compliance risk management frameworks.
• Demonstrated leadership and influence across global and cross-functional stakeholders.
• Strategic thinker with strong judgment and the ability to operate effectively at senior leadership level.
• Exceptional communication and stakeholder management skills.
• Strong analytical capability, with the ability to interpret regulations, assess risk, and clearly articulate implications for the business.
• Bachelor’s degree required; JD, MBA, CAMS, or comparable advanced qualifications preferred.

Reasonable accommodation: Northern Trust is committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodations to individuals with disabilities. If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the employment process, please email our HR Service Center at MyHRHelp@ntrs.com.