Financial Crime Governance Vice President

Here at SMBC Group, we want to help you find the next step in your career so read on to discover if this opportunity is the one for you. We like to recognise potential in our people, so we welcome your application even when your experience doesn't perfectly align with the job description. Whilst we’ll always strive to be better, we’re proud of our inclusive culture, and encourage our applicants and colleagues to be their authentic, unique selves.

United by a sense of purpose towards our customers – to be a trusted partner for the long‑term – and our universal banking platform in EMEA, SMBC Group has an international growth agenda and award‑winning products, providing exciting opportunities to work on a diverse range of projects and initiatives. We deliver a full suite of corporate finance products and solutions to our customers as well as investment banking and advisory services, and innovative solutions in global capital markets. Join us to enhance your skills and gain valuable experience by supporting our clients’ transition to a sustainable future.

Role Summary

Working with the Financial Crime Governance Director to manage the Financial Crime (FC) Governance Framework. Key responsibilities will include:

• Be the leader for creating, providing oversight and challenge for the ongoing development, review, and implementation of Financial Crime policies, standards, and supporting procedures.
• Lead preparation and delivery of all level management reporting, including the annual MLRO Reports for UK regulated entities, as well as the submission of the annual UK Financial Crime regulatory return, coordinating inputs from relevant stakeholders and ensuring timely submission thereof.
• Continuously enhance MI and KRI frameworks to reflect regulatory expectations, business change, and emerging financial crime risks, to support effective oversight across Financial Crime.
• Coordinate, manage, and provide secretariat oversight for key Financial Crime governance forums, ensuring forums are effective, well‑governed, action‑oriented, and provide clear oversight and challenge of financial crime risks.

Business Area

The role sits within the Bank’s 2nd line of defence in the Financial Crime Group of Compliance and is responsible for supporting the implementation of effective financial crime systems and controls. Working in partnership with Financial Crime SMEs and key stakeholders to ensure the successful deployment of a risk‑based approach.

Main interfaces/relationships:

The key stakeholders will be comprised of the UK Financial Crime Leadership team regional MLROs.

Primary remit: To support the development of the Financial Crime (FC) Governance and Control Framework and to ensure execution of key regulatory deliverables.

Secondary remit: To identify, assess, manage and escalate…

Key accountabilities & responsibilities include the following:

• To support the enhancement of the Financial Crime Governance and Control Framework.
• Coordinate the production of materials for Financial Crime Governance and the Financial Crime Group.
• Manage the preparation of annual MLRO Reports for the UK Regulated entities.
• Manage the submission of the annual UK Financial Crime regulatory return.
• Provide support and oversight for the timely and ongoing development of Financial Crime policies, standards, and supporting procedures.
• Coordinate and manage financial crime governance forums (e.g., MLRO Forum).
• Day to day management of Financial Crime metrics, MI and KRIs.
• Support and coordinate Head Office engagement.

The successful candidate for this role will have:

• Demonstrable experience in Financial Crime Governance within a UK‑regulated financial services environment.
• Strong understanding of UK Financial Crime regulatory expectations and MLRO reporting obligations.
• Experience with the design, implementation, and maintenance of:
• Financial Crime governance frameworks.
• Policies, standards, and risk appetites.
• Committee structures and MI packs.
• Strong ability to define and scrutinise MI for governance and oversight.
• Confidence engaging with stakeholders across the Bank – including senior management.
• Ability to challenge constructively, balancing regulatory rigour with commercial awareness.
• Clear, persuasive communication of complex risk issues to non‑technical audiences.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills with the ability to produce high‑quality governance and regulatory documentation.
• Ability to operate under pressure and manage competing priorities.

What we offer

• Hybrid and flexible working.
• Competitive paid leave days.
• Benefits to support your physical wellbeing, including private medical insurance and life and invalidity insurance.
• Various policies to support your mental wellbeing, including a robust behavioural health network with counselling and coaching services.
• Access to a wide range of learning and development opportunities and career progression opportunities.
• Ambitious remuneration package.

We recognise our role as a bank to support social change and welcome all applications, including those from groups often under‑represented in financial services. We value the uniqueness of professional and personal backgrounds and perspectives as they play a vital role in the sustainable growth of our organisation. We will ensure reasonable adjustments to our recruitment process are offered due to a disability or long‑term condition whenever requested.