Financial Crime Risk & Controls – Vice President

Location: London

Working arrangement: Hybrid – 2–3 days per week in the office.

Contract: 12 months

About the role

Venn Group is partnering with a major global investment bank to recruit a Financial Crime Risk & Controls professional within its EMEA Operations function.

Joining the first-line Risk & Control team, you will provide oversight and challenge across the Financial Crime Middle Office, strengthening controls around transaction monitoring, sanctions screening, financial crime prevention and KYC/customer onboarding.

This is an opportunity to help develop the bank’s control framework, improve governance and drive remediation, working closely with senior stakeholders across Operations, Risk, Compliance and Internal Audit.

Key responsibilities

1. Identify and assess operational and financial crime risks, reviewing the design and effectiveness of controls.
2. Lead or support control testing and targeted reviews of processes, procedures and data quality.
3. Investigate operational risk events and control failures, identify root causes and coordinate corrective actions.
4. Oversee audit, compliance and regulatory findings, challenging action owners and tracking remediation through to completion.
5. Produce and analyse risk MI, including control performance, backlogs, incidents and emerging trends, presenting findings at governance meetings.
6. Assess the impact of regulatory, process and system changes on financial crime operations.
7. Build strong relationships across business functions, promoting clear accountability and timely escalation.

Skills and experience required

1. A strong financial crime background within banking, ideally supporting corporate, wholesale or investment banking operations.
2. Experience in business controls, financial crime oversight, assurance, compliance monitoring, audit or remediation.
3. Good understanding of AML/CTF, sanctions, transaction monitoring and screening, alongside knowledge of KYC and customer due diligence processes.
4. Practical experience conducting risk assessments, reviewing controls and managing issues or remediation actions.
5. Strong analytical skills, with the ability to turn operational data into clear MI and actionable recommendations.
6. Confident communication and stakeholder management skills, including the ability to challenge constructively and lead governance discussions.
7. Relevant ICA, CAMS or risk qualifications would be advantageous.