Deputy MLRO / Head of Compliance

Torus Mara; Canada; On-site; GBP 95,000 - 135,000; Full time

Job summary

Torus Mara’s UK arm seeks a Deputy MLRO / Head of Compliance to own the day-to-day AML and financial-crime function. You will lead, embed, and scale controls as the business grows, reporting to senior management and representing the firm to FCA and other authorities.

The role requires deep practical knowledge of FCA regimes for EMI and payments, and the ability to be the senior compliance presence in the UK—managing SARs, monitoring, and regulatory reporting while driving a strong culture of

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field or equivalent experience.
• 5+ years in AML/financial-crime compliance in financial services.
• Strong knowledge of MLR 2017, JMLSG, FCA Financial Crime Guide and SYSC, and UK sanctions.
• Hands-on experience with CDD/EDD, transaction monitoring, sanctions and PEP screening, and SAR processes.
• SMCR familiarity and potential for MLRO role in future is desirable.

Responsibilities

• Own and continuously improve the AML/CTF framework aligned with UK regulations.
• Maintain risk assessments for customers and corridors as products evolve.
• Oversee CDD/EDD, screening, transaction monitoring, and SAR handling.
• Design and run compliance monitoring, audits, and regulator information requests.
• Deliver AML/CTF training and foster a culture of compliance.
• Engage with FCA and authorities as a senior compliance contact.

Skills

Communication skills

Analytical thinking

Problem-solving

Stakeholder engagement

Education

Bachelor’s degree in finance, business, law

Tools

AML software/tools

Job description

Torus Mara (https://torusmara.com) is an international money service business headquartered in Canada, with a US parent company. Torus Mara provides modern financial services for institutions, corporations, and SMEs operating in emerging markets. Today, Torus Mara focuses on the corridors between global markets with G10 currencies (US, UK, Canada, and EU) and African markets with local currencies (NGN, GHS, XOF, XAF, KES, ZAR, UGX).

Our UK arm, Torus Financial Limited, is authorized by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) as an Electronic Money Institution (EMI) and is now building out and scaling its UK operations. With authorization secured, we are strengthening the compliance team that will support the business as it launches products and grows transaction volumes.

Position Overview

We are seeking an experienced Deputy MLRO / Head of Compliance to take day-to-day ownership of the AML and financial-crime compliance function of our UK EMI. This is a hands-on, operational role. Now that authorization is in place and the business is live, the focus has shifted from designing the framework to running, embedding, and continuously improving it as the firm scales.

The ideal candidate has a deep, practical understanding of the FCA’s financial-crime and AML regime for Electronic Money Institutions and payments firms, and is comfortable being the senior compliance presence in the UK business. Reporting into senior management, the successful candidate will own the day-to-day compliance workload, deputize for the MLRO, and be ready to represent the firm to the FCA and other authorities as the team develops.

Responsibilities

1 – Own and continuously improve the AML/CTF framework

• Maintain, test, and enhance AML/CTF policies, procedures, and controls so they remain aligned with the Money Laundering Regulations 2017 (MLR 2017), JMLSG guidance, and the FCA’s Financial Crime Guide and SYSC requirements.
• Keep the firm-wide and business-line money-laundering and terrorist-financing risk assessments current as products, corridors, and volumes evolve.
• Oversee customer due diligence (CDD), enhanced due diligence (EDD) for higher-risk customers and corridors, and ongoing KYC refreshes.
• Manage transaction monitoring, sanctions and PEP screening, and the timely investigation and clearance of alerts.
• Act as the point of receipt for internal suspicious activity reports; review, and where appropriate submit, Suspicious Activity Reports (SARs) to the National Crime Agency / UK Financial Intelligence Unit, and manage any defence-against-money-laundering (DAML) consent requests.

3 – Regulatory reporting and record-keeping

• Prepare and submit regulatory returns via RegData, including the annual financial crime report (REP-CRIM), and meet all applicable notification obligations.
• Maintain comprehensive, auditable records of SARs, CDD, screening, transaction monitoring, and risk assessments in line with FCA and MLR 2017 requirements.

4 – Monitoring, testing, and oversight

• Design and run a compliance monitoring program that tests the effectiveness of key controls and tracks remediation to closure.
• Support internal and external audits, skilled-person-style reviews, and regulator information requests.

5 – Training and culture

• Develop and deliver AML/CTF and wider compliance training to educate staff on their responsibilities and obligations.
• Promote a strong culture of compliance and raise awareness of financial-crime risk across the UK business and its group counterparts.

6 – Regulatory and stakeholder engagement

• Stay up to date with changes in AML and financial-crime legislation, regulation, and best practice, and translate them into operational change.
• Support engagement with the FCA and other regulatory authorities on AML-related matters, and act as a senior point of contact – including deputizing during the MLRO’s absence.

Qualifications and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field (e.g., finance, business, law) or equivalent practical experience.
• At least 5 years in an AML / financial-crime compliance role within financial services, ideally at an Electronic Money Institution, payments firm, or MSB regulated in the UK.
• Strong, practical knowledge of MLR 2017, JMLSG guidance, the FCA’s Financial Crime Guide and SYSC, and the UK sanctions regime (OFSI).
• Hands‑on experience running CDD/EDD, transaction monitoring, sanctions and PEP screening, and the end‑to‑end SAR process (NCA / UKFIU).
• Experience with higher-risk and emerging-market corridors (e.g., African markets) is a strong advantage.
• Professional certification such as the ICA Diploma in Anti Money Laundering, CAMS, or equivalent is highly desirable.
• Familiarity with the Senior Managers & Certification Regime (SM&CR); the credibility and experience to hold a senior compliance function – and to be approved for an MLRO (SMF17) role over time – is an advantage.
• Excellent knowledge of industry-leading AML tools, software, and systems, with strong analytical and problem‑solving skills.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to collaborate effectively with stakeholders at all levels.
• Strong attention to detail and accuracy, and the proven ability to work independently and make sound risk‑based decisions in a fast‑paced, scaling environment.