AML Operation Manager

WorldFirst Group; Greater London; On-site; GBP 85,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

WorldFirst Group is seeking an accomplished AML Operations lead to drive day-to-day compliance activities and improve operational efficiency across EDD, TM and screening processes.

You will own data governance initiatives, monitor regulatory developments in the EMEA region, and collaborate with Compliance, Risk, Legal and Tech to ensure alignment with Group strategy and risk appetite.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or above in Finance, Law, Economics or related disciplines.
• Minimum 5 years AML/Compliance Operations experience, including at least 3 years in a management/lead role.
• Understanding of EU and Dutch AML regulatory frameworks (AMLD5/6, Dutch WWft, DNB requirements) and ability to implement localized compliance solutions.
• Experience in process optimization, data governance, KPI management, and cross-functional collaboration; prior success building or restructuring operational frameworks and implementing automation tools.

Responsibilities

• Execute AML Operations day-to-day activities within AML operational framework, including EDD, Transaction Monitoring, and Screening workflows.
• Own AML data governance initiatives, establish and maintain exceptions and issues trackers for accuracy and traceability, supporting risk identification and regulatory reporting.
• Drive operational efficiency projects via process re-engineering and adoption of automation tools; collaborate across functions to optimize AML workflows and reduce risk.
• Establish and maintain AML quality control mechanisms, including periodic audits, KPI monitoring, and issue closure management to ensure consistent quality.
• Monitor regulatory developments in the EMEA region and lead internal process adjustments and staff training to maintain ongoing compliance.
• Collaborate with Compliance, Risk, Technology, Legal, and Business teams to align AML operations with Group strategy and risk appetite.

Skills

AML Ops

Data governance

KPI management

Cross-functional collaboration

Stakeholder management

Regulatory change monitoring

Process optimization

Automation tools

English proficiency

Dutch language

Education

Bachelor's degree in Finance/ Economics/ Law or related

Certifications: CAMS/CFE/CIA/CISA (preferred)

Tools

SQL

Excel

Power BI/Tableau

Actimize

SAS

Quantexa

Socure

Job description

Introduction:

We'reWorldFirst,aninternationalpaymentsbusinesshelpingmovemoneyaroundtheworld.WebecamepartofAntGroupin2019,acceleratingourmissiontocreatetheworld'sbestplatformforinternationaltradebycombiningWorldFirst'sproductswithAnt'ssolutionsaimedatenablingthedigitalizationofthemodernservicesindustryglobally.

Wehaveasharedpurpose'tomakeiteasytodobusinessanywhere.'Together,weareadvancingoursharedaimofbringinginnovative,inclusiveandaffordableservicestosmallandmedium-sizedbusinessesandonlinemerchantsintherapidlygrowingareaofcross-bordertrade.

Whatyou'lldo:

• ExecuteAMLOpsday-to-dayactivitiesinlinewithAMLoperationalframework,proactivelycontributingtothestandardizationandefficientimplementationofEnhancedDueDiligence(EDD),TransactionMonitoring(TM),andScreeningprocessestoensurebothregulatorycomplianceandoperationalefficiency.
• TakeownershipofactivitiesbesidesBAU,forexampleowningAML-relateddatagovernanceinitiatives,establishingandmaintainingexceptionsandissuestrackerstoenhanceaccuracy,completeness,andtraceability,supportingriskidentificationandregulatoryreporting.
• ProactivelyparticipateanddriveoperationalefficiencyimprovementprojectsthroughsupportingTLinprocessre-engineering,adoptionofautomationtools,andcross-functionalcollaborationtocontinuouslyoptimizeAMLworkflows,reduceoperationalrisk,andaccelerateresponsetimes.
• EstablishandmaintainAMLoperationalqualitycontrolmechanisms,includingperiodicaudits,KPImonitoring,andissueclosuremanagement,toensureconsistentachievementofqualitybenchmarks.
• CloselymonitorregulatorydevelopmentscoveringEMEAregion,proactivelyassesstheiroperationalimpact,andleadinternalprocessadjustmentsandstafftrainingtoensureongoingcompliance.
• CollaboratecloselywithCompliance,Risk,Technology,Legal,andBusinessteamstofostercross-functionalalignmentandensureAMLoperationsareconsistentwithGroupstrategyandriskappetite.

Whatwe'relookingfor:

• Bachelor'sdegreeoraboveinFinance,Law,Economics,Accounting,RiskManagement,orrelateddisciplines;professionalcertificationssuchasCAMS,CFE,CIA,orCISAarepreferred.
• Minimum5yearsofexperienceinAML/ComplianceOperations,includingatleast3yearsinamanagementorteamleadrole,withprovenexperienceleadingEDD,TM,orScreeningworkflowswithininternationalfinancialinstitutionsorFinTech/PayTechfirms.
• In-depthunderstandingofEUand DutchAMLregulatoryframeworks(e.g.,AMLD5/AMLD6,DutchWwft,DNBrequirements),withprovenabilitytoimplementlocalizedcompliancesolutions;localteamcollaborationorregulatoryengagementexperienceintheNetherlandsishighlydesirable.
• Demonstratedcapabilityinprocessoptimization,datagovernance,KPImanagement,andcross-functionalcollaboration;experienceleadingoperationalefficiencyinitiativesandimplementingautomationtools;priorexperiencebuildingorrestructuringoperationalframeworksfromscratchisaplus.
• FluentinwrittenandspokenEnglish(workinglanguage);Dutchisastrongadvantage;excellentcommunication,cross-culturalcollaboration,andstakeholdermanagementskillswiththeabilitytoarticulateriskandoperationalinsightsclearlytoseniormanagement.
• Familiarity with leading AML systems (e.g., Actimize, SAS, Quantexa, Socure) and data tools (e.g., SQL, advanced Excel, Power BI/Tableau); basic data analytics skills to guide teams in leveraging systems for operational efficiency.