Financial Crime Associate - 12 month FTC

70 National Wealth Fund Limited; Leeds; Hybrid; GBP 40,000 - 60,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work arrangement

Job summary

National Wealth Fund in Leeds is recruiting a Financial Crime Associate within the Risk & Compliance function for a 12-month fixed term contract. The role reports to the Financial Crime Manager and focuses on enhancing the fund's financial crime framework.

The successful candidate will perform due diligence, risk assessments, and investigations, coordinating with audit and compliance colleagues and external authorities as needed. Hybrid working with 3 days in the Leeds office is offered.

Qualifications

• Experience in financial crime with risk assessments and investigations.
• Stakeholder management across fund and senior management.
• Knowledge of UK financial crime laws, including sanctions and AML.
• Professional qualifications (ICA/CISI) are advantageous.
• Degree level education required.

Responsibilities

• Support the Compliance strategy, plan, and policies to promote a strong financial crime culture.
• Develop and implement the Financial Crime framework; identify improvements.
• Lead customer due diligence and assess client risk per FCA and MLR guidance.
• Provide advice to first line of defence on financial crime matters.
• Monitor and improve financial crime controls; participate in audits.
• Prepare reports on risks to the Executive Committee and Board.

Skills

Financial crime

Risk assessments

Investigations

Stakeholder management

Public sector regulation

UK regulations

Communication

Ambiguity handling

Education

Degree holder

ICA/CISI advantageous

Job description

Shape the Future with the National Wealth Fund

At the National Wealth Fund, our mission is to swiftly and effectively mobilise trusted sector insights and investment expertise to unlock billions in private finance for projects across the United Kingdom. Providing £27.8bn of capital and an expanded mandate, we are ready to help the market invest with confidence, continue to drive forward the Government's growth ambitions. We are looking for skilled and results oriented individuals who are motivated to help us build the National Wealth Fund into an industry-leading institution.

The primary purpose of the Risk & Compliance function at the National Wealth Fund (NWF) is to embed an effective risk management framework which enables the risks to the Fund’s objectives to be managed in an agile and effective way. The team fosters a risk-aware culture across the Fund and provides the necessary assurance that key risks are managed within the appetite set by the Board. This role is for a Financial Crime Associate in the Risk & Compliance function, reporting to the Financial Crime Manager. The role holder will proactively identify opportunities for, and recommend solutions to enhance, and support the oversight of the Fund’s financial crime compliance framework. They will independently lead key elements of the delivery of an effective and proactive second-line financial crime strategy and framework, underpinned by processes and controls that ensure compliance with relevant regulatory, financial, and operational requirements. Additionally, the successful candidate will support the active management of financial crime risk in the existing portfolio and will lead due diligence into the NWF’s pipeline of new transactions.

Location and Contract

Location: Hybrid working with a minimum of 3 days per week in the Leeds office. This is a 12 month Fixed Term Contract.

Core Responsibilities

• Support the Compliance team in delivering the wider Compliance strategy, Compliance plan, and associated policies to drive, promote, and maintain a strong Compliance and Financial Crime culture within the business.
• Assist in developing and implementing the NWF’s Financial Crime strategy and framework, identifying opportunities for improvement and proactively making recommendations to the financial crime managers/senior managers.
• Associates support stakeholder engagements across the Fund to embed the framework to ensure appropriate levels of compliance.
• Support the completion of comprehensive financial crime risk assessments and perform client risk assessments to identify and mitigate financial crime risks.
• Undertake the customer due diligence for new and existing clients in line with FCA requirements, Money Laundering Regulations, Joint Money Laundering Steering Group (JMLSG) guidance, and other regulations.
• Provide trusted advice and support to the first line of defence on financial crime matters to enable NWF to operate in line with all relevant regulatory and legislative requirements in relation to Financial Crime.
• Monitor and review the effectiveness of financial crime controls, recommending improvements where necessary.
• Undertake and / or assist in investigations into financial crime incidents, including drafting of reports to Compliance management.
• Participate in internal or external audits of the Risk and Compliance function, or the Fund as a whole, including inspections or enquiries from law enforcement agencies.
• Work closely with audit teams to provide necessary documentation and address any findings.
• Assist in the development and delivery of training and awareness programs on financial crime prevention to NWF colleagues.
• Support the preparation and presentation of regular reports on financial crime risks and compliance to colleagues and NWF’s Executive Committee, Board, and Board sub-committees.
• Stay up-to-date with the latest regulatory developments and industry best practices, and support the review of horizon scanning results.
• Train and mentor new financial crime colleagues.
• Work collaboratively within a high-performing team to deliver the function’s strategic risk and compliance framework, liaising across the 3LOD to deliver integrated assurance.

Knowledge, Skill and Experience Requirements

• Experience: Substantial experience working in a financial crime function, preferably within a regulated financial services environment.
• Experience in conducting risk assessments and investigations related to financial crime.
• Experience of stakeholder management.
• Experience within investment banking and/or infrastructure finance is desirable.
• Experience of public sector regulation or working with government would be an advantage but not essential.
• Knowledge: Educated to degree level.
• Strong understanding of UK financial crime regulations, including applicable laws, regulations, and industry guidance (e.g., Sanctions, Fraud, UK Bribery Act, Money Laundering Regulations, JMLSG guidance, Modern Slavery Act).
• Professional financial crime-related qualifications (e.g., ICA or CISI) are advantageous.

Skills

• Strong communication, listening, and writing skills.
• Ability to present to various audiences, including committees and senior management.
• Ability to work autonomously.
• Pragmatic and comfortable working with ambiguity.
• Strong attention to detail and well-organised; ability to prioritise, multi-task, and work well under pressure.
• Strong problem-solving techniques, including the ability to identify, research, and resolve unfamiliar issues.
• Comfortable with using data to identify typologies, patterns, and anomalies.
• Ability to collaborate across business lines and functions with a professional presence; proven ability to cultivate and maintain strong business relationships at all levels within the organisation.

A Career with us

A career with us offers a unique opportunity to make a lasting impact and work on cutting-edge technologies that will drive the UK’s future.

We value diversity in our people and inclusion is at the heart of what we do.

The National Wealth Fund encourages a diverse workforce and welcomes applications from all suitably qualified people. Inclusion is at the heart of what the Fund does. Diversity in the Fund's people and their ideas will be vital to the National Wealth Fund's success.

Our roles are open to full-time, part-time or job-share applicants. Job-share applicants should supply individual CVs and a joint cover letter submitted with both applications.

As part of our standard hiring process, please be informed that a background check will be conducted for successful candidates in accordance with our company policy and industry best practices.

Please note, that successful candidates will be offered a salary that is appropriate to their relevant experience and performance during the selection process.