Financial Crime Risk Manager

AJ Bell; Manchester; Hybrid; GBP 50,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading investment platform company in Manchester seeks a Financial Crime Risk Manager to oversee and refine their financial crime framework. The ideal candidate will have substantial experience in financial crime risk management and expertise in financial crime regulations. Responsibilities include risk assessments, policy development, and stakeholder collaboration. This role offers a competitive salary and a hybrid working model, emphasizing teamwork and professional growth.

Benefits

Competitive starting salary

Pension schemes with matched contributions

Discretionary bonus scheme

Health Cash Plan

Free gym access

Enhanced parental leave

Personal development programmes

Qualifications

• Substantial experience in financial crime risk management in a regulated environment.
• Expert knowledge of AML, CTF, sanctions, fraud, and anti-bribery legislation.
• Ability to influence decisions and work with senior stakeholders.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain the financial crime risk framework.
• Conduct and review financial crime risk assessments.
• Draft and advise on financial crime policies.
• Support the MLRO’s action plan and manage emerging risks.

Skills

Financial crime risk management

Knowledge of financial crime regulations

Stakeholder engagement

Strong communication skills

Data analysis skills

Education

CAMS or ICA Diploma in Financial Crime Prevention

Job description

Job Description

We’re looking for a Financial Crime Risk Manager to join our Financial Crime team. This is a second line of defence role where you’ll provide specialist knowledge, oversight, and challenge to ensure our financial crime framework remains robust and effective.

What the job involves:

As Financial Crime Risk Manager, you’ll take a leading role in shaping and strengthening our approach to managing financial crime risks. Your responsibilities will include:

• Financial crime oversight: Supporting the development and maintenance of our financial crime risk framework and providing second line oversight of controls and processes across the business. Knowledge and experience of Trade Surveillance and Market Abuse is key.
• Risk assessments and control monitoring: Conducting and reviewing financial crime risk assessments, identifying areas for improvement, and ensuring appropriate controls are in place.
• Policy and procedure development: Drafting, reviewing and advising on financial crime policies, including AML, sanctions, anti‑bribery, and fraud. Supporting first line teams to ensure procedures align with regulatory expectations.
• Stakeholder collaboration: Acting as a trusted advisor to internal teams on financial crime matters, building strong relationships across the business, and supporting engagement with regulators and external stakeholders.
• Technical expertise: Applying your knowledge of financial crime typologies (e.g. money laundering, fraud, bribery and corruption) to support investigations, assessments, and thematic reviews.
• Reporting: Preparing and presenting clear, concise updates for senior management and committees, and supporting regulatory reporting where required.

You’ll also support the delivery of the MLRO’s action plan and help ensure AJ Bell stays ahead of emerging financial crime risks.

What skills and experience you need:

• Substantial experience in financial crime risk management, ideally within an investment platform or regulated financial services environment.
• Expert knowledge of financial crime regulations, including AML, CTF, sanctions, fraud, and anti‑bribery legislation.
• Confidence working with senior stakeholders, challenging constructively, and influencing decisions.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills - able to explain complex issues clearly and accessibly.
• Professional qualifications such as CAMS, ICA Diploma in Financial Crime Prevention, or equivalent (or a commitment to achieve one).
• Proven ability to analyse data and identify emerging risks or patterns of concern.
• Strong personal ethics, a commitment to integrity, and a proactive approach to continuous improvement.

About Us

AJ Bell is one of the fastest-growing investment platform businesses in the UK offering an award-winning range of solutions that caters for everyone, from professional financial advisers to DIY investors with little to no experience. We have over 644,000 customers using our award-winning platform propositions to manage assets totalling more than £103.3 billion. Our customers trust us with their investments, and by continuously striving to make investing easier, we aim to help even more people take control of their financial futures.

Having listed on the Main Market of the London Stock Exchange in December 2018, AJ Bell is now a FTSE 250 company.

Headquartered in Manchester with offices in central London and Bristol, we now have over 1,500 employees and have been named one of the UK’s ‘Best 100 Companies to Work For’ for six consecutive years and in 2025 named a Great Place to Work®.

At AJ Bell you can expect a friendly working environment with a strong sense of teamwork, we have a great sense of pride in what we do, and this is reflected in our guiding principles.

What we offer:

• Competitive starting salary
• Starting holiday entitlement of 27, increasing up to 31 days with length of service and a holiday buy and sell scheme
• A choice of pension schemes with matched contributions up to 8%
• Discretionary bonus scheme
• Annual free share awards scheme
• Buy As You Earn (BAYE) Scheme
• Health Cash Plan – provided by Simply Health
• Discounted private healthcare scheme and dental plan
• Free gym
• Employee Assistance Programme
• Bike loan scheme
• Sick pay+ pledge
• Enhanced maternity, paternity, and shared parental leave
• Loans for travel season tickets
• Death in service scheme
• Paid time off for volunteer work
• Charitable giving opportunities through salary sacrifice
• Calendar of social events, including monthly payday drinks, annual Christmas party, summer party and much more
• Personal development programmes built around you and your career goals, including access to personal skills workshops
• Monthly leadership breakfasts and lunches
• Casual dress code
• Access to a range of benefits from our sponsorship deals

Hybrid working:

At AJ Bell, our people are the heart of our culture. We believe in building strong connections by working together. That's why we offer a hybrid working model, where you'll spend 3‑4 days per week in the office. For new team members, the first 3 months will be spent full-time in the office to help you immerse yourself in our business and build valuable relationships with your colleagues.