Group Head of AML & Sanctions

Howden; City Of London; On-site; GBP 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

A global insurance group based in London is seeking a Group Financial Crime Senior Manager/Director responsible for leading sanctions and AML frameworks across the organization. The role demands a minimum of 12 years of experience in financial crime, including leading frameworks for large entities. Additionally, the candidate should possess strategic thinking, leadership skills, and strong stakeholder management. This position offers the chance to make a significant impact in a collaborative team environment of a diverse and dynamic organization.

Benefits

Flexible working hours

Diversity and inclusion initiatives

Employee ownership

Qualifications

• Minimum 12 years experience in financial crime roles.
• Direct experience leading sanctions and AML frameworks.
• Ability to think strategically and show leadership.

Responsibilities

• Enhance and implement a Group sanctions and AML framework.
• Support divisions with local rollout of standards.
• Represent sanctions and money laundering risks at Governance Committees.

Skills

Strategic thinking

Leadership

Stakeholder management

Problem diagnosis

Emotional intelligence

Resilience

Job description

Who are we?

Howden is a global insurance group with employee ownership at its heart. Together, we have pushed the boundaries of insurance. We are united by a shared passion and no-limits mindset, and our strength lies in our ability to collaborate as a powerful international team comprised of 23,000 employees spanning over 56 countries.

People join Howden for many different reasons, but they stay for the same one: our culture. It’s what sets us apart, and the reason our employees have been turning down headhunters for years. Whatever your priorities – work/life balance, career progression, sustainability, volunteering – you’ll find like-minded people driving change at Howden.

Why work at Howden?

We have always been employee‑owned and driven by entrepreneurial spirit. Right from the beginning, we've focused on employing talented individuals and empowering them to make a real difference to the company, whilst building successful and fulfilling careers at the same time. Simply put, we hire talented specialists and give them what they need to make a difference for clients. Always have, always will.

People join Howden for many different reasons, but they stay for the same one: our culture. It’s what sets us apart, and the reason our employees have been turning down disappointed head‑hunters for years. Whatever your priorities – work/life balance, career progression, sustainability, volunteering – you’ll find like-minded people driving change at Howden.

What is the role?

The Group Financial Crime Senior Manager/Director is responsible for the strategic leadership and oversight of the sanctions and AML frameworks and controls across the Howden Group.

The roleholder will be responsible for ensuring the Group’s sanctions and AML frameworks are fit for purpose, meeting all legal requirements and following best practices; ensuring that the frameworks and associated controls are implemented consistently across the Group through direct liaison and support for divisions globally. This is a senior role, suited to someone with a strong subject matter expertise of sanctions and AML controls in financial services, ideally within an insurance intermediary business model, a thorough understanding of relevant sanctions and AML legislation and experience of working to the standards required of a UK and US public listed entity.

What will you be doing?

Planning and Strategy:

• Enhance and implement a robust but proportionate Group sanctions and AML framework.
• Support divisions and entities with the local roll out of sanctions and AML standards.
• Continue to oversee the sanctions and AML frameworks to ensure they remain fit for purpose in line with all relevant legislation, guidance and industry best practice and standards.
• Oversee and support businesses to enhance their sanctions and AML control environments in line with the standards required of a UK and/or US public listed entity.

People Management/Personal Development:

• Support the Group Head of Financial Crime to foster a culture of employee engagement and role modelling, encouraging and rewarding essential behaviours and maintaining a high level of personal and professional confidence.
• Support with the development of the Group Financial Crime Team to ensure the required standards of performance are met across the team, and that the professional and personal development of team members reporting into the Group Financial Crime Senior Manager/Director increases their capability and effectiveness.
• Ensure there are effective succession plans in place and actively develops team members to provide future successors.
• Actively undertakes personal development to ensure up to date knowledge and understanding of best practice.

Governance, Monitoring & Reporting:

• Represent sanctions and money laundering risks effectively at appropriate Governance Committees, including applicable reporting requirements.
• Oversee the ongoing enhancement and implementation of Global Sanctions and AML/Counter‑Terrorist Financing Minimum Standards and communicate changes, and potential impacts, effectively.
• Provide oversight, guidance and support to divisions in respect of sanctions and AML issues and controls.
• Act as the main escalation point for divisional financial crime officers for any sanctions and AML matters.
• Perform horizon scanning for any sanctions and AML related matters.

Key Regulatory Responsibilities:

• Work with the divisions to implement sanctions and AML risk assessments and collate the outputs into a Group focused report.
• Play a leading role in any sanctions or AML related projects for the Group.
• When required liaise with regulators concerning sanctions and AML matters.
• Support the divisions with investigating any live issues related to sanctions, money laundering and/or counter‑terrorist financing.

Technical Knowledge:

• Deep understanding of relevant legislation including UK, US, EU and UN sanctions laws, the UK Money Laundering Regulations and the UK Proceeds of Crime Act.
• An understanding of other relevant legislation, such as the US Bank Secrecy Act, would be an advantage.
• Understanding of best practices within insurance for sanctions and AML processes and controls.

What are we looking for?

• Minimum 12 years experience in financial crime roles, with a focus on 2nd line advisory
• Direct experience of leading a sanctions framework for a large, multinational organisation
• Experience of leading an AML framework for a large, multinational organisation
• Experience in performing enterprise-wide financial crime risk assessments
• Deep understanding of insurance business models (retail/wholesale/reinsurance etc.)
• Ideally has experience of sanctions and AML controls in a UK and/or US listed environment
• Able to think strategically and show leadership as a senior member of the Group Financial Crime Team
• Cross‑cultural leadership and collaboration skills
• Strong ethical compass and ability to drive ‘tone from the top’
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills
• Actively listens to the views of colleagues/business leaders/key stakeholders and building effective relationships but also has the strength of character to challenge where required to ensure operational excellence
• Ability to diagnose problems quickly and have foresight into potential issues
• A team player, able to contribute significantly to the successful functioning of the Group Financial Crime Team
• High level of emotional intelligence
• High degree of resilience and tenacity

What do we offer in return?

A career that you define. At Howden, we value diversity – there is no one Howden type. Instead, we’re looking for individuals who share the same values as us:

• Our successes have all come from someone brave enough to try something new
• We support each other in the small everyday moments and the bigger challenges
• We are determined to make a positive difference at work and beyond

Reasonable adjustments

We’re committed to providing reasonable accommodations at Howden to ensure that our positions align well with your needs. Besides the usual adjustments such as software, IT, and office setups, we can also accommodate other changes such as flexible hours* or hybrid working*.

If you’re excited by this role but have some doubts about whether it’s the right fit for you, send us your application – if your profile fits the role’s criteria, we will be in touch to assist in helping to get you set up with any reasonable adjustments you may require.

*Not all positions can accommodate changes to working hours or locations. Reach out to your Recruitment Partner if you want to know more.

Permanent