Head of Financial Crime

Chip; London; On-site; GBP 80,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading fintech company in London is seeking a Head of 1st Line Financial Crime to develop and execute financial crime controls across the customer lifecycle. You will work closely with compliance and technology, leading a high-performing team while ensuring adherence to AML and fraud frameworks. Ideal candidates have significant experience in financial crime operations and are excited about joining a fast-growing company focused on building a wealth super app.

Benefits

Discretionary Performance-Related Bi-Annual Bonus

Workplace pension scheme

Private medical insurance

Employee Assistance Programme

Cycle to work scheme

Season ticket loan

28 days holiday plus bank holidays

Annual training budget

Company laptop

Qualifications

• Proven experience in a senior financial crime operational role within a fintech or payments firm.
• Strong understanding of regulatory requirements in the UK related to financial crime.
• Experience leading operational teams performing EDD, screening, monitoring, and investigations.

Responsibilities

• Own and implement the 1st Line financial crime operating model.
• Lead investigation teams and manage SAR decisioning.
• Drive continuous improvement through control testing and process optimisation.

Skills

Leadership

Analytical skills

Stakeholder management

Knowledge of AML regulations

Communication skills

Education

Professional certification (e.g., ICA, CAMS, ACAMS)

Tools

Transaction monitoring systems

Screening tools

Job description

As the Head of 1st Line Financial Crime, you will be responsible for developing, owning, and executing the firm’s financial crime controls across the customer lifecycle — from onboarding to ongoing monitoring and investigations. You’ll lead a high-performing team, work cross-functionally with compliance and technology, and act as a critical 1st Line defence partner in ensuring our obligations under AML, CTF, sanctions, fraud, and conduct risk frameworks are met.

What you can expect to be doing:

• Own and implement the 1st Line financial crime operating model across onboarding, screening, transaction monitoring, and customer reviews with an emphasis on long-term scalability.
• Design and operate controls to meet AML, sanctions, anti-bribery & corruption, fraud, and market abuse requirements under MLRs and other applicable regulation and guidance.
• Act as the primary stakeholder in third-party and internal financial crime technology solutions (e.g., onboarding platforms, TM tools, screening systems).
• Oversee operational processes for EDD and PEP/sanctions screening, ensuring adherence to SLAs and QC KPIs.
• Lead investigation teams, including supporting SAR decisioning and filing in line with NCA guidance.
• Partner with 2nd Line Compliance/Financial Crime teams to interpret regulation and embed risk-based controls within business processes.
• Ensure timely and accurate MI and reporting, including dashboards for senior leadership and Board committees.
• Drive continuous improvement through control testing, process optimisation, and leveraging data analytics.
• Manage, mentor, and grow a high-performing, scalable financial crime operations team.

What we’re looking for:

• Proven experience in a senior financial crime operational role within a fintech, payments firm, or investment firm.
• Strong understanding of the regulatory requirements in the UK, particularly as they relate to financial crime.
• Deep knowledge of AML, sanctions, fraud, and market abuse risk typologies and control frameworks.
• Experience leading operational teams performing EDD, screening, monitoring, and investigations.
• Familiarity with financial crime technology platforms (e.g., transaction monitoring systems, screening tools).
• Ability to translate complex regulatory requirements into practical, risk-based 1st Line controls.
• Strong stakeholder management skills, particularly with Compliance, Customer Support, Product, and Engineering.
• Excellent analytical, written, and verbal communication skills.

Desirable

• Professional certification (e.g., ICA, CAMS, ACAMS).
• Experience scaling controls in a fast-growth or start-up environment.
• Knowledge of UK financial crime legislation and enforcement trends.

What we’re really looking for:

Someone with a genuine interest in Chip and is excited about being part of a fast-growing company and our mission to build the investment super app of the future.

Although we’re in the financial space, and under the scrutiny that comes with it, the current operations team works well together, and even sometimes with a smile. We’re sure you’ve got the technical skills, otherwise, you would have stopped reading by now, so let us be clear on what will make us want to work with you.

We want a real person, with interests outside of work, to join our team. You could be a dancer, a gamer, a musician, a parent, a hockey fan, or even that one person that still writes Twilight fan-fiction. Doesn’t matter to us.

At the interview stages, we will be looking for empathy, EQ, fun stories, and the ability to smile even when things are tough.

Working Hours

• Monday to Thursday: 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM
• Friday: 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM (Start your weekend early!)

Enjoy a structured yet balanced workweek, with an early Friday finish to kickstart your weekend!

PERKS

• Discretionary Performance-Related Bi-Annual Bonus of up to 10% (Cash) and 5% (Shares) based on your gross annual salary.
• Workplace pension scheme - We invest in your future with a workplace pension scheme, contributing 5% on earnings up to £50,000. Plan ahead with confidence while you grow your career!
• Private medical insurance (medical history disregarded)
• Employee Assistance Programme
• Cycle to work scheme
• Season ticket loan
• Free ChipX subscription for UK-based employees
• We are an equal-opportunity employer and value diversity
• Flexible working arrangements
• 28 days holiday plus bank holidays, plus the days between Christmas and New Year
• Annual training budget for courses, workshops, or conferences to help you advance your career.
• £30 per month Chip Fitness Benefit to suit your Mental/Physical Wellbeing
• Company laptop
• Opportunity to have a huge impact on our product while fast-tracking your knowledge, responsibility, and skills in a high-growth fintech startup

Our Interview Process:

• Video screen with someone from our Talent team
• Video interview with the hiring manager
• F2F interview with our Chief Risk & Compliance Officer
• Final interview with our Financial Crime Manager & Team Lead

About Chip

Our mission is to make our customers wealthy. We’re building the wealth super app of the future, a platform to build long-term wealth across savings, investments, and pensions. We use technology to democratize investing, giving users a simple way to manage, grow, and protect their wealth. Chip is recognized as one of the fastest-growing tech companies in Britain, serving over 300,000 customers with assets exceeding £5 billion. We are a diverse team committed to innovation and excellence.