Head of Financial Crime Assurance and Head of Financial Crime Assurance IWPB

HSBC Group; City of Westminster; On-site; GBP 100,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

A global financial institution is seeking a Head of Financial Crime Assurance to strategically lead second line assurance processes. You will oversee a global financial crime risk team, ensuring compliance with evolving regulatory expectations. This role demands expertise in financial crime regulations, team leadership, and collaboration with senior executives. An ideal candidate has a proven track record in risk management. The institution emphasizes a culture of inclusivity and high performance, offering competitive compensation and professional growth opportunities.

Qualifications

• Experience in leading and managing high-performing teams.
• Ability to mentor team members for excellence.
• Extensive knowledge of financial crime risks and regulatory expectations.
• Deep understanding of HSBC's risk management frameworks.
• Experience in managing regulatory audits and inspections.

Responsibilities

• Define and maintain financial crime assurance framework.
• Oversee financial crime assurance activity consistently.
• Build and sustain a high-performing global team.
• Set strategic direction for assurance agenda.
• Influence senior executives for assurance priorities.

Skills

Experience in leading high-performing teams

Extensive knowledge of financial crime risks

Proficiency in risk assessment methodologies

Strong strategic thinking skills

Job description

The Head of Financial Crime (FC) Assurance & Head of FC Assurance IWPB provides strategic leadership of second line assurance over all Financial Crime risk types, including Bribery and Corruption; Fraud; Money Laundering; Proliferation Financing; Sanctions Violations and Evasion; Export Control Violations and Evasion; Tax Evasion and Tax Evasion Facilitation; and Terrorist Financing. The role ensures that assurance activity across the Group is risk based, consistent and effective in evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of systems and controls to mitigate financial crime risk, giving senior management and regulators confidence in the strength of the Financial Crime framework. This position is crucial for ensuring that robust assurance processes are in place and executed effectively to assess the effectiveness of the Bank's Financial Crime control environment independently. The role demands strategic oversight of global frameworks and standards with a focus on evaluating how effectively the organisation prevents, detects and mitigates financial crime risk across all businesses and jurisdiction. The role requires deep understanding of evolving regulatory expectations and emerging financial crime risks and typologies, alongside the ability to collaborate seamlessly with Financial Crime Risk Stewards, first line control owners and assurance teams to uphold the highest standards of compliance and risk management. As the Head of FC Assurance & Head of FC Assurance IWPB, you will play a critical role in supporting the development and execution of assurance strategies that align with the organization’s overarching risk management framework. Working closely with the Global Head of R&C Assurance, you will oversee the delivery of independent, risk-based assurance across Financial Crime, fostering a culture of accountability, continuous improvement and proactive risk management. You will lead a dedicated team of professionals, providing targeted assurance of financial crime risk management, considering whether the risks are effectively identified, assessed and managed and that assurance outcomes provide meaningful insights to senior management and regulators.

Responsibilities

• Define and maintain the global second line financial crime assurance framework, methodologies and operating model.
• Oversee Risk Steward-led financial crime assurance activity, ensuring consistency, quality and independence of approach.
• Work closely with senior leaders in Financial Crime, first line of defence (GCCOO Control Oversight Office) and third line of defence (Internal Audit) to ensure alignment, avoid duplication and strengthen the overall three lines of defence model.
• Build and sustain a high-performing global team that demonstrate consistent, independent and risk-based assurance across financial crime risk types.
• Apply deep expertise in risk assessment and/or assurance methodologies to strengthen the Bank's overall three lines of defence model and meet evolving regulatory expectations.
• Lead a global team of senior assurance professionals, across all financial crime risk types, setting strategic direction and ensuring high quality delivery of the assurance agenda.
• Foster strong collaboration across R&C, promoting consistency and knowledge sharing across risk types.
• Role model HSBC values and conduct, driving an inclusive, diverse and high-performance culture.
• Influence and build trust with senior executives and stakeholders across regions and functions, ensuring effective buy-in to assurance priorities.

Qualifications

• Demonstrate experience in leading and managing high-performing teams, with a focus on fostering a culture of accountability and continuous improvement.
• Ability to mentor and develop team members, ensuring they are equipped with the necessary skills and knowledge to excel in their roles.
• Extensive knowledge of financial crime risks, systems and controls, and regulatory expectations across financial crime risk types.
• Deep understanding of HSBC's risk management frameworks, its application to the financial crime risk management framework, as well as assurance/risk assessment methodologies.
• Deep understanding of global financial crime regulations, standards and control frameworks.
• Experience in leading or overseeing financial crime assurance, audit or regulatory testing functions within a complex, global financial institution is an added benefit.
• Experience in managing regulatory audits and inspections, with a proven track record of maintaining compliance and addressing regulatory changes proactively preferred.
• Proficiency in identifying, assessing, and mitigating risks across various business units, ensuring that risk exposure is minimized and managed effectively.
• Ability to develop and implement risk assessment tools and techniques that provide accurate and timely insights into the organization’s risk profile.
• Ability to translate complex risk and control issues into meaningful insights for senior executives and regulators.
• Skilled in balancing independent challenge with constructive engagement to drive improvements in the control environment.
• Strong strategic thinking skills with the ability to anticipate and address emerging risks and challenges.
• Innovative problem‑solving abilities, with a focus on developing practical solutions that enhance the organization's risk management capabilities.
• Must demonstrate a proactive, curious and investigative mindset, with ability to be dynamic, risk-based, and make effective judgements, with an understanding of the effectiveness agenda.