Head of Financial Crime Assurance - UK

HSBC Group; Birmingham; Hybrid; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading financial institution seeks a Financial Crime Assurance leader in Birmingham to oversee independent assurance activities focused on financial crime risks in the UK. The role requires strategic oversight and collaboration across lines of defence, ensuring compliance with UK regulations. Ideal candidates should possess a strong background in assurance functions and risk management, as well as experience leading teams. The position promotes a culture of accountability and continuous improvement within the organization.

Qualifications

• Extensive knowledge of financial crime risks, systems, and controls.
• Experience managing regulatory audits and inspections.
• Ability to develop risk assessment tools providing timely insights.

Responsibilities

• Lead the delivery of independent, risk-based assurance for financial crime.
• Support developing the global financial crime assurance framework.
• Foster collaboration across teams for enhanced risk management.

Skills

Strategic thinking

Risk assessment

Team leadership

Regulatory compliance

Stakeholder management

Problem-solving

Strong communication

Education

Experience in leading assurance functions

Comprehensive understanding of UK regulations

Job description

The base location for this role can be Birmingham / UK Wide - Hybrid working The Financial Crime (UK) Assurance is responsible for leading the second line assurance activities specifically focused on FC UK risk management in HSBC. This role ensures that assurance activities are risk-based, consistent, and effective in evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of systems and controls to mitigate Financial Crime risk in the UK business, providing 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 FC UK 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 FC risks across UK business. The role requires a deep understanding of evolving regulatory expectations and emerging FC risks and typologies for UK, alongside the ability to collaborate seamlessly with UK FC Risk Stewards, first line control owners, and assurance teams to uphold the highest standards of compliance and risk management. For the role of Financial Crime UK Assurance, you will play a critical role in supporting the development and execution of assurance strategies that align with the organisation's overarching financial crime framework. Working closely with the Head of Financial Crime Assurance & Head of FC Assurance IWPB and FC Assurance Risk colleagues, you will oversee the delivery of independent, risk-based FC assurance across UK, fostering a culture of accountability, continuous improvement, and proactive risk management. You will lead a dedicated team of professionals, providing targeted assurance of FC risk management in UK, considering whether the risks are effectively identified, assessed and managed and that assurance outcomes provide meaningful insights to senior management and regulators.

• Support development and uphold the global second line financial crime assurance framework, methodologies and operating model.
• Oversee Risk Steward-led UK FC risk assurance activity, ensuring consistency, quality and independence of approach.
• Work closely with senior leaders in Financial Crime, 2LOD Assurance, 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 FC UK.

Leadership & Teamwork

• Support the Head of FC Assurance & Head of FC Assurance IWPB in delivering to the financial crime risk assurance strategy.
• Lead a global team of assurance professionals, across FC risk types in UK, setting strategic direction and ensuring high quality delivery of the UK assurance agenda.
• Foster strong collaboration across R&C Assurance, 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 for FC risks in UK.
• 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 FC risks, systems, controls, and regulatory expectations for UK.
• Deep understanding of HSBC's risk management frameworks and their application to UK risk management as well as assurance/risk assessment methodologies.
• Comprehensive understanding of UK regulations, standards, and control frameworks.
• Experience in leading or overseeing 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 FC risks and challenges in UK.
• 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.
• Experience in using technology to build out an effective assurance department is an added benefit.

You'll achieve more when you join HSBC. Opening up a world of opportunity

Being open to different points of view is important for our business and the communities we serve. At HSBC, we're dedicated to creating diverse and inclusive workplaces. Our recruitment processes are accessible to everyone - no matter their gender, ethnicity, disability, religion, sexual orientation, or age. We take pride in being a Disability Confident Leader and will offer an interview to people with disabilities, long term conditions or neurodivergent candidates who meet the minimum criteria for the role.