Quality Control Lead

Northreach; Slough; On-site; GBP 75,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

Northreach is seeking a skilled Quality Control Lead for its Financial Crime function. You will design and embed a robust QC framework across internal operations and outsourced partners, overseeing transaction monitoring, sanctions, PEP screening and KYC activities with independent oversight and evidence-based decisions.

You will lead the creation of sampling methodologies, governance structures and meaningful management information to support remediation and continual improvement.

Qualifications

• Strong practical experience in financial crime QA/quality assurance or operational oversight within regulated financial services.
• Experience reviewing transaction monitoring, sanctions, PEP, KYC or AML activity with evidence-based conclusions.
• A track record of turning findings into actionable management information and remediation plans.

Responsibilities

• Design, implement and embed a risk-based quality control framework for financial crime.
• Lead quality reviews across transaction monitoring, sanctions, PEP, KYC and related activity.
• Provide oversight of outsourced/third-party operational partners.
• Assess investigation quality, rationale and escalation outcomes.
• Establish sampling methodologies, review frequencies and governance.
• Produce MI on quality scores, trends and risks for senior stakeholders.
• Identify control gaps and drive remediation plans with internal teams.
• Present findings and recommendations to governance forums.

Skills

Financial crime QA

UK regulatory knowledge

Data analysis

Stakeholder engagement

Outsourced partner oversight

Investigations rationale

Tools

Excel

Power BI

Job description

Northreach is a dynamic recruitment agency that connects businesses with top talent in financial services, fintech, and digital sectors. We specialize in providing a seamless recruitment experience for clients and candidates, fostering innovation and professional growth.

Northreach is partnering with an established financial services organisation to appoint a Quality Control Lead within its Financial Crime function.

This is a newly created, highly visible position responsible for designing and embedding a robust quality control framework across internal operations and outsourced financial crime partners. You will provide independent oversight across transaction monitoring, sanctions, PEP screening and KYC activity, ensuring decisions are accurate, well evidenced and aligned with regulatory expectations.

The role offers genuine ownership. You will establish the methodology, sampling approach, reporting and governance structure rather than simply inheriting an established QC process.

The Role

As Quality Control Lead, you will:

• Design, implement and continuously improve a risk-based financial crime quality control framework.
• Conduct quality reviews across transaction monitoring, sanctions, PEP screening, KYC and related financial crime activity.
• Provide oversight of work completed by outsourced and third-party operational partners.
• Assess the quality of investigations, decision-making, supporting rationale and escalation outcomes.
• Establish appropriate sampling methodologies and review frequencies.
• Monitor adherence to internal procedures, service levels and regulatory requirements.
• Produce clear management information covering quality scores, trends, recurring weaknesses and emerging risks.
• Identify control gaps and conduct root-cause analysis where standards are not being met.
• Work with internal teams and external partners to agree practical remediation plans.
• Track remedial actions through to completion and provide evidence of sustained improvement.
• Deliver constructive feedback, guidance and coaching to operational teams.
• Present findings and recommendations to senior stakeholders and governance forums.
• Support the wider development of financial crime policies, procedures and controls.

About You

You will bring strong practical experience of financial crime quality control, quality assurance, testing or operational oversight within a regulated financial services environment.

You should have:

• Hands-on experience reviewing transaction monitoring, sanctions, PEP, KYC or broader AML activity.
• A strong understanding of what good investigative rationale and defensible decision-making look like.
• Experience developing or improving QC frameworks, sampling methodologies and review standards.
• The ability to translate detailed findings into meaningful management information.
• Strong Excel and data-analysis skills, with experience identifying trends and recurring control weaknesses.
• Confidence challenging internal stakeholders and third-party providers constructively.
• Experience overseeing outsourced financial crime operations or external service providers.
• A working knowledge of UK financial crime regulation, including the Money Laundering Regulations, POCA and relevant industry guidance.
• Strong written communication skills and the ability to present complex findings clearly.
• A practical, solutions-focused approach to remediation and control improvement.

Experience working with multiple external partners or building a QC framework from the ground up would be particularly valuable.

This is an excellent opportunity for an experienced Financial Crime QC professional who wants greater ownership, visibility and the ability to create meaningful improvements.

Northreach is committed to promoting equal opportunities. Applications are welcomed from all suitably qualified individuals, regardless of background or personal circumstances