SCUK Risk & Controls Manager (Financial Crime)

Santander; Redhill; Hybrid; GBP 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Salary dependent on experience

30 days holiday + bank holidays

Annual bonus

Car allowance

Generous pension contributions

Private medical cover

Employee assistance programme

Sharesave scheme

Gym passes

Job summary

Santander is seeking a SCUK Risk & Controls Manager (Financial Crime) in the United Kingdom. The role leads a specialist team responsible for quality control, assurance and oversight across customer and third-party journeys, covering AML, sanctions, fraud and Consumer Duty risks.

You will design risk-based controls, supervise due diligence and monitoring processes, and work with senior stakeholders to strengthen risk management and operational outcomes.

Qualifications

• Significant experience in Financial Crime, Risk, Controls, Compliance or Fraud.
• Expertise in Enhanced Due Diligence (EDD) and Customer Due Diligence (CDD) for customers and third parties.
• Knowledge of Financial Crime risk management including AML, sanctions, fraud, bribery & corruption and Consumer Duty risks.
• Proven ability to design, implement and execute risk-based controls and assurance frameworks across financial crime.
• Experience leading, coaching and developing teams, creating a culture of accountability and risk awareness.

Responsibilities

• Lead a team delivering Financial Crime quality control, assurance and oversight activities across customer and third-party journeys.
• Design and implement risk-based quality controls covering onboarding, ongoing due diligence and EDD processes.
• Provide oversight of financial crime controls including customer risk assessments, sanctions screening and transaction monitoring.
• Conduct thematic reviews, gap analysis and control testing to assess framework effectiveness.
• Calibrate and optimise Financial Crime models and related tools.
• Identify, escalate and oversee remediation of financial crime risks, issues, breaches and control weaknesses.
• Produce management information and reporting on control effectiveness and emerging risks.
• Collaborate with Operations, Compliance, Audit and Financial Crime teams to strengthen controls and outcomes.
• Lead assurance over design and operating effectiveness of controls within the risk framework.
• Support audits, regulatory changes and continuous improvement programmes including AI-enabled solutions.
• Coach, develop and lead a high-performing team while promoting risk-awareness and Consumer Duty adherence.

Skills

Financial Crime risk management

Regulatory compliance

Stakeholder influence

Team coaching

Education

Financial Crime qualification

Job description

SCUK Risk & Controls Manager (Financial Crime)

Country: United Kingdom

This is an exciting opportunity to lead a specialist Financial Crime Risk & Controls team at the forefront of protecting Santander Consumer Finance from financial crime, fraud and conduct risks. You'll play a critical role in designing and delivering quality control and assurance frameworks that support regulatory compliance, strong customer outcomes and effective risk management across the organisation.

As a recognised financial crime subject matter expert, you'll have oversight of key customer and third-party due diligence journeys, including dealers, brokers, manufacturers and joint ventures. You'll influence business-wide improvements, shape risk-based control frameworks and drive assurance activities across AML, sanctions, fraud, bribery, corruption, terrorist financing and Consumer Duty risks.

This role offers the opportunity to lead a high-performing team, work with senior stakeholders across the business and continuously enhance financial crime controls through innovation, data-driven insight and emerging technologies, including AI-enabled solutions.

Please note this role is a hybrid role with at least 3 days a week in the Redhill office. Remote workers will not be considered.

Please note the closing date for this role will be, end of day, Monday 5th October 2026

Responsibilities will include:

• Leading a team responsible for delivering Financial Crime quality control, assurance and oversight activities across customer and third-party journeys.
• Designing and implementing risk-based quality controls covering customer onboarding, ongoing due diligence and Enhanced Due Diligence (EDD) processes.
• Providing oversight of financial crime controls including customer risk assessments, sanctions screening, transaction monitoring, fraud prevention controls and anti-bribery & corruption controls.
• Conducting thematic reviews, targeted assurance activity, gap analysis and control testing to assess the effectiveness of financial crime frameworks.
• Supporting calibration and optimisation of Financial Crime models, including transaction monitoring, screening and customer risk assessment tools.
• Identifying, escalating and overseeing remediation of financial crime risks, issues, breaches and control weaknesses.
• Producing management information and reporting that provides meaningful insight into control effectiveness, trends and emerging risks.
• Working closely with Operations, Commercial, Compliance, Audit and Financial Crime teams to strengthen controls and improve customer and business outcomes.
• Leading assurance over the design and operating effectiveness of financial crime controls documented within the organisation's risk framework.
• Supporting audits, regulatory change initiatives and continuous improvement programmes, including the development of AI-enabled control solutions.
• Coaching, developing and leading a high-performing team while promoting a strong culture of financial crime risk awareness and compliance.
• Adhering to our commitment to Consumer Duty ensuring we put our customers' needs first and set higher and clearer standards of consumer protection

What we're looking for:

• Significant experience within Financial Crime, Risk, Controls, Compliance or Fraud environments, ideally within financial services.
• Strong expertise in Enhanced Due Diligence (EDD), Customer Due Diligence (CDD) and ongoing monitoring frameworks for both customers and third parties.
• In-depth knowledge of Financial Crime risk management, including Anti-Money Laundering (AML), Sanctions, Fraud, Terrorist Financing, Anti-Bribery & Corruption and Consumer Duty risks.
• Proven experience designing, implementing and executing risk-based controls and assurance frameworks across financial crime disciplines.
• Strong understanding of customer and third-party due diligence journeys, including higher-risk entities such as dealers, brokers, manufacturers and joint ventures.
• Experience conducting assurance reviews, quality control testing, thematic reviews, gap analysis and control effectiveness assessments.
• Ability to assess complex information, identify emerging risks and make balanced, evidence-based decisions.
• Strong knowledge of financial crime regulations, policies, industry standards and regulatory expectations.
• Proven experience of influencing senior stakeholders and providing actionable recommendations to strengthen risk management and control environments.
• Experience leading, coaching and developing teams, creating a culture of accountability, continuous improvement and risk awareness.
• Excellent analytical, reporting and communication skills, with the ability to translate complex risk information into meaningful business insight.
• A recognised Financial Crime qualification is essential.

We have a range of benefits available which include:

• Competitive salary dependent on experience
• 30 days holiday per annum, plus bank holidays
• Annual bonus based on personal and company performance
• Car allowance
• Generous pension contributions
• Private medical cover
• Employee assistance programme
• Sharesave scheme
• Gym passes at a reduced rate for 3,000 gyms, leisure centres etc

Other things you need to know:

• The hours for this role are 09:00-17:00 across Monday to Friday

Inclusion

At Santander we're creating a thriving workplace where all colleagues feel they belong and are supported to succeed. We all help to make Santander a workplace that celebrates diversity and attracts, retains and develops the most talented and committed people through living our values of Simple, Personal, and Fair.

At Santander Consumer Finance we have a zero-tolerance approach to discrimination, bullying, harassment (including sexual) or victimisation of any kind.