Senior AML Compliance Lead

Smartsearch; West Yorkshire; On-site; GBP 45,000 - 65,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

25 days holiday

Private Medical Insurance

Company pension scheme

Life Assurance - 4x annual salary

Volunteer day

Cycle to work scheme

On site gym

Job summary

SmartSearch Group, a leading AML verification software provider in the UK, seeks a Compliance Executive to advise on regulatory compliance across the group, including product controls, client-sector changes and best-practice risk management. The role covers KYC, KYB, sanctions, and data protection, with a strong focus on governance and escalation handling.

You will collaborate with Product, Technology, Legal, and Operations to maintain compliant, scalable services and respond to evolving

Qualifications

• A recognised AML/Compliance qualification is desirable but not essential
• Proven experience in compliance, financial crime, regulatory advisory, assurance or operational risk, ideally within a regulated, technology, SaaS, fintech or client-facing compliance environment.
• Strong knowledge of AML, CTF, sanctions, financial crime and wider regulatory requirements, with the ability to translate regulatory change into practical business, product and client-facing actions.
• Experience with KYC, KYB, due diligence, screening, monitoring, digital identity, document verification, compliance technology, vendors and assurance processes.
• Strong communicator and influencer, able to explain complex compliance matters in clear business language and provide pragmatic, proportionate recommendations.
• Commercially minded and solution-focused, able to balance regulatory expectations, client needs, operational realities and business objectives while maintaining appropriate compliance standards.

Responsibilities

• Provide overall compliance oversight across SmartSearch Group's products, managed services and client-facing compliance solutions, ensuring outputs remain accurate, consistent, defensible and aligned with regulatory requirements and industry best practice.
• Lead certification, accreditation and assurance activities, managing relationships with regulators, government bodies, auditors, industry standards organisations and external assurance providers, while supporting governance, risk reporting and evidence-based decision-making.
• Act as the principal compliance subject matter expert, providing guidance, training, mentoring and quality assurance on AML, CTF, sanctions, fraud prevention, anti-bribery and corruption, tax evasion, digital identity, data protection and other relevant regulatory obligations.
• Partner closely with Product, Technology, Operations, Legal, Information Security, Sales and Client Success teams to ensure products, services and client commitments are designed, implemented and maintained in a compliant, scalable and commercially effective manner.
• Monitor operational performance, complaints, quality metrics and management information to identify trends, risks, training needs and process improvements, recommending proportionate actions to enhance compliance, client outcomes and operational effectiveness.
• Oversee and support day-to-day compliance operations, including handling complex and escalated client queries, providing guidance on escalation decisions, supporting colleagues, and ensuring consistent adherence to policies, procedures and regulatory requirements.
• Drive continuous improvement and change management initiatives, supporting policy, process, technology and business changes, coordinating with vendors and stakeholders to strengthen controls, operational efficiency and regulatory compliance.
• Lead regulatory change management and horizon scanning activities, assessing the impact of new and emerging laws, regulations, enforcement trends, products, markets and jurisdictions, ensuring risks are identified early and that policies, controls and client-facing materials remain current and effective.

Skills

AML

Regulatory compliance

KYC/KYB

Due diligence

Digital identity

Data protection

Regulatory change translation

Tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

SmartSearch Group, a leading AML verification software provider in the UK, seeks a Compliance Executive to advise on regulatory compliance across the group, including product controls, client-sector changes and best-practice risk management. The role covers KYC, KYB, sanctions, and data protection, with a strong focus on governance and escalation handling.

You will collaborate with Product, Technology, Legal, and Operations to maintain compliant, scalable services and respond to evolving