Senior AML & Sanctions Advisory Lead (Hybrid)

MERJE; East Midlands; Hybrid; GBP 70,000 - 95,000; Full time

Job summary

MERJE is seeking a Principal Associate for AML and Sanctions Advisory in the East Midlands, with hybrid working (3 days in office). The role reports to the MLRO and shapes the financial crime framework across onboarding, screening and monitoring, delivering pragmatic risk-based decisions and robust challenge.

The successful candidate will own policies, drive improvements, and lead remediation while collaborating with operational teams to ensure UK regulatory alignment and ongoing control

Qualifications

• Strong regulatory knowledge across Money Laundering Regulations, JMLSG guidance, POCA and OFSI sanctions.
• Experience conducting financial crime reviews in high-volume environments across CDD, screening and monitoring.
• Ability to assess complex situations, balance risk with commercial needs and support informed decisions.
• Experience testing controls, challenging first-line operations and driving remediation.
• Excellent communication skills to explain regulatory issues and drive improvements.
• Accredited industry qualification (ICA or ACAMS) demonstrating ongoing professional development.

Responsibilities

• Develop risk-based CDD processes covering entities, owners and control persons.
• Oversee sanctions screening and transaction-monitoring controls for effectiveness.
• Maintain policies, procedures and annual training reflecting regulatory expectations.
• Lead second-line testing and provide credible challenge to first-line controls.
• Lead remediation and continuous improvement of monitoring rules.
• Improve case quality of SARs and advise on complex onboarding decisions.

Skills

Regulatory expertise

Financial crime experience

Risk assessment

Second-line controls

Stakeholder influence

Professional qualification

Education

ICA or ACAMS

Job description

MERJE is seeking a Principal Associate for AML and Sanctions Advisory in the East Midlands, with hybrid working (3 days in office). The role reports to the MLRO and shapes the financial crime framework across onboarding, screening and monitoring, delivering pragmatic risk-based decisions and robust challenge.

The successful candidate will own policies, drive improvements, and lead remediation while collaborating with operational teams to ensure UK regulatory alignment and ongoing control