Vice President, EMEA, AML Compliance Officer

Walker & Dunlop, LLC; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible hours

Health insurance

Pension plan

Mental health support

Job summary

Walker & Dunlop is seeking an experienced Money Laundering Reporting Officer (MLRO) to lead the financial crime compliance program for its EMEA Capital Markets platform. The role focuses on building scalable policies and controls, regulatory engagement, and risk management across Europe.

You will work with senior leadership to ensure regulatory compliance, oversee AML/CTF operations, and support expansion into additional jurisdictions.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Finance, Risk Management, Law, or related field preferred.
• CAMS, ICA Diploma, or equivalent certification.
• 8+ years of experience in financial crime compliance or AML.
• Experience investigating SARs via the National Crime Agency (NCA) portal.
• Experience overseeing transaction monitoring systems, screening platforms, and firm-wide financial crime risk assessments.
• Experience engaging with the FCA, HMRC, law enforcement and other authorities.
• Experience as a designated AML/CTF officer across EU jurisdictions preferred.

Responsibilities

• Serve as UK MLRO, Nominated Officer, and AML Compliance Officer where applicable.
• Lead and maintain EMEA AML/CTF program, including sanctions and controls.
• Investigate SARs and determine disclosures to authorities.
• Develop and maintain financial crime policies, risk assessments, and governance.
• Establish CDD/EDD, beneficial ownership verification, sanctions screening, and monitoring.
• Provide risk assessments and regulatory guidance to senior leadership.
• Oversee monitoring, testing, training, and remediation of financial crime issues.
• Act as primary contact for FCA, HMRC, law enforcement for regulatory reviews.
• Partner with other departments to integrate controls into processes.
• Support expansion into additional EMEA jurisdictions.
• Promote a culture of compliance through training and collaboration.
• Attendance 8:30am–5:30pm Tue–Thu; remote Mon/Wed/Fri.

Skills

UK AML regulations

Regulatory risk management

Regulatory communications

Strong written/verbal communication

Leadership experience

Education

Bachelor's degree in Finance, Risk Management, Law, or related field

CAMS, ICA Diploma or equivalent

Tools

NCA portal

AML monitoring systems

Job description

Department: Risk Management

We are Walker & Dunlop. We are one of the largest providers of capital to the commercial real estate industry, enabling real estate owners and operators to bring their visions of communities — where people live, work, shop, and play — to life. We are committed to creating meaningful social, environmental, and economic change in our communities.

Department Overview

Walker & Dunlop’s Enterprise Risk Management team is responsible for identifying, assessing, and reporting on risk while assisting management in its risk mitigation efforts. By helping the Company proactively manage risk, the Enterprise Risk Management team plays a crucial role in safeguarding the organization's assets, ensuring regulatory compliance, and supporting strategic decision-making.

Impact You Will Have

We are seeking an experienced, commercially minded Money Laundering Reporting Officer (MLRO) to lead and manage the financial crime compliance program for our growing EMEA Capital Markets platform, which provides commercial real estate debt and joint venture (JV) equity brokerage and property sales services across Europe. This individual will establish and maintain scalable compliance frameworks, policies, and controls that support regulatory compliance and responsible business growth. Working closely with business leadership, the MLRO will provide strategic guidance, oversee financial crime risks, and support expansion into additional EMEA jurisdictions.

Primary Responsibilities

• Serve as the UK Money Laundering Reporting Officer (MLRO), Nominated Officer, and, where applicable, AML Compliance Officer, fulfilling applicable regulatory and supervisory obligations.
• Lead and maintain the EMEA anti-money laundering and counter-terrorist financing (AML/CTF) compliance program, including sanctions and broader financial crime controls.
• Investigate and assess internal suspicious activity reports (SARs) and determine appropriate disclosures to the National Crime Agency (NCA) and other relevant authorities.
• Develop and maintain financial crime policies, procedures, risk assessments, governance frameworks, and reporting processes in accordance with applicable UK and EU regulatory requirements.
• Establish and oversee risk-based customer due diligence (CDD), enhanced due diligence (EDD), beneficial ownership verification, sanctions screening, and ongoing monitoring processes.
• Provide independent financial crime risk assessments, regulatory guidance, and recommendations to senior leadership, including advice on higher-risk customers and transactions.
• Oversee financial crime monitoring, testing, training, issue management, and remediation activities, identifying opportunities to improve controls through technology and automation.
• Serve as a primary point of contact for the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), HMRC, law enforcement, and other relevant authorities, supporting regulatory reviews, audits, and supervisory inquiries.
• Partner with Capital Markets, Legal, Operations, and senior leadership to integrate effective financial crime controls into business processes and transaction workflows.
• Support expansion into additional EMEA jurisdictions by assessing local regulatory requirements and establishing appropriate compliance policies, governance structures, and oversight processes.
• Serve as a designated financial crime compliance officer or equivalent responsible person in additional jurisdictions, subject to applicable local requirements and regulatory approvals.
• Promote a strong culture of compliance through training, communication, and collaboration with business stakeholders.
• Perform other duties as assigned.
• Attendance is generally required from 8:30 am – 5:30 pm local time, Tuesday through Thursday, with the option to work remotely on Mondays and Fridays.

Education and Experience

• Bachelor's degree (BS/BA) required; degree in Finance, Risk Management, Law, or a related field preferred.
• CAMS, ICA Diploma, or equivalent certification.
• 8+ years of experience in financial crime compliance or anti-money laundering (AML).
• Experience investigating, preparing, and submitting suspicious activity reports (SARs) through the National Crime Agency (NCA) portal.
• Experience overseeing transaction monitoring systems, screening platforms, and firm-wide financial crime risk assessments.
• Experience engaging with the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), HMRC, law enforcement, and other relevant regulatory or supervisory authorities.
• Experience serving as a designated AML/CTF officer or in an equivalent regulatory role across EU jurisdictions strongly preferred.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• In-depth knowledge of UK AML legislation and regulatory guidance, including the Proceeds of Crime Act (POCA), Money Laundering Regulations, Joint Money Laundering Steering Group (JMLSG) guidance, and applicable HMRC guidance.
• Strong understanding of financial crime risks, regulatory compliance frameworks, and risk-based controls across UK and EU jurisdictions.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to interpret complex legal and regulatory requirements.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to present complex information to senior leadership.
• Sound judgment and decision-making skills, with the ability to provide independent compliance oversight.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities, work independently, and maintain strong attention to detail.
• Ability to build effective relationships and collaborate with cross-functional teams and senior leadership.
• Fluency in French and Spanish highly desirable.
• Ability to show ownership of your work, take on challenges and acknowledge growth opportunities, and demonstrate patience when learning new processes.
• Courtesy, respect, and thoughtfulness in teaming with colleagues and other stakeholders.

What We Offer

You will have the opportunity to accelerate in our rapidly growing organization. We’re a lean team, so your impact will be felt immediately.

• Flexible working hours, career advancement, and competitive compensation package.
• We arrange social activities to help our employees and families become familiar with each other and our culture.
• In addition to other benefits, we offer supplemental health insurance, a pension plan, and 100% complimentary and confidential mental health services.

Walker & Dunlop utilizes Workday for automated applicant tracking. No hiring decisions are fully automated, and our talent recruiting team may be reached at any time at [e-mail].

You have the right to request information on the screening process. You further have the right to withdraw or delete your information at any time.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

We are committed to equity in all steps of the recruitment and employment experience.

We believe in equal access to opportunities in our workplace.

We do not tolerate discrimination, including harassment, based on any characteristic protected by applicable law, such as race, color, national origin, religion, gender identity, sexual orientation, sex, age, disability, veteran or military status, and genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.

We strive to be a safe place to ask questions, build professional relationships, and develop careers.

Our Culture

Our experience is the combination of everything that’s unique about our culture, our core values, our company meetings, our commitment to success, our recognition programs, but most importantly, it’s our people. Our employees are self‑disciplined, hardworking, curious, trustworthy, humble and truthful. They make choices according to what is best for the team, they live for opportunities to collaborate and make a difference, and they make us the #1 Top Workplace in our area.