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2nd in command / Compliance Manager & DMLRO – £85,000

If you are interested in this candidate, please contact Charlie Watson via email cwatson@cerfinancial.co.uk or call on 0207 626 6065.

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PROFILE:

Senior Regulatory Compliance professional with over a decade of experience within UK-regulated international banks, including foreign wholesale branches. Experienced operating at Deputy Head of Compliance level and holding SMF16 (Compliance Oversight) and SMF17 (MLRO) responsibilities, including acting interim Head of Compliance and MLRO responsibilities within a London Branch environment. Proven track record in leading compliance and financial crime frameworks, regulatory advisory, compliance monitoring, governance oversight, and regulatory engagement across FCA and PRA-regulated environments.

Strong experience supporting supervisory interactions, regulatory change implementation, committee governance, and providing effective second-line challenge across conduct and financial crime risks. Skilled in influencing senior management decision-making, enhancing customer outcome-focused conduct risk frameworks, and operating effectively under regulatory scrutiny. Recognised for sound judgement, accountability, stakeholder management, and the ability to deliver pragmatic, risk-based compliance solutions in complex international banking environments.

SKILLS:

  • Microsoft Office | Temenos T24 | Eximbills

CAREER HISTORY:

August 2025 – Present

Banking

Compliance Manager (Certified Role)

Interim Deputy Head of Compliance Responsibilities

Overseeing key elements of the Bank’s UK compliance framework, deputising for the Head of Compliance and ensuring effective second-line oversight across compliance, conduct and financial crime risks.

Key Achievements:

  • Maintained continuity of compliance leadership by deputising for the Head of Compliance across key regulatory and governance matters
  • Improved visibility and escalation of compliance and conduct risks through structured MI and reporting to senior
  • management and committees
  • Enhanced audit readiness by coordinating audit activity and ensuring timely closure of remediation actions
  • Strengthened second-line oversight through effective challenge across compliance and financial crime risks
  • Coordination and delivery of responses to FCA and PRA information requests, ensuring timely and accurate regulatory engagement

Responsibilities:

  • Oversee delivery of the compliance framework, ensuring alignment with FCA and PRA regulatory requirements
  • Deputise for the Head of Compliance, acting as a primary contact for compliance matters
  • Provide second-line challenge across compliance, conduct and financial crime risks
  • Lead execution of a risk-based Compliance Monitoring Programme
  • Monitor regulatory developments and assess their impact on the business, supporting implementation of regulatory change
  • Advise senior management on regulatory obligations and compliance risks
  • Prepare and present MI to governance committees including Risk & Compliance Committee
  • Engage with regulators and support supervisory interactions
  • Oversee KYC, CDD, PEP and high-risk customer controls
  • Maintain AML, sanctions and compliance policies and procedures
  • Maintain oversight of data protection, Third party risk management and operational resilience frameworks
  • Coordinate internal audit lifecycle including planning, execution and remediation tracking
  • Act as key liaison for audit teams and stakeholders
  • Support Audit Committee governance through reporting and issue tracking
  • Provide direction to business stakeholders on compliance matters in the absence of the Head of Compliance
  • Secretary to the AML and Sanctions Committee

2019 – 2025

Banking

Assistant Compliance Manager – DMLRO Acting as interim MLRO & Head of Compliance

Acted as MLRO and Head of Compliance on an interim basis, holding responsibility for the Bank’s compliance and financial crime framework, regulatory engagement, compliance monitoring and governance oversight within a UK regulated environment.

Key Achievements:

  • Maintained full responsibility for the financial crime framework during MLRO coverage, ensuring continuity of regulatory reporting and governance across the Bank
  • Led SAR decision-making and escalation, applying independent judgement and ensuring defensible reporting
  • aligned with NCA expectations
  • Acted as primary point of contact for FCA and PRA queries, coordinating and delivering responses to regulatory information requests
  • Directed financial crime and compliance MI, providing senior management and committees with clear visibility of
  • risk exposure and key issues
  • Drove remediation of financial crime and compliance control gaps identified through monitoring and risk assessment
  • Influenced senior management decision-making through escalation and challenge of financial crime and conduct
  • risks

Responsibilities:

  • Held end-to-end responsibility for financial crime oversight during MLRO coverage, including AML, sanctions and CTF frameworks
  • Determined escalation of suspicious activity and SAR submissions
  • Provided independent challenge to senior management on financial crime and compliance risks
  • Led financial crime risk assessments and drove remediation of identified control gaps
  • Oversaw execution of the Compliance Monitoring Programme and second-line assurance activities
  • Owned financial crime and compliance MI and reporting to governance committees
  • Led regulatory engagement and supervisory interactions, including responses to FCA/PRA information requests
  • Maintained AML, sanctions and compliance policies and procedures
  • Directed sanctions advisory including HM Treasury requirements
  • Supported oversight of customer complaints and conduct risk, contributing to fair customer outcomes
  • Maintained SMCR processes including Fit & Proper assessments and regulatory notifications
  • Directed remediation activities across business areas to address financial crime and compliance control gaps
  • Influenced business decisions by providing clear direction and challenge on compliance risks
  • Secretary to Management Committee and Steering Committee

2016 – 2019

Banking

Trade Finance Officer

Managed trade finance operations while identifying and controlling financial crime risks across complex corporate banking transactions.

Key Achievements:

  • Improved identification of trade-based money laundering risks across trade finance transactions
  • Strengthened alignment between operational processes and financial crime controls
  • Supported risk-based decision-making in high-risk trade transactions

Responsibilities:

  • Managed end-to-end trade finance transactions
  • Identified TBML and sanctions risks across trade activity
  • Reviewed documentation and customer activity for risk indicators
  • Ensured AML and sanctions compliance
  • Escalated suspicious activity and supported investigations
  • Collaborated with Compliance to embed financial crime controls

2012 – 2016

Banking

Compliance Analyst (Sanctions)

Delivered sanctions screening, investigation and regulatory reporting within a UK regulated environment.

Key Achievements:

  • Improved consistency and accuracy of sanctions alert handling and escalation decisions
  • Maintained high-quality regulatory reporting to HM Treasury
  • Supported strengthening of sanctions control framework

Responsibilities:

  • Reviewed sanctions alerts and escalations
  • Conducted screening and investigation of matches
  • Prepared regulatory submissions to HM Treasury
  • Maintained audit trails and documentation
  • Supported enhancements to sanctions monitoring frameworks

2010 – 2012

Banking

Executive Assistant to CEO, CFO & COO

Managed the end-to-end governance flow of Board and Committee forums, supporting senior management and Board- level decision-making.

Key Achievements:

  • Ensured effective operation of governance forums through structured coordination and documentation
  • Improved tracking and follow-up of Board and Committee decisions, strengthening accountability
  • Produced accurate and timely Board-level minutes supporting governance transparency
  • Facilitated engagement between senior management, Board members and stakeholders

Responsibilities:

  • Managed end-to-end Board and Committee governance processes
  • Coordinated agendas, materials and documentation flow
  • Produced formal minutes capturing decisions and actions
  • Facilitated communication across senior stakeholders
  • Tracked and followed up on governance actions
  • Maintained governance records for audit and control purposes

EDUCATION:

Institute of Banking & Finance

ACAMS – Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialist CDCS

University

BSc Applied Chemistry

LANGUAGES:

  • English (Fluent)
  • Farsi (Fluent)
  • Turkish (Intermediate)
  • Spanish (Intermediate)

References Available Upon Request

If you are interested in this candidate, please contact Charlie Watson via email cwatson@cerfinancial.co.uk or call on 0207 626 6065.

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