Job description
We are a leading trading platform that is ambitiously expanding to the four corners of the globe. Our top-rated products have won prestigious industry awards for their cutting-edge technology and seamless client experience. We deliver only the best, so we are always in search of the best people to join our ever-growing talented team.
The Head of Financial Crime Compliance will lead Capital.com’s Second Line oversight of financial crime risk, with a dual mandate of (1) designing and maintaining the group’s financial crime frameworks and minimum standards, and (2) establishing operational financial crime capabilities during periods of business expansion or regulatory change, incubating them until they are mature enough to transition into the First Line.
This role is responsible for the enterprise-wide Financial Crime Risk Assessment (FCRA), setting governance expectations, conducting independent oversight, and enhancing financial crime risk management practices across the group. The role ensures the business operates within risk appetite, complies with regulatory obligations, and maintains a consistent and effective approach to managing AML, CTF, sanctions, ABC, fraud, and related risks.
You will work closely with First Line Product, Operations and Technology teams, while maintaining the independence required of a strong 2LOD function. You will also play a key role in embedding risk culture, raising standards, and building scalable financial crime compliance capabilities globally.
Responsabilities
Framework Design, Standards & Governance
- Lead the design, implementation, and continuous enhancement of the Group Financial Crime Framework, including policies, standards, governance structures, and risk appetite.
- Own and develop the annual enterprise-wide Financial Crime Risk Assessment (FCRA), ensuring it drives meaningful risk insights and informs mitigation strategies and control evolution.
- Introduce, communicate, and enforce minimum financial crime compliance standards across regions and business units to ensure consistency of practice and regulatory alignment.
- Establish and drive strong financial crime risk management practices, embedding financial crime principles into enterprise risk frameworks.
Incubation of New Financial Crime Operational Functions
- Design, stand up, and temporarily incubate new operational financial crime functions (e.g., new jurisdictional AML procedures, new product control requirements, onboarding/KYC models, sanctions processes) where required due to regulatory change, product launches, or organisational restructuring.
- Define the required processes, competencies, tooling, and KPIs for such functions to make them operationally effective.
- Oversee early-stage execution to validate design assumptions and ensure alignment with risk appetite and regulatory expectations.
- Manage the structured transition of these incubated functions into the First Line of Defence, ensuring they are fully capable and sustainably embedded.
Oversight, Monitoring & Assurance
- Develop and execute a group-wide 2LOD monitoring and assurance programme to test and challenge the effectiveness of 1LOD financial crime controls.
- Perform thematic reviews, deep dives, and targeted assessments to ensure operational adherence to minimum standards and regulatory obligations.
- Track, challenge, and report on remediation actions, escalating deficiencies to senior management where required.
Advisory & Challenge
- Provide expert 2LOD guidance and challenge to the First Line on new products, markets, technologies, and operational processes.
- Ensure that new business initiatives incorporate effective financial crime controls from the design stage through to deployment.
- Review and challenge risk assessments, model design, rule sets, and operational procedures to ensure they are robust, scalable, and compliant.
Regulatory Compliance, Reporting & Horizon Scanning
- Maintain awareness of emerging global AML/CTF, sanctions, fraud, and ABC regulatory developments, and assess their impact on the group.
- Lead regulatory change projects within the financial crime domain, ensuring frameworks and standards are updated accordingly.
- Prepare and deliver clear MI, risk dashboards, and assurance reporting to the Executive, Board committees, and regulators.
- Support regulatory examinations and audits by presenting an independent and informed view of financial crime risk and control effectiveness.
Cross-Functional Leadership & Culture Building
- Partner with Product & Technology to ensure financial crime tooling aligns with regulatory expectations, risk appetite, and minimum standards.
- Collaborate with regional and functional leaders to embed strong financial crime governance and drive consistency across jurisdictions.
- Contribute to building a proactive risk culture, strengthening organisational awareness and accountability for financial crime risk.
Team Leadership & Capability Development
- Build and lead a high-performing 2LOD financial crime compliance team, focused on oversight, assurance, advisory, and framework design.
- Provide coaching, training, and development to uplift financial crime expertise across both 2LOD and 1LOD teams.
- Champion a culture of continuous improvement, risk ownership, and regulatory excellence
Qualifications & Skills
Education & Experience
- 7+ years’ experience in financial crime compliance, AML advisory, risk oversight, or similar roles within financial services or fintech.
- Proven experience designing risk management frameworks, conducting FCRAs, and establishing minimum standards.
- Experience setting up or remediating financial crime operational functions.
Technical Skills
- Deep understanding of AML/CTF, sanctions, ABC, and fraud regulatory requirements.
- Strong knowledge of financial crime systems, model design, and data-driven control performance assessment.
- Ability to interpret regulatory expectations and translate them into scalable frameworks and standards.
Soft Skills
- Strong leadership and collaboration skills with the ability to influence at all levels.
- Excellent communication and stakeholder management, with a clear, structured approach to challenge.
- Strategic thinker with strong analytical capability and attention to detail.
- Comfortable navigating ambiguity and driving structure in high-growth or evolving environments.
What you will get in return:
• Competitive Salary: We believe great work deserves great pay! Your skills and talents will be rewarded with a salary that makes you feel valued and motivated.
• Work-Life Harmony: Join a company that genuinely cares about you - because your life outside of work matters just as much as your time on the clock. #LI-Hybrid
• Annual Performance Bonus: Your hard work doesn’t go unnoticed! Celebrate your achievements with a well-deserved annual bonus tied to your performance.
• Generous Time Off: Need a breather? Our annual leave policy lets you recharge and enjoy life outside of work without a worry.
• Employee Referral Program: Love working here? Share the love! Bring your talented friends on board and get rewarded for growing our awesome team.
• Comprehensive Health & Pension Benefits: From medical insurance to pension plans, we’ve got your back. Plus, location-specific benefits and perks!
• Workation Wonderland: Live your digital nomad dreams with 30 extra days to work remotely from anywhere in the world (some restrictions apply). Adventure awaits!
• Volunteer Days: Make a difference! Take two additional paid days each year to support causes you care about and give back to the community.
Be a key player at the forefront of the digital assets movement, propelling your career to new heights! Join a dynamic and rapidly expanding company that values and rewards talent, initiative, and creativity. Work alongside one of the most brilliant teams in the industry.
