This is an exciting opportunity to lead a specialist Financial Crime Risk & Controls team at the forefront of protecting Santander Consumer Finance from financial crime, fraud and conduct risks. You'll play a critical role in designing and delivering quality control and assurance frameworks that support regulatory compliance, strong customer outcomes and effective risk management across the organisation.
As a recognised financial crime subject matter expert, you'll have oversight of key customer and third-party due diligence journeys, including dealers, brokers, manufacturers and joint ventures. You'll influence business-wide improvements, shape risk-based control frameworks and drive assurance activities across AML, sanctions, fraud, bribery and corruption, terrorist financing and Consumer Duty risks.
This role offers the opportunity to lead a high-performing team, work with senior stakeholders across the business and continuously enhance financial crime controls through innovation, data-driven insight and emerging technologies, including AI-enabled solutions.
Please note this role is a hybrid role with at least 3 days a week in the Redhill office. Remote workers will not be considered.
Please note the closing date for this role will be, end of day, Monday 5th October 2026
Responsibilities will include:
- Leading a team responsible for delivering Financial Crime quality control, assurance and oversight activities across customer and third-party journeys.
- Designing and implementing risk-based quality controls covering customer onboarding, ongoing due diligence and Enhanced Due Diligence (EDD) processes.
- Providing oversight of financial crime controls including customer risk assessments, sanctions screening, transaction monitoring, fraud prevention controls and anti-bribery & corruption controls.
- Conducting thematic reviews, targeted assurance activity, gap analysis and control testing to assess the effectiveness of financial crime frameworks.
- Supporting calibration and optimisation of Financial Crime models, including transaction monitoring, screening and customer risk assessment tools.
- Identifying, escalating and overseeing remediation of financial crime risks, issues, breaches and control weaknesses.
- Producing management information and reporting that provides meaningful insight into control effectiveness, trends and emerging risks.
- Working closely with Operations, Commercial, Compliance, Audit and Financial Crime teams to strengthen controls and improve customer and business outcomes.
- Leading assurance over the design and operating effectiveness of financial crime controls documented within the organisation's risk framework.
- Supporting audits, regulatory change initiatives and continuous improvement programmes, including the development of AI-enabled control solutions.
- Coaching, developing and leading a high-performing team while promoting a strong culture of financial crime risk awareness and compliance.
- Adhering to our commitment to Consumer Duty ensuring we put our customers’ needs first and set higher and clearer standards of consumer protection
What we’re looking for:
- Significant experience within Financial Crime, Risk, Controls, Compliance or Fraud environments, ideally within financial services.
- Strong expertise in Enhanced Due Diligence (EDD), Customer Due Diligence (CDD) and ongoing monitoring frameworks for both customers and third parties.
- In-depth knowledge of Financial Crime risk management, including Anti-Money Laundering (AML), Sanctions, Fraud, Terrorist Financing, Anti-Bribery & Corruption and Consumer Duty risks.
- Proven experience designing, implementing and executing risk-based controls and assurance frameworks across financial crime disciplines.
- Strong understanding of customer and third-party due diligence journeys, including higher-risk entities such as dealers, brokers, manufacturers and joint ventures.
- Experience conducting assurance reviews, quality control testing, thematic reviews, gap analysis and control effectiveness assessments.
- Ability to assess complex information, identify emerging risks and make balanced, evidence-based decisions.
- Strong knowledge of financial crime regulations, policies, industry standards and regulatory expectations.
- Proven experience of influencing senior stakeholders and providing actionable recommendations to strengthen risk management and control environments.
- Experience leading, coaching and developing teams, creating a culture of accountability, continuous improvement and risk awareness.
- Excellent analytical, reporting and communication skills, with the ability to translate complex risk information into meaningful business insight.
- A recognised Financial Crime qualification is essential.
We have a range of benefits available which include:
- Competitive salary dependent on experience
- 30 days holiday per annum, plus bank holidays
- Annual bonus based on personal and company performance
- Car allowance
- Generous pension contributions
- Private medical cover
- Employee assistance programme
- Sharesave scheme
- Gym passes at a reduced rate for 3,000 gyms, leisure centres etc
Other things you need to know:
- The hours for this role are 09:00-17:00 across Monday to Friday
Inclusion
At Santander we’re creating a thriving workplace where all colleagues feel they belong and are supported to succeed. We all help to make Santander a workplace that celebrates diversity and attracts, retains and develops the most talented and committed people through living our values of Simple, Personal, and Fair.
At Santander Consumer Finance we have a zero-tolerance approach to discrimination, bullying, harassment (including sexual) or victimisation of any kind.
What are the next steps:
If you are interested in this role and believe you have the skills, experience, and knowledge then we’d love to hear from you. Please go ahead and click apply which will take you through some questions and allow you to submit your CV and covering letter.