Deputy MLRO

Deputy Money Laundering Reporting Officer (DMLRO)

Walker Crips Group PLC.

Reporting to

 Head of Group Compliance and MLRO

Aim and Purpose of the role

The aim of this role is to work closely with the MLRO (SMF17) and key stakeholders within Walker Crips to strengthen and develop the financial crime compliance framework, while also maintaining and monitoring key risk controls. This position also acts as the primary contact in the absence of the MLRO.

As a key member of the Financial Crime Team, the DMLRO supports the MLRO in driving strategic change within the processes and controls environment. The DMLRO must stay up to date on laws, regulations, and industry guidance to ensure compliance and to proactively anticipate and assess the impact of future changes, implementing updated controls, policies, and processes as needed.

Specific Duties

• Financial Crime Governance: Supporting the development and execution of financial crime governance frameworks, including monitoring, monthly Management Information (MI), and reporting.


• Systems and Controls: Assisting in establishing and maintaining effective systems and controls for financial crime prevention, identifying risks, and regularly assessing controls.


• Reporting: Supporting the SMF17 in producing annual MLRO reports for the Board, annual Financial Crime Business Wide Risk Assessments (FC BWRA), and other periodic risk assessments such as Market Abuse Risk Assessments (MARA), Fraud Risk Assessments, Country and Sector risk assessments, and the Financial Crime (REP CRIM) report to the FCA. Producing reports for senior management and regulators, including the FCA, Action Fraud, and the NCA.


• Advisory and Support: Providing proactive support and advice to businesses on financial crime-related issues and day-to-day queries, as well as offering support and advice on financial crime compliance and risk management processes.


• Investigations and Project Work: Assisting with investigations into suspicious activity and fraud incidents, and undertaking financial crime-related project work as directed by the MLRO.


• Compliance Monitoring and Training: Contributing to the delivery of Financial Crime Compliance Monitoring Programmes and supporting the development and monitoring of firm training plans, including designing future rollouts. Providing or arranging financial crime training for relevant individuals.


• Regulatory Awareness: Assisting with horizon scanning to ensure awareness of regulatory, legislative, and industry updates.


• Record Keeping and Policy Maintenance: Helping maintain the Firm’s ‘Financial Crime Log’ and ensuring adequate records are kept, while also maintaining and developing financial crime policies and procedures.


• Due Diligence: Performing file reviews, supporting 1LOD with CDD and enhanced due diligence (EDD) queries, completing AML due diligence requests, reviewing EDD, and approving the onboarding of higher-risk clients.


• Identifying financial crime risks to a firm and ensuring effective systems and controls are established, maintained, and monitored.


• Overseeing the development of financial crime framework policies and procedures.

Skills

• A strong ability to develop and maintain effective relationships with key internal and external stakeholders.


• A high level of attention to detail and a proven track record of following strict processes and requirements.


• An inquisitive nature, which is inclined to investigate, identify issues, and solve problems efficiently.


• Excellent time management and prioritisation skills.


• Highly proficient in Microsoft Excel.

Knowledge

• A comprehensive understanding of regulation and legislation concerning fraud, anti-money laundering, and anti-bribery and corruption, alongside the Joint Money Laundering Steering Group (“JMLSG”) guidance notes.


• A strong understanding of the financial crime risks specific to Walker Crips, as well as a thorough grasp of Sanctions and Politically Exposed Person (PEP) requirements.


• Experience with and a strong understanding of UK criminal law as it applies to Financial Crime.


• Knowledge of FCA rules, guidance, and practices, particularly Senior Management Arrangements, Systems & Controls (SYSC).