Head of Financial Crime - Life

At M&G our purpose is to give everyone real confidence to put their money to work. As an international savings and investments business with roots stretching back more than 170 years, we offer a range of financial products and services through Asset Management, Life and Wealth. All three operating segments work together to deliver attractive financial outcomes for our clients, and superior shareholder returns.

Through our behaviours of telling it like it is, owning it now, and moving it forward together with care and integrity; we are creating an exceptional place to work for exceptional talent.

We will consider flexible working arrangements for any of our roles and also offer work place accommodations to ensure you have what you need to effectively deliver in your role.

Head of Financial Crime – Life

The Role:

The Head of Financial Crime is a senior leadership role with overarching responsibility for setting the strategic direction and overseeing all aspects of financial crime risk management across Life business, across its sub-businesses and geographies. The Head of Financial Crime will be responsible for the development and implementation of a financial crime framework across the Business in line with M&G’s Policies and Standards for financial crime. The Head of Financial Crime will provide leadership and guidance across the Business to ensure effective risk management and compliance with applicable laws and regulations. They will collaborate with stakeholders across the business, and manage relationships with the equivalent financial crime counterparts at M&G and external partners to safeguard the business's reputation.

Key Responsibilities Include:

• Provide overall leadership for financial crime across the Life Business and enable senior leadership to effectively discharge their regulatory responsibilities.
• Ensure Business risk appetite is set and maintained so that risks are in line with financial crime Policies and Standards and account for specificity of the Business’ clients, products, and services.
• Ensure Business is operating within tolerance of all financial crime requirements.
• Ensure all Business financial crime controls are fit for purpose and risks are appropriately mitigated.
• Ensure effective oversight of financial crime systems and controls executed both within Business financial crime teams and those discharged by service providers (including the identification and remediation of issues).
• Represent the Business in relevant governance forums and report to senior leadership on financial crime matters to enable effective senior leadership oversight and escalations.
• Proactively monitor and respond to KRIs to identify areas of concern and ensure suitable responses are delivered.
• Provide overall leadership for financial crime change and transformation include making prioritisation decisions and approving budgets.
• Build collaborative relationships with other businesses, 2nd Line teams and service providers to drive communication and information sharing.
• Support relevant stakeholders in managing engagement with external legal and regulatory bodies.
• Provide overall leadership, strategic direction and ongoing management of financial crime teams across the Business.

Key Skills and Experience Required:

• significant evidence of relevant experience within financial crime, and being able to demonstrate deep understanding of the financial crime risks inherent in the Life insurance, Retail and/or Wealth sector.
• Relevant experience within the Life insurance and/or wealth management sector and relevant business functions including client onboarding, policy administration, claims management, and their associated operational processes and regulatory requirements.
• Proven track record of managing financial crime risks within a retail-focused financial services environment, including familiarity with customer due diligence, regulations, and fraud prevention strategies relevant to individual customers.
• In-depth knowledge of financial crime laws and regulations, including AML, Sanctions, ABC and fraud prevention, preferably including in the context of Life and/or Wealth management.
• Proven experience in supporting delivery of large-scale financial crime mitigation strategies in Global organisations.
• Strong leadership and team management skills, with experience in leading cross-functional teams including compliance, risk, technology and operations.
• Excellent communication skills, with the ability to influence senior stakeholders including Board, and communicate regulatory concepts clearly.

Location: London

Work Level: Manager/Expert or Integration Leader, based on experience evidenced by successful candidate

Recruiter: Beth Eckersley

Closing Date: 31st January 2025

We have a diverse workforce and an inclusive culture at M&G plc, underpinned by our policies and our employee-led networks who provide networking opportunities, advice and support for the diverse communities our colleagues represent. Regardless of gender, ethnicity, age, sexual orientation, nationality, disability or long term condition, we are looking to attract, promote and retain exceptional people. We also welcome those who take part in military service and those returning from career breaks.

M&G is also proud to be a Disability Confident Leader, and we welcome applications from candidates with long-term health conditions, disabilities, or neuro-divergent conditions.  Being a Disability Confident Leader means that candidates who meet the minimum criteria of a job, will be offered an interview if they 'opt in' to the scheme when applying. 

If you need assistance or an alternative means of applying for a role due to a disability or additional need, please let us know by contacting us at: [email protected]