Money Laundering Reporting Officer – EXPIRED

Money Laundering Reporting Officer – SMF-17 Required

Hodge are a financial services business focused on the retail savings, commercial lending and specialist residential mortgage  markets.  Working at Hodge is about making a difference. That starts with our purpose: we make life better for customers and society in the moments that matter. 

For over 50 years, we’ve shared the same simple mission: to really make a positive difference for our customers and communities. This ethos is in our DNA, as we are 79% owned by a charity, the Hodge Foundation. 

The thing that sets us up to succeed with that mission is our people. We are so proud to have exceptional colleagues at Hodge, and we look to develop and invest in our people through their careers. Hodge is at its best when we enable our people to be their best! 

We have achieved significant growth over the last few years and have ambitious plans to expand further. 

The MLRO will support the CRO, and be the primary point of contact on day to day business activities helping to ensure that Hodge operates in accordance with all legal and regulatory requirements related to all elements of financial crime compliance (e.g. Anti-Money Laundering, Counter Terrorist Financing, Anti-Bribery and Corruption, Counter Sanctions Risk, Counter Fraud, Counter Market Abuse and Anti-Tax Evasion). 

You will be responsible for the design and delivery of the Financial Crime suite of policies & standards and support the first line with the development, maintenance, continuous ongoing improvement and training employees on Hodge’s financial crime risk framework, monitoring and oversight of AML, sanctions and other financial crime risks. 

Key responsibilities will include: 

• Production and presentation of MLRO report to Board 
• Maintaining and updating all relevant policies and procedures designed to address financial crime risks. 
• Maintain and up-date financial crime risk assessments, identifying all financial crime risks faced by the firm, taking into account the nature and scale of the services provided. 
• Design, implement and maintain a comprehensive, risk-based monitoring programme, taking account industry and regulatory developments, using appropriate tools and methodologies. 
• Identify, document and propose resolutions to breaches, and suggest improvements where control weaknesses are found. 

• Be the main point of contact for internal suspicious reports; in charge of analysing them and considering further actions. 
• Oversight of the due diligence process for new and existing clients, including CDD KYC documentation reviews, PEP / Sanctions screening and ongoing transaction monitoring 
• Maintain a good understanding of up to date anti-money laundering and financial crime legislation, and a comprehensive understanding of client due diligence requirements.  
• Develop proactive working relationships with external bodies including the regulatory bodies.   
• Promote good governance practises across the Group in line with published standards and guidance.  

• Develop and maintain an up-to-date knowledge of Compliance & Risk regulatory and legislative information related to Group products and services (e.g. PRA/FCA rules, Data Protection, Money Laundering, etc.), as advised by line management.  

What we need from you: 

• A level educated or above and/or with relevant or with a relevant change Educated to ‘A’ level standard education, as minimum. 
• Previous SMF17 experience desirable 

• ICA Diploma in  AML, Financial Crime, or equivalent 
• Experience in Financial Crime for a bank or Financial Institution. 
• Experience of training staff. 
• Experience of auditing/sampling of processes and controls.  
• Expert in AML legislation 

• Excellent stakeholder management and communication skills. 
• Strong presentational skills. 
• Ability to work autonomously. 
• Good analytical and investigative skills. 
• Accuracy and attention to detail. 

• Planning and organizational skills. 
• Able to work to set procedures. 
• Able to remain calm under pressure.  

• In return we offer: 

• Competitive Salary 
• Based in Cardiff City Centre operating in a highly flexible Hybrid workspace. 
• 28 days Holiday with the option to buy more. 
• Subsidised Gym Membership. 
• Private Medical & Health Insurance  

• Extensive learning and development programme 
• Generous, personalised benefits package 
• Enhanced parental leave – Up to 20 weeks paid Maternity AND Paternity leave 
• Company pension contribution up to 15% 
• 4 days on top of annual leave for community and charity work 

• Flexible working options 

Please be aware that should we pursue your application, all our Financial Services employees will be expected to complete background checks to assess suitability for employment, these include; a criminal record, identity, sanctions, adverse finance, fraud prevention and reference checks to comply with our regulatory requirements. 

Hodge is an advocate of being an equal opportunities employer, We believe in promoting equality and diversity which is central to our lives today. We welcome applications from all sections of the community and recognises the value a diverse workforce brings to an organisation. 

ESG and sustainability are at the heart of everything we do and serves as a reminder of the responsibility we have to our stakeholders, customers, colleagues and the communities we operate in to use our position wisely. We’re currently exploring different certifications available and have done an initial review of how we think we’d fare, as we see this as a real opportunity for Hodge given our social purpose.