Search for a UK Money Laundering Reporting Officer – Global Payments firm

Opportunity

This established business was seeking an experienced MLRO to support its application for a UK based payment institution licence. The individual needed to be skilled in observing and satisfying a compliance overview for anti-money laundering and counter terrorist financing within a payments institution. It was essential that the post-holder would be able to consider the wider commercial regulatory obligations covering merchant partners and vendors with the ability to navigate local and global regulation across payments, technology, consumer protection, card scheme compliance, data and general corporate law.

Approach

The firm are well established in the market and with new investment the growth plans included new products and services. Barclay Simpson advised undertaking a targeted search for individuals from mature regulated businesses from within the digital banking community. It was essential that the successful individual had prior experience in drafting, building and rolling out an AML governance framework fit for purpose. This included a wide understanding of the FCA requirements and comfortable being the key person to manage the relationship with the regulator.

Outcome

Barclay Simpson carried out a market map of individuals in key fintech digital banking providers who also had experience in EMI firms. The search identified two standout candidates who could be hands on in the implementation of the framework whilst also understanding future risks. The individual who was finally selected was able to satisfy the FCA requirements to take on the control function, having previously held this level of responsibility. Barclay Simpson provided support through the final stages of the recruitment process from offer negotiation, acceptance, resignation and onboarding.