Deputy MLRO

Brooks Macdonald Group plc is one of the UK's leading wealth management firms, recognised for investment performance and client service. We offer leading multi-asset investment services to intermediaries, and high-quality financial planning advice to private clients, benefitting from a strong local presence across the UK.We see an opportunity to lead the way within our sector in relation to sustainability and responsible investing. We have set a target for our direct footprint to be Net Zero by 2030 and continue to enhance our approach to responsible investment, which includes offering a dedicated service for clients with values-based objectives.We offer fulfilling careers in an inclusive culture that values diversity, ambition and rewards high performance. Our guiding principles underpin our culture and are at the heart of everything we do:we do the right thingwe are connectedwe carewe make a differenceWe welcome talented people from all backgrounds who live our guiding principles and are focused on ensuring good outcomes for our clients. We’re committed to promoting equal employment opportunities and positively encourage applications regardless of race, religion or belief, sexuality, age, disability, gender, gender identity, marital status or pregnancy and maternity.Collaboration and knowledge-sharing is important to us as a firm, and we value different ways of working. Employees are required to be in the office three days a week, with flexibility to work from home on the other two days.Role Overview To support the U.K. Money Laundering Reporting Officer (‘MLRO’) in ensuring that the financial crime framework across the Group’s U.K. entities is operating effectively.Responsible for managing and providing strategic oversight to the Financial Crime Associate, ensuring effective delivery of anti-financial crime controls and compliance with regulatory requirementsTo assist in the design and delivery of policies, processes and procedures relating to combatting financial crime.To support the assessment of financial crime risks across the Group.Maintain and assure key financial crime related tools and systemsResolve exceptions arising from these tools.Produce Management Information (MI).To provide support to the wider Compliance team in respect of financial crime activities.Scope includes Anti-Money Laundering (AML), Countering Terrorist Financing, Sanctions, Proliferation Financing, Anti-Bribery & Corruption, Anti-Tax Evasion and Fraud.Role responsibilities:Supporting the continued design and enhancement of the Group’s financial crime framework and monitoring arrangements.Ensuring appropriate standards of financial crime practices are implemented across the U.K. regulated entities.Participating in the identification of financial crime risks and implementing appropriate mitigating controls.Taking the lead in reviewing and updating the U.K. financial crime risk assessments and responsibility for tracking actions arising from the assessment.Undertaking regular reviews of the financial crime systems used, ensuring they are operating as expected and re-calibrated where appropriate, including dealing with exceptions arising from these systems and escalating issues to the appropriate level.Contribute to and oversee the Client Due Diligence process and Enhanced Due Diligence conducted on high risk clients, including providing risk opinion for approval of high-risk clients at onboarding and periodically.Take the lead in reviewing and enhancing Financial Crime Policies and Procedures, including mandatory and face-to-face training.Deliver financial crime training across all U.K. entities and contribute to an effective and positive risk management culture at the firm proactively driving the on-going development of a financial crime risk awareness culture across the business.Support the U.K. MLRO and nominated officer in the review, assessment and, where appropriate filing of Suspicious Activity Reports.Producing regular financial crime reports and management information to the MLRO, CRO and for use by key governance forums outlining the performance of financial crime systems and controls in place.Represent financial crime at relevant governance forums and recognised as a trusted point of contact by the business and senior management.Supporting the U.K. MLRO in the production of annual MLRO reports for the U.K. entities.Managing the Financial Crime function through development and coaching of direct reports.Conduct ongoing regulatory horizon scanning and perform gap analysis to identify any enhancements required to the financial crime framework. Working with the U.K. MLRO and the Change Function to assess and implement any regulatory changes impacting the financial crime framework.Knowledge, Skills and Experience:Analytical; in-depth analysis delivered in a disciplined and structured mannerPlanning and organising; highly organised and able to manage own workload and simultaneous tasks to meet stretching targets and strict deadlinesGood communication skills, written and verbalAble to build and maintain effective lines of communication with staff at all levels and relationship buildingAutonomous, self-motivated and delivery focused; proven ability to prioritise, manage and deliver multiple tasksCollaborator and team player; both within and outside the immediate teamProject management, specifically in implementing financial crime related toolsDetailed knowledge of the UK and EU financial crime regulatory regime and requirements;Experienced in carrying out key financial crime activities;Good knowledge of ‘best practice’ and associated guidance in asset or wealth management firms and of the systems and controls employed to ensure financial crime risks are mitigated; andGood commercial awareness and knowledge of the asset or wealth management industry.Degree level and/or professional qualifications relevant to the role.Experience of financial crime frameworks within the asset or wealth management sector.Experience working on a major change project in a regulatory context.Experience of regulatory visits or thematic reviews in financial crime disciplines.