Mlro & Sanctions Officer

Airbnb is a mission-driven company dedicated to helping create a world where anyone can belong anywhere. It takes a unified team committed to our core values to achieve this goal. Airbnb's various functions embody the company's innovative spirit and our fast-moving team is committed to leading as a 21st century company.

The Money Laundering Reporting Officer (MLRO) & Sanctions Officer is responsible for ensuring that Airbnb Payments UK Limited (APUK) payments entity is working in line with AML regulations; supporting, delegating and deputising for the Chief Compliance Officer (CCO); assisting the CCO in creating, maintaining and executing the Compliance Monitoring Plan; and ensuring reporting under policy and governance remains at an optimum level.

Regulatory Scope: PSD2, AMLD5, Payment Services Directive, UK AML/CFT and OFSI Regulations, Data Protection and Privacy/GPDR

**Responsibilities**:

- Support the enhancement of the AML governance framework in line with business strategy and act in a MLRO capacity, assisting the CCO with all aspects of AML, market abuse, financial crime and regulatory engagement
- Arranging and coordinating with the US team to ensure service levels and deadlines are met
- Leading the collation and submission of external AML, Sanction and Financial Crime returns; and the collation and drafting of internal Financial Crime reporting, including reports to the Management Committee, Payment Risk and Compliance Committee and the Board
- Overseeing and evolving the existing Financial Crime control framework across both 1st and 2nd lines of defence to ensure it keeps pace with strategic growth plans
- Developing and implementing policies and procedures, as well as reviewing and approving high risk accounts
- Preparing and submitting AML related returns to the FCA, OFSI and NCA as required
- Leading and developing the APUK AML, Sanction and SAR governance agenda and act as the central point for AML and sanction related queries
- Act as a Nominated Officer for suspicious activity reports (SARs), building out the responsibilities and ensuring reviews are undertaken and fully documented
- Development of Key Risk Indicators (KRIs) and relevant controls across lines of business
- Ensuring that products and services offered by the business are compliant with AML and sanction regulatory requirements and company procedures
- Oversight of AML and transaction monitoring and pro-actively managing Financial Crime prevention activities in line with the '3 lines of defence' model, liaising with other 2nd line colleagues to ensure a robust and comprehensive AML governance framework
- Significantly contribute to enhanced compliance risk monitoring by identifying and developing appropriate/relevant metrics that examines the adequacy of payments compliance systems and controls; and by leading on regulatory mapping enhancement opportunities by identifying gaps, recommending clear requirements to First-line teams and tracking resolution
- Second-line program-level ownership of APUK SAR filing program which includes delivering detailed, data-driven narratives to inform CCO, Legal and the Board of risk levels/mitigations/impacts; coordinating with the Global Compliance team and Airbnb Capability Centre (ACC) team in India to fulfil APUK's SAR reporting obligations by filing and tracking reports to the UK FIU; and overseeing performance and quality of outsourced transaction monitoring operations
- Lead and deliver enhanced Law Enforcement engagement strategy, aligning with Global Compliance team, AP Lux team and Legal team, on issues or opportunities, appropriate solution and plan to implement solutions/best practices for responding to sensitive external requests such as requests for information and data, production, and restraint orders
- Knowledge sharing - working with key stakeholders to ensure an ongoing programme of education in terms of AML requirements and regulatory expectations
- Provision of coaching and mentoring of other members of the compliance team as and when required / identified

**Requirements**:

- Minimum five years of relevant experience in financial services/payment services, regulatory agency, consultancy, or law firms working on financial crime risk or regulatory compliance
- In depth working knowledge of all applicable legislation and regulation relating to an EMI or other Payment firm including but not limited to JMLSG, FCA, EU, FATF, OFSI, UK Bribery Act and any other applicable legislation/rules relating to AML and sanction
- Demonstrable experience of leading best practice in Customer Due Diligence (CDD) and sanctions monitoring, customer risk assessment, and high-risk customer case reviews
- Financial sector experience and a wider understanding of how the regulatory landscape is implemented across Financial Services
- Understanding of the FCA and PRA's supervisory frameworks
- Committed to getting things done, ability to meet deadlines, prioritize workloads, maintain attention t