Financial Crime Officer

Hodge are a financial services business focused on the commercial lending, savings 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.

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

**Your role**:
**Responsibilities**:

- Support the implementation of the Group Standards related to financial crime as required by the Group policies and frameworks.
- Create and update first line financial crime procedures and processes.
- Investigate financial crime referrals, including fraud and money laundering referrals, from the Retail business.
- Investigate fraud and anti
- money laundering referrals through key financial crime systems such as CIFAS and Lexis Nexis, working to identifying target matches, discounting false positives and accurately recording findings and outcomes.
- Review and investigate transaction monitoring reports for suspicious activity, ensuring there are no breaches.
- Refer relevant investigations to the Money Laundering Reporting Officer (MLRO) for reporting to relevant body.
- Liaise and respond to law enforcement requests, investigate for any suspicious activity as required.
- Maintain accurate records of each investigation, outcome and policy exception.
- Maintain a register of PEPs and High Risk Individuals, and facilitate the completion of enhanced due diligence.
- Provide guidance to the business on Anti-Bribery and Corruption matters, and oversee the gifts and invitation process for retail.
- As required, conduct 3rd party reviews on brokers, solicitors other third parties, escalating the outcome to the relevant forums.
- Support the MLRO in delivering financial crime training to the first line.
- Work with the Quality Assurance team to develop testing of financial crime controls.
- Producing financial crime MI for relevant forums and committees.
- Respond to ad-hoc queries providing guidance to business lines, working to improve front line financial crime awareness policies and promote best practice to the business lines in relation to Financial Crime procedures.

**Essential Skills**:

- Previous experience in financial services in a financial crime/compliance role
- Good knowledge of anti-money laundering, counter-terrorist financing and anti-bribery and corruption regulations (financial crime qualifications desirable).
- Previous experience in undertaking customer screening, transaction monitoring, suspicious activity reporting and complex fraud investigations.
- Ability to build and maintain collaborative relationships with both internal and external stakeholders at all levels across the business.
- Ability to challenge business stakeholders objectively and effectively.
- Effective communication skills.

**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