Senior Financial Crime Officer (m/w/d)

Overview

Our client, a major international financial institution with a strong presence in capital markets and wholesale banking, is seeking an experienced Senior Financial Crime Officer to join their Frankfurt office. The position includes formal Deputy MLRO responsibilities under German AML requirements.

Key Responsibilities

• Act as deputy to the MLRO for the German entity, supporting regulatory obligations under the German AML Act (GwG) and BaFin guidance.
• Support the preparation and filing of Suspicious Activity Reports (SAR/STR) to the FIU Germany.
• Represent the MLRO function in internal committees and meetings when required.
• Contribute to the annual MLRO Report, AML risk assessments, and internal assurance processes.
• Provide specialist financial crime advice to front‑office markets teams across products such as FX, rates, structured solutions, and financing.
• Support and challenge high‑risk client onboarding, KYC escalations, enhanced due diligence reviews, and periodic KYC updates.
• Advise on issues related to AML, CTF, sanctions, anti‑bribery and corruption, and fraud risk.
• Ensure alignment with German, EU, and global financial crime frameworks.
• Oversee the effectiveness of transaction monitoring systems, sanctions screening tools, and name‑matching processes.
• Drive continuous improvement in the financial crime control framework, including policies, procedures, and training.
• Support internal audits, regulatory inspections, remediation programmes, and deep‑dive thematic reviews related to the markets business.
• Assist in communication with BaFin, Bundesbank, and the FIU, including responding to regulatory requests.
• Support regulatory horizon scanning and interpretation of changes relevant to financial crime and markets activities in Germany.

Candidate Profile

• At least 7 years of experience in AML/Financial Crime within banking, ideally in a capital markets or wholesale banking environment.
• Strong knowledge of German AML law (GwG), KYC requirements, EU AML directives, sanctions regimes, and expectations for market‑facing institutions.
• Experience interacting with German regulators and handling regulatory submissions, including SAR/STR filings.
• Ability to serve as a trusted advisor to senior management and front‑office stakeholders.
• Strong analytical skills and comfort working with complex transaction flows and products.
• Excellent communication skills in German and English.
• High professional integrity, sound judgement, and the ability to work independently.