AML Manager

DECTA – a rapidly growing IT company that provides a full range of payment solutions for online businesses, invites you to join the team! If you aim to realize and discover your true potential, enjoy working with others in a friendly atmosphere, and ready to go the extra mile and achieve your goals, DECTA is the right place for you to be! More: decta.com

Role Purpose

The AML Manager is responsible for supporting the Head of AML/CTF in maintaining and continuously enhancing an effective, risk-based AML/CTF, Financial Sanctions and Financial Crime framework within a regulated Electronic Money Institution.

This is a second-line oversight role responsible for providing independent challenge and oversight of outsourced first-line AML/CTF operations, ensuring AML/CTF controls operate effectively, regulatory obligations are met, and financial crime risks are proactively identified, escalated and remediated.

The successful candidate will act as the primary AML/CTF point of contact for operational matters and will drive continuous improvement across AML/CTF governance, quality assurance, systems, controls and regulatory compliance.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide second-line oversight and effective challenge of outsourced AML/CTF operations, including Customer Due Diligence (CDD), Enhanced Due Diligence (EDD), Ongoing Due Diligence (ODD), PEP and Financial Sanctions Screening, Transaction Monitoring, and AML/CTF and Financial Crime investigations.
• Act as the primary AML/CTF point of contact for operational escalations, providing guidance, support and training to outsourced operational teams while delivering independent second-line challenge to operational decisions where appropriate.
• Conduct and/or review AML/CTF investigations and prepare high-quality Suspicious Transaction Reports (STRs) for review and filing by the Head of AML, ensuring reports are clear, comprehensive, appropriately evidenced and completed within applicable regulatory timelines
• Own and perform the Compliance Quality Assurance (QA) programme across AML/CTF operational processes, including onboarding, CDD, EDD, ODD, PEP and Financial Sanctions Screening, AML transaction monitoring alerts and fraud alerts, incorporating risk- based spot checks to assess control effectiveness, identify deficiencies and validate remediation actions.
• Monitor outsourced service provider performance against agreed KPIs, SLAs and quality standards, escalating material issues where appropriate.
• Proactively identify AML/CTF risks, emerging issues and control deficiencies, perform root cause analysis, recommend practical solutions and oversee corrective actions through to successful closure.
• Support the design, implementation and continuous enhancement of the firm's AML/CTF control framework, including policies, Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), ensuring controls remain effective, proportionate and aligned with regulatory expectations. Ensure SOPs clearly define the end-to-end operational process, the actions required to be performed by the first line of defence (1LOD), the systems in which those actions must be completed, applicable decision or escalation criteria, and the evidence required to support each activity.
• Lead or support AML/CTF gap assessments arising from regulatory developments, audits, internal reviews and business change, and perform AML/CTF risk assessments for new products, services, delivery channels and material business changes, ensuring appropriate financial crime controls are implemented prior to launch.
• Lead or support the testing, implementation, tuning and optimisation of AML/CTF systems and technology, including transaction monitoring, customer risk-rating, PEP and Financial Sanctions screening solutions, participating in User Acceptance Testing (UAT) where required.
• Prepare high-quality management information, Quality Assurance reporting, trend analysis, governance and Board reporting to support effective decision-making, and support regulatory inspections, audits, regulatory returns and independent reviews.
• Build and maintain effective working relationships with internal stakeholders, outsourced service providers, auditors and regulatory authorities where required, while monitoring AML/CTF regulatory developments, emerging financial crime risks and industry best practice to support the continuous enhancement of the firm's AML/CTF framework.

Experience and Skills

• Minimum five years AML/CTF or Financial Crime Compliance experience within a regulated financial services environment.
• Strong knowledge of Irish and EU AML/CTF legislation and regulatory expectations applicable to Electronic Money Institutions, Payment Institutions or FinTech.
• Experience overseeing outsourced operational activities within a second-line Compliance or Financial Crime function.
• Practical experience in Quality Assurance, CDD, EDD, ODD, PEP and Financial Sanctions Screening, Transaction Monitoring, fraud investigations and AML/CTF risk assessments.
• Experience implementing, testing, tuning or enhancing AML/CTF technology, including transaction monitoring and screening solutions.
• Experience within an Electronic Money Institution (EMI) or Payment Institution (PI) would be an advantage.
• Strong analytical, investigative, stakeholder management, communication and report- writing skills, with the ability to present complex AML/CTF matters clearly to senior management and the Board.
• Demonstrated ability to identify control weaknesses, recommend practical improvements and successfully manage remediation activities.
• Professional AML qualification (CAMS, ICA or equivalent) is desirable.
• Fluency in a second European language would be an advantage.

Benefits

• Competitive salary.
• Employer pension contribution of 10%.
• VHI private health insurance for you and your eligible family members.
• 25 days annual leave plus Irish public holidays.
• Hybrid working model.
• Ongoing professional development and support for relevant AML/CTF qualifications.
• Modern, collaborative office environment.
• Regular company and team social events.
• Opportunity to work in a growing FinTech with genuine career development opportunities.