The role #LI-DG1

The Head of AML is a senior leadership role within Kindred Group's Governance and Compliance (LeCoR) function, reporting directly to the Director of Governance and Compliance. The role demands advanced competencies across leadership, governance, and regulatory expertise in anti-money laundering (AML) and counter-terrorism financing (CTF). The role holder will influence both internal and external AML initiatives, liaising with key stakeholders across compliance, responsible gambling, regulatory affairs, legal, technical compliance, and risk management.

As a global position, it requires professional curiosity and a forward-thinking approach to managing and communicating regulatory risks. The individual will act as a bridge between Kindred's functions, ensuring alignment with business goals and facilitating the first line's responsibilities in regulatory compliance.

Core Responsibilities:

Strategic Leadership:

• Craft a unified, forward-thinking vision that aligns Kindred's strategic goals with the AML department's objectives, ensuring long-term sustainability.
• Lead the AML team to strengthen regional leads and Money Laundering Reporting Officers (MLROs), positioning the department as a key business partner in overcoming regulatory challenges.
• Guide the organization toward high-performance standards in AML, identifying and mitigating risks through the Group's GRC model, while enabling the first line's ownership of risk.

People Leadership:

• Lead, coach, and mentor a high-performing AML team, ensuring they function as an effective second line of defence embedded across Kindred.
• Foster a collaborative, transparent, and supportive work environment, building trust, accountability, and intellectual growth.
• Safeguard and enhance the department's portfolio of regulatory expertise by incorporating modern practices, industry developments, and academic research.
• Provide clear guidance to direct reports, supporting them in achieving high performance, and building resilient, high-functioning teams in response to evolving internal and external challenges.

Policy and Regulatory Affairs:

• Spearhead the development of both inward- and outward-facing regulatory policies, elevating Kindred's GRC standing.
• Maintain and develop strong relationships with regulators, government bodies, auditors, and industry groups, ensuring engagement is based on trust and transparency.
• Lead the department in representing Kindred's governance, risk, and compliance objectives in internal councils and external forums.

Representation & Integration:

• Represent the department in Kindred's governance councils and drive participation in GRC-related discussions.
• Ensure that communications and public representations reflect Kindred's GRC and sustainability objectives.
• Work alongside colleagues in the AML, responsible gambling, and GRC infrastructure functions to deliver harmonized solutions and achieve collective goals.

Performance Management:

• Build an agile, scalable, and digital-ready AML department capable of handling a rapidly evolving regulatory environment.
• Create a culture of collaboration and innovation, fostering autonomy and accountability across the department.
• Leverage digital tools and data-driven processes to optimize the department's productivity and ensure a modern approach to workload management.

Key Tasks:

• Ensure compliance with anti-money laundering regulations throughout Kindred Group.
• Act as the MLRO and AML compliance owner for various licenses and markets, stepping in for the MLRO when needed.
• Continuously review and update AML policies and procedures, identifying gaps and implementing improvements.
• Manage regulatory reporting related to AML/CTF and respond to regulatory requests in a timely and informed manner.
• Analyse risks identified in audits and risk assessments, implementing control mechanisms as needed.
• Lead internal and external audits related to AML and conduct due diligence on business partners, including payment service providers.
• Provide expert guidance to employees on AML regulations and best practices.
• Serve as the escalation point for operational teams, particularly in high-risk cases.
• Train both AML teams and other stakeholders across the business to ensure compliance and quality.

Your Experience:

• Demonstrable experience in a similar AML role for at least 3 years.
• Strong analytical, organisational, and time management skills.
• Self-motivated, able to work independently with minimal supervision.
• Passionate and knowledgeable about anti-money laundering regulations.