About Allica Bank
Allica is the UK’s fastest growing company - and the fastest-growing financial technology (Fintech) firm ever. Our purpose is to help established SMEs, one of the last major underserved opportunities in Fintech.
Established SMEs are the backbone of local communities - representing over a third of our economy - yet have been largely neglected both by traditional high street banks and modern fintech providers.
Department Description
Operations in banking like in every other firm is established to carry out all day-to-day transactions of the business. The Operations function within Allica has wide-ranging responsibilities supporting the customers of all product lines (Commercial Mortgages, Asset Finance, Deposits and Payment Account with aligned card activity), alongside our own internal stakeholders. We are particularly focused on the following, ensuring that the bank adheres to all relevant Regulatory requirements and our own internal policies and procedures at all times:
• Slick digital account opening, and in life servicing.
• Customer contact via telephony, email and in-app communications.
• Payment and reconciliation activity.
• Treasury operations.
• Customer due diligence through Know Your Customer, Know Your Business.
• Lending pipeline management.
• Quality assurance and control.
• Issue resolution.
• Effective record keeping and data management.
• Support of all change initiatives.
Role Description
• Undertakes all CDD activity to support the onboarding and ongoing review and validation of both Retail and SME customers to the Bank.
• Undertaking EDD (Enhanced Due Diligence) where higher risk ratings are present to ensure the bank is protected from fin crime risk.
• Responsible for ensuring and operationalising all required AML activity in conjunction with the 2nd Line Risk and Compliance teams and the MLRO with a particular focus on the management of risk and meeting regulatory requirements, whilst acting at all times in the best interest of customers, employees and other key stakeholders.
• Responsible for the day-to-day 1st Line CDD activity validating the quality of decisioning supported by external agencies and undertaking full reviews and making decisions and recommendation on more complex CDD activity which falls outside of system parameters.
• Will work closely with colleagues across the operations function (including across sites) and other Bank functions to ensure end-to-end coverage of onboarding, account review and payment processes and with a strong working and collaborative working relationship required with the 2nd Line Risk & Compliance colleagues and the MLRO.
Principal Accountabilities
• Implement and observe a first-class leading CDD record and review framework, with records accurately maintained and properly catalogued in accordance with the framework and its procedures and requirements.
• Implement and observe an AML record and review framework, with records accurately maintained, properly catalogued in accordance with the framework and its procedures and requirements.
• Ongoing review of all CDD processes and procedures to assure that key failure points are identified and appropriately flagged.
• Develop and implement a CDD reporting dashboard in line with business operational and reporting needs.
• Ensure controls and checks are in place and are being actively managed to ensure all activities including the management of exceptions and reconciliations are completed accurately, effectively and in a timely manner, escalating issues and problems to the HOO.
• CDD & AML subject matter SME, working closely with all projects delivering change into the Bank to identify to ensure relevant CDD & AML responsibilities are appropriately considered.
Personal Attributes & Experience
• CDD and AML subject matter expert and practitioner,
• Excellent working knowledge of FCA, PRA regulations and JMLSG guidelines.
• Able to facilitate, manage and approve CDD and EDD cases within delegated authority, escalating to the MLRO and with records
• Able to review CDD records for accuracy, completeness and compliance with AML regulatory compliance including maintaining and updating existing clients
• Experience of dealing with a variety of entity types including complex SPVs, charities, trusts and corporates, including SME customers with complex business structures across multi-jurisdictions.
• Able to establish final beneficiary ownership within entities, conducting checks such as PEP, sanction and adverse media and maintaining PEP registers
• Liaising with internal departments and acting as point of contact for clients to resolve any queries, with experience of working with outsourced and multi-site operations.
• Proven experience building and implementing strategies to identify and mitigate CDD and AML risks
• Experience of building, implementing and improving the customer experience attaching to the CDD and AML processes.
Working at Allica Bank
At Allica Bank we want to ensure our employees have the right tools and environment in which to succeed in their role and in support of our customers.
Our employees are at the heart of everything we do, so our benefits are designed with you in mind:
Full onboarding support and continued development opportunities
Options for flexible working
Regular social activities
Pension contributions
Discretionary bonus scheme
Private health cover
Life assurance
Family friendly policies including enhanced Maternity & Paternity leave
Don’t tick every box?
Don’t worry if you don’t have all the skills or requirements listed on the job description. If you think you’ll be a good fit, we’d still love to hear from you!
Flexible working
We know the ‘9-to-5’ isn’t right for everyone. That’s why Allica Bank is fully committed to flexible and hybrid working. Please let us know what is best for you and, if we can, we will do our best to accommodate.
Diversity
We’re a diverse bunch here at Allica, with all kinds of experiences, backgrounds and lifestyles. Our openness and differences make us stronger, and we want everybody to feel comfortable bringing as much of themselves to work with them as they like.
Skills Required
- CDD and AML subject matter expert and practitioner
- Excellent working knowledge of FCA, PRA regulations and JMLSG guidelines
- Experience undertaking Enhanced Due Diligence (EDD) for higher risk customers
- Ability to facilitate, manage and approve CDD and EDD cases within delegated authority and escalate to MLRO
- Experience reviewing CDD records for accuracy, completeness and AML compliance, including ongoing client updates
- Experience dealing with various entity types including complex SPVs, charities, trusts and corporates across multiple jurisdictions
- Ability to establish final beneficiary ownership and perform PEP, sanctions and adverse media checks and maintain PEP registers
- Experience liaising with internal departments and acting as point of contact for clients, including working with outsourced and multi-site operations
- Proven experience building and implementing strategies to identify and mitigate CDD and AML risks
- Experience building, implementing and improving the customer experience related to CDD and AML processes
What We Do
Recently named by The Times newspaper as one of the UK’s Top 20 fintech companies, Allica Bank is dedicated to serving and supporting small and medium businesses and empowering them to succeed. We combine modern, powerful technology with local relationships in the community to deliver expert banking for businesses in Britain. We have offices in Milton Keynes, Manchester and London, and a team of expert relationship managers out on the road across England and Wales, providing personal support to small and medium-sized businesses in their local communities. In everything we do, we live and breathe our four core values of collaboration, integrity, delivery and being straightforward.
