Director, Head of Transaction Monitoring Operations London

Checkout Ltd; London; On-site; GBP 80,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job description

Director, Head of Transaction Monitoring

• Full-time
• Cost Center Hierarchy: Compliance
• CKO Department: Operations

Checkout.com is one of the most exciting fintechs in the world. Our mission is to enable businesses and their communities to thrive in the digital economy. We’re the strategic payments partner for some of the best known fast-moving brands globally such as Wise, Hut Group, Sony Electronics, Homebase, Henkel, Klarna and many others. Purpose-built with performance and scalability in mind, our flexible cloud-based payments platform helps global enterprises launch new products and create experiences customers love. And it's not just what we build that makes us different. It's how.

We empower passionate problem-solvers to collaborate, innovate and do their best work. That’s why we’re on the Forbes Cloud 100 list and a Great Place to Work accredited company. And we’re just getting started. We’re building diverse and inclusive teams around the world — because that’s how we create even better experiences for our merchants and our partners. And we need your help. Join us to build the digital economy of tomorrow.

We're looking for a Director, Head of Transaction Monitoring for Checkout.com, based in London.

You will join a growing international Compliance team, reporting into the Head of Financial Crime Controls. This role will lead the global Transaction Monitoring (TM) function, ensuring its effectiveness and scalability while aligning with Checkout.com’s AML policies and regulatory requirements. The role has dual oversight across both first-line (alert investigations) and second-line (FIU and complex investigations) functions, ensuring effective coordination between detection capabilities and investigative processes.

Key Responsibilities:

1. Lead the global Transaction Monitoring team, providing strategic oversight and technical expertise on AML risk detection and mitigation.
2. Oversee both 1LOD (alert investigations) and 2LOD (FIU and complex investigations), ensuring an effective end-to-end transaction monitoring process with seamless escalation and resolution of financial crime risks.
3. Design, maintain, and continuously improve the TM framework, ensuring a risk-based and scalable approach to transaction monitoring.
4. Work closely with Product and Engineering teams to develop, refine, and optimize transaction monitoring rules and scenarios, ensuring they are effective, calibrated, scalable, and aligned with emerging risks and business growth.
5. Implement quality assurance measures to monitor and enhance the effectiveness of both 1LOD investigations and 2LOD FIU case management.
6. Leverage data analytics and emerging technologies, including AI and machine learning, to enhance detection capabilities and improve efficiency.
7. Ensure compliance with global AML regulations by aligning transaction monitoring policies and processes with industry best practices.
8. Provide subject matter expertise on AML risks to internal stakeholders, supporting risk assessments, audits, and regulatory engagements.
9. Monitor regulatory developments and industry trends to ensure proactive compliance with evolving AML expectations.
10. Lead and develop a high-performing team, fostering a culture of continuous improvement, accountability, and innovation.
11. Oversee MI reporting and key performance metrics, ensuring senior leadership has visibility into TM effectiveness, operational efficiency, and escalation trends.

Minimum Requirements:

1. Minimum 10 years of experience in a senior financial crime/AML role within a regulated financial institution, FinTech, or payments company.
2. Deep understanding of AML transaction monitoring frameworks, financial crime typologies, and regulatory expectations across multiple jurisdictions.
3. Experience overseeing both first-line (alert investigations) and second-line (FIU, complex case investigations) functions.
4. Strong knowledge of payment flows and money laundering risks in the FinTech/payments sector.
5. Experience working with technology teams to drive improvements in transaction monitoring infrastructure and capabilities.
6. Strong analytical skills and a data-driven mindset, with experience leveraging data to improve monitoring effectiveness.
7. Experience utilizing data analytics, AI, and machine learning to enhance transaction monitoring capabilities.
8. Excellent stakeholder management and communication skills, with the ability to influence senior leadership and external regulators.
9. Proactive, strategic thinker with a strong sense of accountability and a solutions-focused approach.
10. Experience leading teams and driving operational excellence within a compliance function.
11. Proficiency in transaction monitoring systems and tools (e.g., Actimize, Mantas, FICO, or equivalent) as well as Microsoft Excel and data visualization platforms.

If you don't meet all the requirements but think you might still be right for the role, please apply anyway. We're always keen to speak to people who connect with our mission and values.

We believe in equal opportunities

We work as one team. Wherever you come from. However you identify. And whichever payment method you use.

Our clients come from all over the world — and so do we. Hiring hard-working people and giving them a community to thrive in is critical to our success.

When you join our team, we’ll empower you to unlock your potential so you can do your best work. We’d love to hear how you think you could make a difference here with us.

We want to set you up for success and make our process as accessible as possible. So let us know in your application, or tell your recruiter directly, if you need anything to make your experience or working environment more comfortable. We’ll be happy to support you.

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