Crypto and Digital Asset Screening

• Own the day-to-day operation of the Firm's rules-based, data-driven sanctions and wallet screening framework (rules engine, quantitative data pack, action-class routing); monitor detection performance and calibrate the ruleset (for example, hop count, recency, materiality, and jurisdiction risk weighting);
• Triage, validate and investigate alerts from the Firm's trade surveillance, transaction monitoring, transaction screening and wallet screening systems, assessing risk signals such as wallet exposure, clustering, transaction paths, mixer interactions, and sanctioned-address connections;
• Conduct in-depth blockchain investigations using blockchain analytics tooling; prepare investigation files and make or escalate decisions on cases, including enhanced review escalations, freezes, wallet quarantine, wallet deactivation and post-resolution reactivation, within the Firm's decision authority matrix;
• Review and challenge Customer Due Diligence (CDD) and Enhanced Due Diligence (EDD) on onboarding and ongoing monitoring, and present cases to the New Participant (AML) Committee;
• Apply and maintain the Firm's 5MLD Equivalence Assessment Methodology, and oversee compliance with the Firm’s Travel Rule Compliance Policy.

Financial Crime Analytics and Automation

• Build, run and interpret the quantitative analytics that underpin the screening and monitoring framework; interrogate complex data sets, tune rules to reduce false positives without eroding true-positive capture, and evidence detection effectiveness;
• Develop and maintain the data pack, metrics and dashboards that support the Compliance Monitoring Plan, effectiveness assurance and Board reporting;
• Lead the adoption of AI and emerging technologies across financial crime detection, investigation and analytics, building on the Firm's existing AI tooling, with responsible adoption and clear auditability;
• Maintain clear auditability and documentation for all financial crime decisions and for changes to rules, thresholds and models.

Day-to-day

• Partner with the financial crime operations team as the subject matter expert on cryptoasset risk, guiding their use of the wallet screening and transaction monitoring systems;
• Handle engagement with the FCA, OFSI and the National Crime Agency alongside the MLRO, preparing responses to regulatory queries, periodic returns, audits and thematic reviews;
• Coordinate internal audits and third party assurance reviews of the Firm's crypto-specific financial crime controls, and drive remediation of findings;
• Develop and deliver AML, CTF, CPF and sanctions training as a subject matter expert on financial crime typologies and digital asset risk models;
• Investigate potential suspicious activity and prepare SARs (including SARs involving cryptoassets), which the MLRO reviews and submits as nominated officer.

Qualifications and Skills

• Substantive, hands-on experience in financial crime within cryptoasset, blockchain, fintech, e-money, payments or similarly regulated environments;
• Deep working knowledge of the UK AML, CTF, CPF and sanctions regulatory framework, including the MLRs 2017, the Proceeds of Crime Act, SAMLA 2018 and OFSI guidance, JMLSG and FATF guidance, and the FCA Financial Crime Guide;
• Demonstrated ability to operate and calibrate a rules-based, data-driven financial crime framework: alert triage, rule and threshold tuning, false-positive reduction and effectiveness assurance;
• Strong, practical blockchain analytics capability, with fluency interpreting outputs from tools such as Elliptic, Chainalysis and TRM Labs, and the ability to conduct end-to-end blockchain investigations;
• Credible exposure to cryptoasset typologies, the UK cryptoasset registration regime, the Travel Rule and VASP-to-VASP data exchange standards, and developments in the emerging UK cryptoasset regulatory regime;
• Strong quantitative and analytical capability, comfortable interrogating complex datasets and typology-based red flags, with the ability to turn data into calibration and assurance decisions;
• Experience preparing and submitting SARs, ideally including SARs involving cryptoassets, and interfacing with regulators;
• Excellent written communication for drafting investigations, reports and regulatory communications; ability to work independently, exercise sound risk-based judgment, and handle confidential information with discretion;
• Professional certification, for example an ICA Diploma or Advanced Certificate in AML or financial crime, ACAMS or equivalent, and familiarity with fraud risk management, sanctions screening tooling and KYC operations is an advantage;
• High ethical standards, integrity and accountability, with commitment to the Depository's and Group's vision and values; proactive and methodical, comfortable managing multiple priorities and challenging stakeholders constructively.

Location and Commitment

London, on-site/hybrid. Full-time.

Regulatory Context

The Firm is currently subject to the Money Laundering Regulations 2017 (in respect of its cryptoasset registration) and the Payment Services Regulations 2017. On grant of Part 4A FSMA 2000 authorisation as an investment firm, the Firm will additionally be subject to the Senior Managers and Certification Regime (SM&CR) and the FCA's Client Assets Sourcebook (CASS); on grant of the subsequent Variation of Permission for the new FSMA 2023 cryptoasset regulated activities (including safeguarding of qualifying cryptoassets under Article 9O of the Regulated Activities Order), the Firm will also be subject to the new CRYPTO sourcebook and the FCA's bespoke CASS chapters.

In the MLRO's absence, the Deputy MLRO acts in the MLRO's place, including exercising the nominated officer function; otherwise the role supports the MLRO and Head of Compliance. The role-holder is subject to fit and proper standards under the Money Laundering Regulations 2017, in respect of the Firm's cryptoasset registration, and to the Firm's own recruitment and ongoing competence requirements.