Affirm
Senior Manager MLRO, Compliance
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Senior Manager MLRO, Compliance
Senior Compliance Manager – UK Financial Crime & AML
Affirm is reinventing credit to make it more honest and friendly, giving consumers the flexibility to buy now and pay later without any hidden fees or compounding interest. We are seeking an experienced and detail-oriented Senior Compliance Manager to oversee FCA compliance, financial crime management, and AML programs within the UK entity.
About the Role
The Senior Compliance Manager will act as the key compliance authority for AML, sanctions, financial crime monitoring, and regulatory oversight. This role requires deep expertise in FCA-regulated financial services, strategic compliance planning, risk assessment, and close collaboration with internal teams, regulators, legal, and governance functions.
Responsibilities
As the Senior Compliance Manager, your core responsibilities will include:
Financial Crime & AML Governance
- Serve as the Money Laundering Reporting Officer (MLRO or SMF17) for the UK entity (subject to final organisational and regulatory approvals).
- Provide second-line oversight of the UK financial crimes compliance program, including:
- Anti-Money Laundering (AML)
- Sanctions screening and monitoring
- Suspicious activity governance
- Control frameworks governing financial crime risks
Regulatory & Risk Management
- Oversee suspicious activity escalations, internal referrals, and compliance reporting, ensuring timely decision-making and governance.
- Lead the Financial Crime Compliance Monitoring Programme (CMP) to align with:
- Firm risk appetite
- Regulatory obligations (FCA, UKSED, etc.)
- Sector-specific operating environment
Risk Assessment & Control Management
- Develop and execute the annual Business-Wide Compliance Risk Assessment (BWRA) and control inventory by:
- Identifying financial crime risks and control gaps
- Mapping regulatory developments
- Establishing mitigation strategies via collaboration with internal/external partners.
Policy, Reporting, & Stakeholder Engagement
- Exercise second-line challenge on regulatory interpretations, risk mitigation, and control effectiveness.
- Partner with Legal and first-line teams to balance compliance requirements with operating needs, while maintaining objective challenge.
- Support UK regulatory readiness and facilitate interactions with FCA, UKSED, and external auditors.
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Compliance Portfolio Expansion
- Collaborate with the Global Financial Crime Compliance Governance Team to:
- Develop and refine financial crime frameworks
- Promote compliance as a proactive, accessible partner across the business.
Reporting & Documentation
- Prepare annual MLRO reports for Senior Management and the Board, covering:
- AML systems and controls effectiveness
- Suspicious Activity Reports (SARs)
- Fraud findings, training programs, risk exposure, and regulatory positioning.
- Assist in audits, regulatory examinations, and third-party reviews, including:
- Internal audit responses
- Remediation tracking
Culture & Advocacy
- Showcase Compliance as an enabling function that drives sustainable business growth, not just risk mitigation.
- Act as a discipline-pioneering leader, ensuring compliance principles are embedded in business decisions.
Expectations & Owned deliverables
These are the hands-on areas where you will add value and drive Agile growth at Affirm:
- Partner with Legal on nuanced regulatory requirements and challenge implications across the firm.
- Continue collaborating with to refine and promote a culture of regulatory vigilance and proactive risk management.
Requirements
The ideal candidate will have:
Qualifications & Experience
- Bachelor’s degree in finance, law, business, or a related compliance field (LLM or Chartered status a plus).
- Minimum 8-10 years of experience in compliance management, particularly in FCA-regulated businesses.
- In-depth knowledge of UK AML, sanctions, financial crime frameworks, and competent person standards.
Skills & Attributes
- Demonstrated ability to build, maintain, and refine compliance programs in high-risk environments.
- Strong analytical, problem-solving, and representation skills for interacting with regulators.
- Exceptional executive presence and collaborative abilities to bridge decision-making across stakeholder domains.
- Ability to act independently with a results-driven motivation while collaborating in a scaled, global context.
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Benefits & Compensation
Remote flexibility
Affirm is remote-first, offering employees location flexibility (with occasional onsite presence to HQ). Work operates in the UK time zone.
Base Pay & Equity
- GBP Base Pay Range (2024-25): £120,000 - £168,000 per annum.
- Base pay is location/performance based. Affirm rewards long-term contribution, aligning incentives with mission and impact.
Equity Package (Grade 6)
Option to participate in Affirm Holdings, Inc. stock-based rewards for qualifying full-time employees.
Health & Well-being
- Lifetime health insurance coverage with 100% premium subsidisation
- Medical, dental, and vision for all dependents
- Flexible Spending Accounts with generous stipends for:
- Technology and wellness needs
- Family forming and parental support
- Personal/lifestyle spending (e.g., family-related costs)
Financial & Lifestyle Support
- Issued Devices tailored to home office productivity
- Commercial liability insurance protection
- Parental Leave accommodations
- Access to Retirement Savings Plans
Professional Growth
- Competitive annual funding for professional training and certifications
Affirm Culture
People Come First – We design our policies with trust, inclusion, and openness at their core.
- Diversity, Equity, and Equity (DE&I) prioritised across all aspects of working life (e.g., recognising neurodiversity, LGBTQ+ rights, and accessibility).
- Work accommodations are available for candidates seeking support during hiring/conversations (apply early to discuss needs).
- Proximity preference for roles working with HQ may occasionally require in-office presence (but the majority of remote flexibility remains).
Ready to transform credit into something fairer?
Apply: Affirm is open to reviewing resumes from IR35 business owners, contractors, and outside consultants with the proper project alignment. Standard internal opportunity terminology applies.
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