Senior Manager MLRO, Compliance
WFA Digital Insight
Affirm’s Senior Manager MLRO, Compliance sits at the heart of the UK entity’s fight against financial crime. The role isn’t a generic compliance posting – it combines direct responsibility for the Money Laundering Reporting Officer function with a strategic hand in shaping the firm’s AML and sanctions architecture. Candidates will be expected to own the end‑to‑end governance of suspicious activity reporting, craft a risk‑based monitoring programme, and translate regulator expectations into practical controls across onboarding, transaction monitoring and investigations. The position also demands close partnership with global financial‑crime leaders, legal counsel and senior business stakeholders, making it a unique blend of operational oversight and cross‑functional influence. Applicants should be comfortable navigating FCA expectations while maintaining the independence required of a second‑line function.
Job Description
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. As a Senior Compliance Manager, you will be responsible for overseeing compliance with the FCA and managing issues related to Financial Crime and AML within the organisation. The ideal candidate will possess extensive knowledge of FCA and other servicing regulations, exceptional analytical skills, and a proven track record in developing and implementing effective compliance programs.
What you'll do
- Serve as the designated Money Laundering Reporting Officer (SMF17) for the UK entity, subject to final organisational and regulatory approvals.
- Provide second-line oversight of the UK financial crimes compliance program, including AML, sanctions, suspicious activity governance, and related control frameworks.
- Oversee suspicious activity escalation, internal referral, and reporting governance for the UK entity, including review and escalation of matters requiring MLRO judgment.
- Support the design, maintenance, and continuous improvement of the UK AML and financial crimes framework, ensuring alignment to applicable FCA and UK regulatory expectations.
- Lead the development of the firm's Financial Crime Compliance Monitoring Programme (CMP) ensuring its suitability is aligned to the risk appetite of the firm, the regulatory landscape and the market within which the UK entity operates.
- Lead and execute the UK entity's Business wide compliance risk assessment (BWRA) and control inventory, by identifying financial crimes risks, control gaps, regulatory developments, and governance priorities. including collecting and documenting results, establishing where opportunities exist and work with internal and external partners to deliver.
- Partner with UK Compliance and global Financial Crimes leaders to maintain a clear and effective UK control environment across onboarding, transaction monitoring, investigations, screening, and related financial crimes processes.
- Oversee or coordinate UK financial crimes issue management, including identification of issues, remediation tracking, escalation, and closure governance.
- Lead preparation of the firm's annual MLRO report for senior management and the Board of Directors, detailing the control effectiveness of anti money laundering systems and controls, including details on Suspicious Activity reports (SAR’s), fraud, training provision, risk exposure and regulatory position.
- Support internal audit, external audit, regulatory examinations, and bank partner reviews relevant to UK financial crimes compliance, including preparation of materials, coordination of responses, and remediation tracking.
- Maintain and enhance UK financial crimes policies, procedures, standards, and governance documentation in coordination with broader Compliance and Financial Crimes partners.
- Prepare recurring management reporting, governance materials, and escalation summaries for the UK Compliance Director and other senior stakeholders.
- Partner with Legal on regulatory interpretation and with first-line stakeholders on implementation, while maintaining second-line independence and effective challenge.
- Support regulator-facing readiness and contribute to interactions with UK regulators and other relevant external stakeholders, as appropriate.
- Showcase Compliance as an open for business function, accessible and relatable to the goals and objectives of the firm.
- Work and collaborate with the Global Financial Crime Compliance Governance Team to build out and execute the Global Financial Crime Framework
What we look for
- Serve as the designated Money Laundering Reporting Officer (SMF17) for the UK entity, subject to final organisational and regulatory approvals.
- Provide second-line oversight of the UK financial crimes compliance program, including AML, sanctions, suspicious activity governance, and related control frameworks.
- Oversee suspicious activity escalation, internal referral, and reporting governance for the UK entity, including review and escalation of matters requiring MLRO judgment.
- Support the design, maintenance, and continuous improvement of the UK AML and financial crimes framework, ensuring alignment to applicable FCA and UK regulatory expectations.
- Lead the development of the firm's Financial Crime Compliance Monitoring Programme (CMP) ensuring its suitability is aligned to the risk appetite of the firm, the regulatory landscape and the market within which the UK entity operates.
- Lead and execute the UK entity's Business wide compliance risk assessment (BWRA) and control inventory, by identifying financial crimes risks, control gaps, regulatory developments, and governance priorities. including collecting and documenting results, establishing where opportunities exist and work with internal and external partners to deliver.
- Partner with UK Compliance and global Financial Crimes leaders to maintain a clear and effective UK control environment across onboarding, transaction monitoring, investigations, screening, and related financial crimes processes.
- Oversee or coordinate UK financial crimes issue management, including identification of issues, remediation tracking, escalation, and closure governance.
- Lead preparation of the firm's annual MLRO report for senior management and the Board of Directors, detailing the control effectiveness of anti money laundering systems and controls, including details on Suspicious Activity reports (SAR’s), fraud, training provision, risk exposure and regulatory position.
- Support internal audit, external audit, regulatory examinations, and bank partner reviews relevant to UK financial crimes compliance, including preparation of materials, coordination of responses, and remediation tracking.
- Maintain and enhance UK financial crimes policies, procedures, standards, and governance documentation in coordination with broader Compliance and Financial Crimes partners.
- Prepare recurring management reporting, governance materials, and escalation summaries for the UK Compliance Director and other senior stakeholders.
- Partner with Legal on regulatory interpretation and with first-line stakeholders on implementation, while maintaining second-line independence and effective challenge.
- Support regulator-facing readiness and contribute to interactions with UK regulators and other relevant external stakeholders, as appropriate.
- Showcase Compliance as an open for business function, accessible and relatable to the goals and objectives of the firm.
- Work and collaborate with the Global Financial Crime Compliance Governance Team to build out and execute the Global Financial Crime Framework
Base Pay Grade - N
Equity Grade - 6
Employees new to Affirm typically come in at the start of the pay range. Affirm focuses on providing a simple and transparent pay structure which is based on a variety of factors, including location, experience and job-related skills.
Base pay is part of a total compensation package that may include monthly stipends for health, wellness and tech spending, and benefits (including 100% subsidised medical coverage, dental and vision for you and your dependents). In addition, the employees may be eligible for equity rewards offered by Affirm Holdings, Inc. (parent company).
GBR base pay range per year: £120,000 - £168,000
Location: Remote UK
#LI-Remote
Affirm is proud to be a remote-first company! The majority of our roles are remote and you can work almost anywhere within the country of employment. Affirmers in proximal roles have the flexibility to work remotely, but will occasionally be required to work out of their assigned Affirm office. A limited number of roles remain office-based due to the nature of their job responsibilities.
We’re extremely proud to offer competitive benefits that are anchored to our core value of people come first. Some key highlights of our benefits package include:
- Health care coverage - Affirm covers all premiums for all levels of coverage for you and your dependents
- Flexible Spending Wallets - generous stipends for spending on Technology, Food, various Lifestyle needs, and family forming expenses
- Time off - competitive vacation and holiday schedules allowing you to take time off to rest and recharge
- ESPP - An employee stock purchase plan enabling you to buy shares of Affirm at a discount
We believe It’s On Us to provide an inclusive interview experience for all, including people with disabilities. We are happy to provide reasonable accommodations to candidates in need of individualized support during the hiring process.
[For U.S. positions that could be performed in Los Angeles or San Francisco] Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance and Los Angeles Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance, Affirm will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.
By clicking "Submit Application," you acknowledge that you have read Affirm's Global Candidate Privacy Notice and hereby freely and unambiguously give informed consent to the collection, processing, use, and storage of your personal information as described therein.
How to Stand Out
- Highlight any previous SMF17 or MLRO appointments in your CV; regulators view that experience as essential.
- Prepare concrete examples of AML frameworks you built or improved, focusing on risk‑based design and regulator interaction.
- Demonstrate familiarity with FCA guidance by referencing specific rules or publications during the interview.
- Bring a brief, one‑page summary of a complex suspicious‑activity case you managed, showing your judgment and reporting process.
- Emphasise remote‑work discipline: discuss your communication tools, time‑zone management and how you stay visible to senior stakeholders.
- When discussing remuneration, ask about equity and professional‑development allowances, as these are common in fintech compliance roles.
- Watch for vague promises about “unlimited” benefits; ask for specifics on health coverage and remote‑work support before accepting.
This is a remote position listed on WFA Digital, the platform for professionals who work from anywhere. Browse more remote jobs across all categories.