MLRO

Our client is a leading online bookmaker with a long history of changing the landscape of the sports betting and gaming industry through its integrity, high level of customer satisfaction, and successful risk management strategies. The MLRO will be responsible for the oversight of all activity relating to anti-money laundering reporting, investigations and escalations. They will be a key member of the Compliance team and will report to the Group Counsel and the Board of Directors. They will have a directive to maintain independence and autonomy when escalating matters and will be expected to report AML-related matters and risks directly to the Board of Directors.

 Responsibilities

• The MLRO will be responsible for ensuring that all information and evidence leading to knowledge or suspicion, or reasonable grounds for knowledge or suspicion, of money laundering is properly disclosed to the relevant regulatory authorities.
• Developing and maintaining the client’s anti-money laundering and counter-terrorist financing policy in line with the applicable statutory and regulatory obligations; including regular updates and new iterations depending on evolving regulatory requirements and changing market trends.
• Supporting and coordinating the client’s focus on the money laundering risk in individual business areas – including structuring and implementing training for new hires and existing staff across each business area.
• Developing and maintaining an effective anti-money laundering and counter-terrorist financing compliance culture through policy implementation, training, and routine updates. Key to this approach will be conducting compliance tests on internal policies in connection with the Compliance team to ensure the effectiveness and adequacy of internal controls.
• Ensuring that the client’s risk management policies and risk assessment profiles are effectively applied and adequately documented, including managing a risk profile based on the overarching Compliance Program as it relates to AML, CFT and other risks of financial crimes.
• Creating and maintaining the money laundering risk-based approach and the risk assessment of B2B customers, end-users, products, and services, including working closely with the internal audit function to accurately identify and prevent risk before it occurs and assessing new product risks against current AML policies and procedures.
• Establishing and maintaining appropriate risk-based monitoring processes that are proportionate to the scale, nature and complexity of the operations.
• Developing internal procedures in line with the requirements of the legislation and the relevant industry guidance globally and on a jurisdiction-by-jurisdiction basis.
• Ensuring all internal suspicious activity reports received are investigated without delay, and that a SAR is submitted to the relevant law enforcement agency in respect of all suspicions with cause for submission.
• Developing a process and/or program that ensures all staff are aware of their personal obligations and relevant policies and procedures and that the basis for the company’s risk-based approach is understood and applied.
• Implementing measures to track, log, and enforce staff compliance with AML and CFT policies and monitoring operations and development of the policy to this end.
• Ensure that all relevant staff are adequately trained in money laundering and terrorist finance prevention, that the standards and scope of the training are appropriate and that adequate and detailed training records are kept
• Production and presentation of AML and CFT reports as necessary to the Board, including the compilation of an annual report covering the operation and effectiveness of the policies and procedures (including new policy developments) to combat money laundering.
• Working closely with the Compliance team to represent the client to all external agencies, e.g. regulators or law enforcement agencies, and in any other third party with respect to inquiries in relation to money laundering prevention, investigation, and sanctions compliance; promptly responding to any reasonable request for information regarding the same.
• Perform and support other duties as assigned.

Skills & Experience

• Minimum 5 years post qualification experience capable of monitoring money laundering, financial crimes, and counter-terrorism financing risk within a global compliance department in the sports betting and iGaming industries.
• Experience with sophisticated gaming and financial regulatory bodies in Europe is mandatory, whilst experience including the Maltese Gaming Authority is preferred.
• Ability to act and make decisions autonomously without influence from third parties.
• Effective communication skills, both written and verbal.
• Motivated to take on challenges and quickly evaluate risk to make an informed recommendation to Executive leadership and the Board of Directors.
• Ability and willingness to work in a fast-paced environment and highly regulated industry under pressure while contributing to a dynamic team.
• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent from an accredited university.

NB the successful candidate may be required by applicable law/or regulation to personally file for gaming licensure in any jurisdiction in which the client pursues and Sports Betting and/ or iGaming license, and therefore must meet certain requirements.