Head of Financial Crime Compliance, EMEA

About Northern Trust:

Northern Trust, a Fortune 500 company, is a globally recognized, award-winning financial institution that has been in continuous operation since 1889.

Northern Trust is proud to provide innovative financial services and guidance to the world’s most successful individuals, families, and institutions by remaining true to our enduring principles of service, expertise, and integrity. With more than 130 years of financial experience and over 22,000 partners, we serve the world’s most sophisticated clients using leading technology and exceptional service.

The Role

The EMEA Head of Financial Crime Compliance (FCC) is a senior leadership role accountable for firm‑wide and branch‑level financial crime compliance, leading the EMEA AML & sanctions efforts, implementing and overseeing the Global AML, Countering the Financing of Terrorism and Countering Proliferation Financing Program, advising senior leadership, engaging regulators, overseeing key controls and technologies, and building a high‑performing FCC team. The EMEA Head of FCC ensures policies, procedures, and governance effectively counter financial crime risk, aligned to applicable laws, regulations, and conduct rules.

This role oversees a regional team of FCC professionals and reports to the Global Head of Financial Crime Compliance.

Key Responsibilities:

• Own the firm’s policies and procedures for countering financial crime risk, with local responsibility for legal entities inclusive of branches in the region.
• Develop and execute the EMEA AML & Sanctions strategy in partnership with the Global Head of FCC.
• Lead and enhance a  dynamic regional AML & Sanctions framework that supports the ongoing enhancement of the program in response to regulatory change and shifting client, product and service trends.
• Provide forward‑looking guidance on regulatory change, emerging risks, and business initiatives.
• Identify, assess, and monitor emerging AML and Sanctions risks.
• Take corrective action to implement solutions to improve control effectiveness.
• Oversee key controls, quality assurance, and surveillance technologies.
• Serve at the appropriate governance forums and regional financial crime risk assessments.
• Act as the primary EMEA regulatory contact for AML and Sanctions matters.
• Lead regulatory examinations, responses, and remediation.
• Provide updates to governance bodies on programme performance.
• Provide advice and support on current and new business initiatives.
• Assist with the regulatory change management process for FCC. 
• Provide subject matter expertise to enhance FCC training.
• Advise senior leaders on FCC risks and regulatory expectations.
• Promote a culture of accountability and ethical conduct and abide by all regulatory requirements, including the UK regulator’s Conduct Rules.
• Lead, mentor, and develop a high-performing regional FCC team.
• Ensure succession planning and continuous skills development.
• Embed FCC requirements across products, operations, and governance.

Serve as the FCA‑approved SMF17 MLRO for:

• Northern Trust Company London Branch (TNTCLB)
• Northern Trust Global Services SE UK Branch (NTGS SE UK)
• Northern Trust Global Investments Limited (NTGIL)
• Northern Trust Investor Services Limited (NTISL)
• Northern Trust Securities LLP (NTS LLP)

Skills and Experience:

• Deep expertise in global AML, sanctions, and financial crime compliance, with experience operating within large, complex financial institutions.
• Proven ability to foster a strong culture of financial crime risk management, accountability, and ethical conduct across the organisation.
• Demonstrated leadership capability, providing clear guidance, mentorship, and direction to teams while promoting innovation, transparency, and collaboration.
• Strong influencing skills with the ability to engage effectively with senior management, regulators, and cross‑functional stakeholders globally.
• A track record of leading and developing globally distributed teams in a complex regulatory environment.
• Strategic mindset with sound judgment, capable of anticipating, assessing, and mitigating emerging financial crime risks.
• Clear commitment to ethical decision‑making, accountability, and the continuous strengthening of the firm’s compliance culture.
• Acts as a senior culture‑carrier, consistently demonstrating Northern Trust’s values: relentlessly client‑centric, actively managing risk, respectfully candid, intentionally inclusive, and always accountable.
• Champions Northern Trust’s OneNT strategy by strengthening resiliency, enhancing risk management, and driving productivity through technology, talent, and data.

Qualifications:

• 15+ years of progressive experience in Compliance, with significant exposure to financial crime compliance.
• Deep knowledge of global regulatory frameworks, including FCA, PRA, CBI, CSSF, and GFSC.
• Strong understanding of financial crime compliance, conduct risk, and compliance risk management frameworks.
• Demonstrated leadership and influence across global and cross‑functional stakeholders.
• Strategic thinker with strong judgment and the ability to operate effectively at senior leadership level.
• Exceptional communication and stakeholder management skills.
• Strong analytical capability, with the ability to interpret regulations, assess risk, and clearly articulate implications for the business.
• Bachelor’s degree required; JD, MBA, CAMS, or comparable advanced qualifications preferred.

Working with Us:

As a Northern Trust partner, greater achievements await. You will be part of a flexible and collaborative work culture in an organization where financial strength and stability is an asset that emboldens us to explore new ideas.

Movement within the organization is encouraged, senior leaders are accessible, and you can take pride in working for a company committed to assisting the communities we serve! Join a workplace with a greater purpose.

We’d love to learn more about how your interests and experience could be a fit with one of the world’s most admired and sustainable companies! Build your career with us and apply today. #MadeForGreater

Reasonable accommodation

Northern Trust is committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodations to individuals with disabilities. If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the employment process, please email our HR Service Center at MyHRHelp@ntrs.com.

We hope you’re excited about the role and the opportunity to work with us. We value an inclusive workplace and understand flexibility means different things to different people.

Apply today and talk to us about your flexible working requirements and together we can achieve greater.