Associate Director, Financial Crime (Data and Technology)
Job Summary
As Associate Director you will lead data-centric and technology-enabled engagements across the financial crime spectrum. You’ll partner with payments firms, banks, and other regulated financial firms to assess financial crime risk, design advanced analytic models, implement and independently test detection and monitoring systems, and advise on technology transformation, tooling, and ongoing effectiveness.
This role blends advisory strategy with hands-on technical delivery and requires someone comfortable across data architecture, analytics, ML/AI concepts, and regulatory expectations. It requires a strong understanding of AML and financial crime regulations in the UK, EU (preferable) and other countries, with solid experience in a related role from either another consultancy or from working in internal roles at a financial institution.
About FINTRAIL
FINTRAIL is a global financial crime and regulatory compliance consultancy supporting the FinTech, banking and regulated financial services sectors, ensuring they meet regulatory expectations and can effectively combat financial crime risks, enabling them to thrive. This is achieved through the provision of risk-based consultancy and specialist services that put our clients at the centre of everything we do.
As well as our consultancy business, FINTRAIL also runs the FinTech FinCrime Exchange (FFE), a global network that connects the FinTech community in the fight against financial crime by providing opportunities to share insight and best practice.
FINTRAIL is part of the Cosegic group, a market-leading compliance consultancy setting the standard for regulatory excellence in the UK and beyond. Being part of the group strengthens FINTRAIL’s ability to support clients across the full regulatory lifecycle, combining its deep financial crime expertise with broader regulatory compliance and technological capabilities. For both our people and our clients, this means greater scale, increased investment in innovation, and enhanced opportunities to collaborate with experts across a wider range of regulatory disciplines.
The Role
We’re looking for a strong data and technology specialist with a deep interest in financial crime to deliver high-impact consulting engagements, shape client strategy, and drive innovation.
Project Delivery
Lead and support on client engagements to assess and remediate financial crime risk across payments and banking environments.
Drive data diagnostics and analytical assessments including data profiling, feature engineering, exploratory analysis, and performance benchmarking.
Evaluate technology solutions for AML monitoring, customer risk scoring, and customer screening, and support vendor selection and integration processes.
Collaborate with client data engineering teams to advise on data pipelines, schema design, and pipeline infrastructure needed for analytic and monitoring use cases.
Translate complex technical concepts into clear, executive-level recommendations and actionable roadmaps.
Business Development and Lead Generation
Maintain and develop a personal profile in the industry as an anti-financial crime consultant by attending, speaking and engaging at appropriate industry events, as well as writing content pieces and posting on social media platforms, in order to promote and grow FINTRAIL’s presence.
Expand FINTRAIL’s business by developing a strong network of industry contacts, pitching for new business, writing or quality-assuring sharp proposals and acquiring clients.
Personal and Team Development
Develop and support other FINTRAIL team members through appropriate training, guidance and practical direction setting.
Actively contribute to knowledge-sharing initiatives and support self-learning throughout the team.
Continue to develop professionally through the completion of relevant training and self-study.
Creativity and Innovation Agenda
Support the development and execution of a coherent business strategy by contributing to shaping elements of the strategy plan and identifying new, innovative revenue opportunities.
Develop and improve FINTRAIL’s policies, procedures and processes around internal and external tasks.
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) and Wellness
Continue to foster the respectful, open and transparent culture at FINTRAIL through clear communication and management.
Participate and contribute to DEI initiatives.
Relevant Skills and Experience
Essential
5+ years’ experience in data, analytics or technology roles in financial crime within a financial institution (bank, FinTech, other regulated entity) or a financial crime-focused consultancy team.
Strong hands-on experience with data analysis and data tooling.
Knowledge of financial crime typologies, AML, sanctions, fraud risk, and regulatory expectations.
Experience with detection frameworks, monitoring platforms, or machine learning workflows in a regulated environment.
Ability to work independently with clients, manage project workstreams, and deliver quality outcomes.
Excellent communication skills — able to explain technical insights to business stakeholders.
Someone with a challenger mindset, keen to think creatively and challenge industry norms to identify more efficient and effective ways to fight financial crime alongside operational effectiveness.
Someone that is adaptable and enjoys the varied nature of consultancy work / happy juggling multiple client assignments and internal projects at the same time.
Desirable
Familiarity working with RegTech tools.
Consultancy experience (business development, client relationship management, good regional network of contacts).
Understanding of AI/ML model governance in a regulated context.
Formal industry qualifications (e.g. ACAMS, ICA).
Experience contributing to external thought leadership or industry engagement.
What We Offer
Competitive salary and benefits.
Chance to develop and grow professionally through the varied nature of the role and wide range of projects, as well as formal training and development.
A fast-paced environment with a relatively flat structure and a speak-up culture where your voice will be heard and you will have the opportunity to pitch in and help shape the future growth and direction of the company.
An inclusive environment which actively promotes diversity and inclusion both internally and within the wider financial crime industry.
FINTRAIL is an equal opportunities employer, we celebrate, encourage and support diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment. We do not tolerate discrimination or harassment of any kind. All employment decisions at FINTRAIL are based on business needs, job requirements, competence and merit. We will not discriminate on the basis of gender, age, ethnic origin, religious belief, disability, marital status, sexual orientation, or any other individual characteristic which may unfairly affect a person’s opportunities.