Head of Quality Assurance - Financial Crime

Job Title - Head of Quality Assurance for Financial Crime 

Location - London - Hybrid 1-2 Days per week in the office 

Contract - 6 Months 

Shift Pattern - 09.00am - 17.00pm Monday - Friday 

Barclays Overview

Barclays is a British universal bank. We are diversified by business, by different types of customers and clients, and by geography. Our businesses include consumer banking and payments operations around the world, as well as a top-tier, full service, global corporate and investment bank, all of which are supported by our service company which provides technology, operations and functional services across the Group.

We are an equal opportunity employer and we are opposed to discrimination on any grounds.

Working Flexibly

We’re committed to providing a supportive and inclusive culture and environment for you to work in. This environment recognises and supports ways to balance your personal needs, alongside the professional needs of our business. Providing the opportunity for all our employees, globally to work flexibly empowers each of us to work in a way that suits our lives as well as enabling us to better service our customers’ and clients’ needs.

Whether you have family commitments or you’re a carer, or whether you need study time or wish to pursue personal interests, our approach to working flexibly is designed to help you balance your life.  If you would like some flexibility, then please discuss this with the hiring manager.

About Financial Crime Execution ‘FCE’

The team works across a global footprint and is responsible for driving the financial crime execution goals and objectives of the UK Corporate Bank, Barclays Payments and Investment Bank. Responsibilities include the On-boarding and Refresh of clients along with Enhanced Due Diligence, Risk Assessment and Change across all client segments within the Corporate and Investment Bank. This role is primarily focussed across the UK Corporate and International Corporate Banking (ICB) teams.

About Quality Assurance ‘QA’

The QA team form part of the Governance & Control function within Financial Crime Execution ‘FCE’ in 1st Line Of Defence (1LoD).

QA is a method of determining whether a process or control is operating effectively. QA is a detective control i.e. it assesses the effectiveness of the underlying process post- event, and aims to identify: Where processes are not effective and enhancements are required;

Control gaps/weaknesses (including in the QC control); and Where incorrect decisions/conclusions have been made.

The FCE QA teams’ responsibilities include providing assurance over the quality of financial crime prevention activities undertaken across the Financial Crime Execution Team.

Overall purpose of role

Reporting to the FCE Head of Governance & Control, the role holder is responsible for leading the Quality Assurance Team in the timely, efficient and effective completion of Quality Assurance on a variety of financial crime prevention activity across the Financial Crime Execution Team, including but not limited to the following work types:

FinCrime Exits

SARs & PO SARs investigations

PEP EDD

Investigations & Cash 650 Investigations

PEP & AML Watchlist Alerts

RAU Risk Assessments

RAU Forum Admin

CARs - NoB/SoF

Client Monies

High Risk Checklists

Key Accountabilities

Responsible for the FCE Quality Assurance framework, strategy & alignment of procedures with Policy

Identification of themes in Quality Assurance failures, driving risk awareness and “Right First Time” performance pertaining to all financial crime prevention activities across FCE

Proactive and timely identification & escalation QA related issues

Driving the timely review of sample size / methodology, balancing robust risk-based control, with efficiency

Taking ownership of the completion of ORACs (where appropriate) - Issues, actions, and closure packs

Leading in collaborative conversations with Compliance (Assurance Reviews) and / or Audit regarding

Quality Assurance matters, as required

Working collaboratively and pragmatically with FCE team leaders to implement mitigating actions, as required

Overseeing the creation and delivery of any training or coaching required to drive-down QA failures

Robust records management & retention for the purposes of providing robust quality assurance (and re-performance, as required)

The input, reporting and escalation of pertinent KRIs relating to Quality Assurance

Prioritisation of team workload & performance

Supporting the wider Governance & Control Team, as required

Compiling and presenting regular performance stats & commentary pertaining to QA at the FinCrime

Oversight Meeting (FCOM)

Continuous Improvements & Best Practice 

Leading a small team of both Permanent employees and Contract employees 

Stakeholder Management and Leadership

Excellent communication with key stakeholders at all levels across Corporate Coverage, FCE, Financial

Crime (2 nd Line of Defence), Audit (3 rd Line of defence), KYC Operations, and Project / Change teams.

Decision-making and Problem Solving

Analytical and methodological approach to assessments & complex problem solving

Ability to identify and appropriately escalate issues and risks and consider solutions

Ability to use own initiative to consider streamlining of the controls process

Risk and Control Objective

Ensure that all activities and duties are carried out in full compliance with regulatory requirements, Enterprise Wide Risk Management Framework and internal Barclays Policies and Policy Standards.

Person Specification

Exceptional attention to detail and precise, especially in recording assurance outcomes.

Well organised - able to manage multiple tasks effectively and efficiently prioritise to set and meet deadlines

A can do attitude and willingness to accept challenges & responsibilities

Ability to think and act as part of an independent, but partnered team, with an emphasis on teamwork at all

times and effective coordination across different activities

Essential Skills/Basic Qualifications:

A good knowledge of Quality Assurance/Quality Control requirements, tools and practices in the context of Financial Crime mitigation activities (including CDD/KYC & EDD)

People management/ team leadership experience. Skills required include strong communication, emotional intelligence, decision-making, delegation, time management, adaptability, leadership, organization, collaboration, empathy, problem-solving, and the ability to build a cohesive team.

Ability to exercise pragmatism within the boundaries of pre-determined policies & procedures

Desirable skills/Preferred Qualifications:

An understanding of the various of financial crime prevention activity ‘work types’ listed under ‘Overall Purpose of Role’

Proficient use of Microsoft Excel

Relevant AML/CTF or ABC qualifications i.e. ICA or ACAMs

Familiar with software /systems such as OWS, OEDQ, PEP register etc.

Purpose, Values and Mindset

We deploy finance responsibly to support people and businesses, acting with empathy and integrity,

championing innovation and sustainability, for the common good and the long term.

Our values underpin everything we do: Respect, Integrity, Service, Excellence and Stewardship.

Respect

We harness the power of diversity and inclusion in our business, trust those we work with, and value everyone & contribution.

Integrity

We operate with honesty, transparency and fairness in all we do.

Service

We act with empathy and humility, putting the people and businesses we serve at the centre of what we do.

Excellence

We champion innovation, and use our energy, expertise and resources to make a positive difference.

Stewardship

We prize sustainability, and are passionate about leaving things better than we found them.

Our Mindset shapes how we take action, living by our Values, driven by our Purpose, always with our customers

and clients at the heart of what we do; our Mindset is to Empower, Challenge and Drive.

Empower

Trust and support each other to deliver. Make decisions with those closest to the topic. Include diverse

perspectives. Celebrate success and learn from failure.

Challenge

Question whether things can be done better. Use insights based on data to inform decisions. Be curious about how we can adapt and improve. Speak up and be open to alternative viewpoints.