Anti-Money Laundering (AML) Monitoring Team Lead

We are looking for an AML Monitoring Team Lead to join our team and lead, manage and develop a team of Transaction Monitoring Specialists, driving operational performance, investigative quality and effective financial crime controls. You will work alongside another Monitoring Team Lead and together play an important role in identifying and mitigating financial crime risks, overseeing complex investigations and ensuring the team operates in line with regulatory requirements and the Bank's risk appetite. Working closely with key stakeholders, you will also contribute to strengthening the Bank's transaction monitoring framework, improving processes and responding to emerging financial crime risks.

WHAT YOU WILL DO

People Management and Development

• Coaching, supporting and developing team members, providing regular guidance, constructive feedback and mentoring to encourage continuous professional and personal development, strengthen technical knowledge and maintain high standards of performance.
• Setting clear team and individual objectives aligned with departmental priorities and wider business objectives. Monitoring performance against agreed targets, service levels and quality standards, addressing underperformance through timely feedback, appropriate support and documented performance improvement measures where necessary.
• Supporting the recruitment, selection and onboarding of new AML Monitoring Specialists. Developing and overseeing structured training plans, coordinating appropriate mentoring arrangements and monitoring progress throughout the onboarding to ensure new joiners develop the knowledge, technical skills and competencies required to perform their roles effectively.
• Identifying individual and collective development needs, addressing knowledge gaps and ensuring appropriate coaching and training are provided to maintain the team's technical capability and effectiveness.

Operational Management and Oversight

• Managing the day-to-day workflow of the AML Monitoring team, ensuring the effective allocation and prioritisation of work, appropriate management of outstanding workloads and achievement of agreed operational targets and service level agreements.
• Managing team capacity and resource allocation, identifying potential resourcing constraints, arranging appropriate cover for planned and unplanned absences and ensuring continuity of service and effective delivery of operational responsibilities.
• Preparing, reviewing and maintaining relevant Management Information (MI), providing insight into team performance, productivity, quality, outstanding workloads and operational challenges. Communicating relevant departmental and company-wide updates to ensure the team remains informed of business priorities, procedural changes and operational developments.
• Monitoring operational performance and identifying emerging issues, bottlenecks or inefficiencies, taking appropriate action and escalating matters where additional support or management intervention is required.

Quality Assurance, Risk and Compliance

• Ensuring AML monitoring investigations and resulting decisions are completed in accordance with internal policies, procedures, regulatory requirements and established documentation standards, maintaining consistency, accuracy and appropriate evidential records.
• Reviewing escalations from AML Monitoring Specialists, providing guidance and challenge on complex, unusual or higher-risk cases, ensuring appropriate investigation and resolution, and escalating potential financial crime concerns in line with established procedures.
• Conducting Quality Control checks on AML monitoring investigations and decisions to assess the accuracy, completeness and consistency of investigative work. Identifying recurring quality issues, knowledge gaps and training requirements, and ensuring that findings are appropriately addressed through feedback, coaching and corrective actions.
• Monitoring the quality and effectiveness of the team's investigative activities, promoting a strong control environment and ensuring that any identified weaknesses, procedural breaches or areas of concern are appropriately escalated and remediated.
• Supporting the implementation of changes to financial crime policies, procedures, systems and controls, ensuring that relevant updates are communicated, understood and consistently applied by the team.

Stakeholder Management and Collaboration

• Working collaboratively with other internal teams and the Second Line of Defence to resolve operational and financial crime-related issues, provide subject matter guidance and support consistent, risk-based decision-making across the Bank.
• Acting as a point of contact for queries and escalations relating to AML monitoring activities, providing guidance to internal stakeholders and ensuring that issues are appropriately investigated, addressed and resolved.
• Assisting with client-related escalations, working with relevant internal stakeholders to investigate and resolve AML monitoring or financial crime-related queries and concerns, ensuring appropriate handling, timely responses and adherence to internal procedures.
• Building and maintaining effective working relationships with relevant stakeholders across the Bank, supporting the timely resolution of issues and promoting a consistent approach to financial crime risk management.

Continuous Improvement and Technical Expertise

• Contributing to the ongoing development, enhancement and optimisation of AML monitoring tools, systems and processes, identifying opportunities to improve operational efficiency, investigative effectiveness and the overall quality of monitoring activities.
• Identifying recurring operational challenges, process inefficiencies and emerging financial crime trends, providing recommendations and contributing to initiatives aimed at strengthening the Bank's transaction monitoring framework and control environment.
• Maintaining an up-to-date understanding of financial crime risks, emerging typologies, regulatory developments and internal policy requirements, ensuring this knowledge is reflected in the team's investigative approach and day-to-day activities.
• Resolving AML monitoring alerts where required, particularly in circumstances involving complex investigations, increased risk, operational pressures or the need for additional technical expertise, ensuring appropriate conclusions and escalation of concerns.

 

WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR

• Strong people leadership and coaching capabilities.
• Sound technical knowledge of AML and transaction monitoring.
• Strong analytical, investigative and problem-solving skills.
• Effective decision-making and risk-based judgement.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management.
• Strong organisational skills and the ability to manage competing priorities.
• You already reside in Estonia as we do not offer relocation for this role.