Deputy MLRO / Principal Officer India

The Deputy MLRO assists the MLRO in establishing, maintaining, and overseeing the institution's Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) framework in compliance with the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002, RBI Master Direction on KYC, and FIU-IND/FATF requirements. The incumbent acts as the designated alternate to the MLRO and assumes full reporting authority in the MLRO's absence. 

Candidate Requirements  

This role sits at the heart of our digital lending business, so we are looking for someone who has worked directly in unsecured digital lending – ideally at a digital-lending NBFC or a fintech lender operating through partner-led (LSP / co-lending) origination. You will be a strong fit if you bring: 

• Hands-on experience in unsecured / digital lending, gained at a digital-lending NBFC or fintech lender. 

• Practical knowledge of the RBI Digital Lending Directions, including Key Fact Statement (KFS) obligations and FLDG / Default Loss Guarantee arrangements. 

• Familiarity with Loan Service Provider (LSP) and co-lending origination models, and how compliance operates across these partnerships. 

• Comfort working with LMS / LOS platforms and digital customer onboarding journeys. 

• Current or recent experience – this regulatory landscape has evolved significantly since 2022, and we are particularly keen to hear from candidates whose exposure reflects the present framework. 

Key Responsibilities 

Reporting & Regulatory Filings 

• Review, validate, and escalate Suspicious Transaction Reports (STRs), Cash Transaction Reports (CTRs), Counterfeit Currency Reports (CCRs), and Cross-Border Wire Transfer Reports prior to FIU-IND submission. 

• Ensure timely and accurate regulatory filings within prescribed timelines. 

• Act as the point of contact for FIU-IND, RBI, and law enforcement in the MLRO's absence. 

Transaction Monitoring & Investigations 

• Oversee the transaction monitoring system, alert generation, and tuning of detection scenarios. 

• Conduct and supervise investigations into flagged accounts, alerts, and internal escalations. 

• Maintain comprehensive, audit-ready case documentation and decision rationale. 

Customer Due Diligence & Screening 

• Oversee CDD, Enhanced Due Diligence (EDD), and periodic KYC review processes. 

• Supervise sanctions, PEP, and adverse-media screening, and adjudicate true/false-positive determinations. 

• Review high-risk customer onboarding and account relationships. 

Policy, Risk Assessment & Controls 

• Support the design, periodic review, and testing of AML/CFT policies, procedures, and internal controls. 

• Contribute to the enterprise-wide ML/TF risk assessment and risk-scoring methodology. 

• Identify control gaps and drive remediation. 

Governance & Stakeholder Management 

• Prepare AML/CFT management information and reports for senior management, the Board, and audit committees. 

• Liaise with business units, compliance, internal audit, and external auditors/regulators. 

• Support regulatory inspections, audits, and thematic reviews. 

Training & Awareness 

• Design and deliver AML/CFT training programmes across the organisation. 

• Maintain training records and assess effectiveness. 

Regulatory Watch 

• Monitor changes in AML/CFT laws, RBI directions, and FATF guidance. 

• Translate regulatory developments into framework and process updates. 

Qualifications & Experience 

• Graduate/postgraduate in finance, law, commerce, or related discipline; professional certifications (CAMS, or equivalent) preferred. 

• Relevant years of experience in AML/compliance within a bank, NBFC, or regulated financial institution. 

• Working knowledge of PMLA, RBI KYC/AML Master Direction, FIU-IND reporting, and FATF recommendations. 

Key Competencies 

• Strong analytical and financial-crime risk judgement. 

• Sound knowledge of transaction monitoring and screening systems. 

• Integrity, discretion, and the ability to operate independently when deputising for the MLRO. 

• Clear written and verbal communication with regulators and senior stakeholders. 

Reporting Line 

• Reports to the Money Laundering Reporting Officer (MLRO) / Head of Compliance.