AML Operations Manager

Job Description

AML Operations Manager, £56,921pa, Permanent, 35 hours per week

Step into a role where your vigilance fuels progress and your expertise drives excellence.

Join the Anti-Money Laundering (AML) Team as our new AML Operations Manager - an opportunity you don’t want to miss! In this role, you’ll help the Society uphold its vital responsibilities as the designated AML Professional Body Supervisor for Scottish legal firms.

This role centres on leading people and driving the operational delivery of an effective, risk-based, and proportionate AML supervisory regime. You’ll oversee a team of AML Risk Managers who conduct (primarily remote) investigations into Scottish legal firms, assessing their compliance with the 2017 Money Laundering Regulations and recognised industry guidance.

Applications are welcomed from those with strong people management and operations experience.

For Awareness: following the Government’s 2023 consultation on the ‘Reform of the Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorism Financing Supervision Regime,’ the decision has been made by the Government to transition the Society’s AML supervisory responsibilities to the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA).

Although the Government has made this decision, implementation will likely take several years and result in ongoing consultation to fully determine the ultimate division of responsibilities and the future role of the Society in relation to AML. If you have any questions about these changes or how they may affect this position, please contact the HR team.

This is a permanent position, not a contract role.

At the centre of our organisation are the values of Respect, Openness, Progress, Inclusion, and Integrity which drive our teams to deliver the best possible service for the legal sector and beyond. 

Key Responsibilities for this role:

• People Management

Lead, manage, motivate, and develop a team of 4 AML Risk Managers.

• Operations Management

Maintain, develop and deliver the Society’s AML supervisory regime to ensure it remains fit for purpose and is updated timeously to reflect changes in requirements set by the UK Government and standard setting bodies.

• Escalation & Reporting

Escalate compliance concerns to the Anti-Money Laundering Sub-Committee (AMLSC) and ensure suspicious activity is reported to the MLRO/Deputy MLRO.

• Continuous Improvement

Maintain and continuously improve the AML supervisory regime for Scottish solicitors ensuring it remains fit for purpose.

• Regulatory Adaptation

Adapt AML team operations to meet changing requirements as and when they arise.

• Certificate Process Leadership

Lead the AML Certificate Process (data collection), including development, management, and data analysis. Use insights to shape supervisory priorities.

• Project Leadership

Act as Project Lead and where necessary active contributor to allocated workstreams.

• Data & Reporting

Ensure the AML team collects adequate data to meet the information needs of the AMLSC, LSS senior management, OPBAS, and HM Treasury.

Key Knowledge, Skills and Experience:

• Enhanced interpersonal and communication skills (both written and oral) – including high quality report writing & the ability to influence others and articulate information clearly and effectively.
• Demonstrable success in delivering process design / review and implementing process improvement.
• Able to operate under pressure in a busy and demanding environment, working independently and problem solving to manage competing deadlines and priorities.
• People Management – leadership and development / motivation of teams and individuals.
• Senior Operations Management – planning, organisation, target setting, progress monitoring, issue identification / resolution, and quality control.
• Process / Operational Efficiency – Project Planning, Design, Management, Execution & Delivery.
• Ability to understand and consider broader organisational and strategic context.

What we offer our employees?

We offer a comprehensive benefits package to support our colleague’s professional and personal needs. Some of these include:

• A hybrid working environment.
• Flexible working, to allow you to work around your lifestyle and commitments.
• 30 days holiday plus bank holidays
• A competitive pension provision scheme
• Excellent family friendly benefits
• Learning and Development opportunities to enhance your skills or through programmes leading to professional or academic qualification.
• Private medical insurance including dental and optical.
• Various health and wellbeing benefits such as confidential counselling services, bike to work scheme, eyecare, and offers on well-known brands through our Lifestyle savings offering.

We are always on the look for new talent to join our incredible workforce. If you are looking for a new opportunity within the society, we would love to hear from you!

If this opportunity sounds like the one for you, click Apply now.

This vacancy will close at 11:30am on 26 January 2026.

We are unable to provide feedback to applicants who are not selected for interviews.