Head of Compliance Testing

**Role Overview**

Compliance Testing (CT) provides assurance on the design and operating effectiveness of the business’ control environment and/or adherence to the applicable regulations and the Bank’s policies. CT&A staff develop and execute an annual testing plan, which consists of mandatory and risk-based tests, and that covers Compliance risk types across all business divisions in Italy. Additional checks for other risk types and infrastructure functions may be executed on an ad-hoc basis (as per Bank of Italy Circular 285). Where required, CT&A Italy also supports other CT&A locations with their testing (e.g. global reviews).

AFC Testing (AFCT) is a core component of the AFC programme formulated and directed by the Global Head of AFC. It provides assurance to the Management Board, Global Head of AFC and key stakeholders as to the design and/or operating effectiveness of the control framework to manage the Bank’s financial crime risks by undertaking mandatory and risk based testing.

AFC Quality Assurance (QA) is a risk-focused, sampled-based programme, which assesses whether processes to manage financial crime risks in the first and second lines of defence (LoD) operate effectively. The primary focus of the QA programme in Italy is on Know Your Customer (KYC) requirements for IPB business.

Branch Inspections team performs inspections for circa 250 retail branches in order to address the Bank of Italy regulation. As part of branch inspections, Compliance, AFC and Operational risks are covered.

**Key Responsibilities**
- Actively lead the CT, AFCT, AFC QA and Branch Inspection acitivites in the country to satisfy the mandatory and risk-based requirements for testing.
- Define the annual Testing plan for the country that covers the right risks and is in line with the global methodology.
- Manage successful delivery of the annual plan to the deadlines agreed and the standards defined in the global framework. Drive the culture of execution and lead by example.
- Review and approve documents related to testing as per the global methodology requirements.
- Facilitate the process of agreeing issues and remediation actions with the business, and tracking them to completion. Review and validate actions/issues closure.
- Ensure testing results are communicated using high quality reports.
- Supervise AFC QA assessment across applicable AFC QA streams in accordance with the global methodology and quality standards.
- Produce high quality management information (MI) on the reviews, tests, checks and the findings identified to enable read-across (e.g. with other countries or divisions) and to allow continuous improvement of controls and processes.
- Supervise the timely and accurate updates to the relevant tracking system with information on the reviews and their progress.
- Support continuous enhancement of the testing programme by identifying improvements and implementing them, while ensuring the programme remains aligned to the global framework.
- Establish and maintain effective communication channels and working relationships with relevant stakeholders in the business and other control functions.
- Liaise with the wider Compliance organisation and other control functions (e.g. DCO, BCU, NFRM, AFC, Internal Audit, COO, Risk, etc.) to ensure a coordinated approach and effective resolution of issues.
- Represent CT, AFCT, AFC QA and Branch Inspections at relevant Business, Compliance and AFC governance forums as appropriate.
- Manage and develop the talent to encourage high performance (while addressing poor performance or development needs appropriately).

**You will have**:

- Experience of working in a large international bank with a focus on assessing and/or testing the design and operating effectiveness of Compliance and AFC frameworks.
- Excellent understanding of compliance and financial crime risks and internal controls.
- Excellent knowledge of the financial markets rules and regulations on Compliance and AFC topics, with a focus on the Italian and EU laws.
- Excellent knowledge of banking/financial markets business environment and products.
- Experience leading the teams. Excellent talent management skills that can motivate and enable each member of the team to deliver high performance.
- Excellent writing skills in English. An ability to produce high quality reports and management information, describe complex issues clearly and succinctly in ways that are easily understandable by others.
- Strong communication and negotiation skills, both written and verbal, with an ability to communicate effectively across all three lines of defence and technical team members.
- Experience of building and managing relationships with Senior Stakeholders and an ability to effectively communicate, influence and align towards a common goal multiple stakeholders.
- An ability to think critically and identify areas for process improvement.
- A positive, collaborative and flexible approach required to operate in a c