AFC Compliance Controls and Reviews - Associate

Title: AFC Compliance Controls and Reviews - Associate Location: Madrid

About the opportunity

We are seeking an AFC Compliance Controls and Reviews - Associate. N26 has reimagined banking for today’s digital world. Technology and design empower everything we do and it’s how we are building the global banking platform the world loves to use. We've eliminated physical branches, paperwork, and hidden fees for an elegant digital experience and supreme savings. Giving people the power to live and bank their way is what gets us out of bed in the morning and inspires the work that we do.

The primary purpose of this role is to manage and execute the Second Line of Defense Anti-Financial Crime (AFC) control framework by conducting rigorous compliance testing, co-developing risk-based control plans, reporting systemic risks to senior management, and driving the remediation of identified vulnerabilities.

In this role, you will:

• Execute the Second Line of Defense control framework on behalf of the GMLRO, conducting testing on a monthly, quarterly, and annual basis to validate the bank's compliance posture
• Evaluate controls through a dual-lens approach, assessing the appropriateness of the control setup and the actual operational performance
• Co-Develop and maintain the local/global AFC Control Plan, ensuring testing activities are derived directly from the Risk Assessment and mapped to specific AML Safeguards, while adapting to local market needs and the regulatory landscape
• Prepare reporting for the AFC Governance Forum (the primary channel for communicating control results) highlighting systemic risks and control maturity to senior management
• Proactively identify control shortcomings before they materialize into regulatory breaches, documenting formal observations and tracking stakeholder remediation to closure

What you need to be successful:

Background:

• Bachelor degree in law, economics or equivalent with strong knowledge of laws, regulations and rules that govern Compliance and Financial Crime Prevention functions in banking institutions at a European and local level; postgraduate compliance training (e.g. Certified Compliance Professional, CIA, CAMS, CFE) of benefit
• At least 3 years experience in External or Internal Audit or Risk Assurance role, with specific expertise in executing monitoring plans and testing control frameworks
• Understanding of local and global AML/CTF regulations, industry best practices, and the current banking regulatory landscape to ensure controls remain relevant
• Technical mastery of assurance methodologies, incl. sampling logic
• Knowledge of how to translate the Risk Assessment into a tactical control plan
• Understanding of banking operations, products, and the interplay between 1st Line and 2nd Line to identify where processes are most likely to fail

Skills:

• Fluency in English and German are required (verbal and written); French and/or Spanish and/or Italian are a plus
• Strong level of resilience with the ability to maintain compliance standards while maintaining positive working relationships
• Able to demonstrate agility by working in a fast paced environment where products and risks evolve rapidly
• High integrity and sound judgement based with a data driven approach to decision making
• Strong ability to analyze complex data and processes to detect design flaws or operational gaps.
• Capability to challenge stakeholders constructively regarding control failures and effective remediation plans.
• Stakeholder management and communication skills to be able to effectively negotiate with internal/external parties
• Analytical and problem solving abilities to be able to analyze data, identify trends, and resolve issues/conflicts
• Hands-on approach and eagerness to tackle new topics while demonstrating a quick grasp in conceptual project work and strategic thinking

What’s in it for you:

• Accelerate your career growth by joining one of Europe’s most talked about disruptors 🚀.
• Employee benefits that range from a competitive personal development budget, work from home budget, discounts to fitness & wellness memberships, language apps and public transportation.
• As an N26 employee you will have access to a Premium subscription on your personal N26 bank account. As well as subscriptions for friends and family members.
• Additional day of annual leave for each year of service.
• A high degree of autonomy and access to cutting edge technologies - all while working with a friendly team of peers of diverse nationalities, experiences, and backgrounds.
• A relocation package with visa support for those who need it.

Who we are

N26 has reimagined banking for today’s digital world. Technology and design empower everything we do and it’s how we are building the global banking platform the world loves to use.

We've eliminated physical branches, paperwork, and hidden fees for an elegant digital experience and supreme savings. Giving people the power to live and bank their way is what gets us out of bed in the morning and inspires the work that we do.

We are headquartered in Berlin with offices in multiple cities across Europe, including Vienna and Barcelona, and a 1,500-strong team of more than 80 nationalities.

Do you see yourself thriving in this role? We’d love to see your application even if you don’t meet 100% of the criteria. You may just be the right fit for this or other roles!

Equal opportunities for all

At N26, we believe our strength lies in our people and the varied perspectives they bring. We strive to build diverse teams that drive innovation and business success. We actively seek talent from all backgrounds and welcome applications from all genders, cultures, sexual orientations, abilities, neurodiversities, and ages.

We are committed to providing an excellent and accessible candidate experience. If you require any accommodations to make this process work for you, please let us know. We’re here to support you!

Discover more about Diversity & Inclusion at N26: