Head of Risk Analyses Unit
(Réf. AMLA/TA/2025/5)WHO WE ARE
Money laundering and the financing of terrorism are major concerns for the EU. They pose significant risks to the EU economy, to the integrity of the EU financial system and, even more importantly, to the security of its citizens.
The Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism Authority (AMLA) was established in June 2024 as a new European Union body to safeguard the European Union’s financial system and its citizens against money laundering and terrorist financing. It is located in Frankfurt am Main, Germany and will expand to over 400 staff members by the end of 2027.
AMLA’s key responsibilities include:
- Directly supervising selected financial sector entities that operate on a cross border basis and present a high risk of money laundering and terrorism financing, as well as indirectly supervising other entities in the financial and non-financial sectors
- Supporting and coordinating the activities of Financial Intelligence Units (FIUs) by, for example, facilitating the joint analyses of cross-border cases, enabling information exchange, providing capabilities, advanced data analytics and managing the FIU.net information system
- Complementing EU Anti-Money Laundering (AML)/Countering the Financing of Terrorism (CFT) rules by developing regulatory and implementing technical standards and issuing guidelines
For more information about the Authority, please visit our website. We are an equal opportunities employer, committed to diversity and non-discrimination.
Are you interested to contribute to our mission? Then see below what it takes to accomplish the role.
YOUR ROLE
You will work in a dynamic start-up environment and your role will contribute to the success and growth of AMLA. It will offer a unique opportunity to shape AMLA's risk analyses. You will lead a team of experts and contribute to AMLA’s strategic direction from its inception, in alignment with the Authority’s mandate. This leadership role requires strong managerial skills, deep subject-matter expertise, and a firm commitment to safeguarding the EU’s financial integrity. As a member of AMLA’s middle management, you will, under the authority of the Executive Director and/or an Executive Board member, be responsible for, in particular:
- Horizontal coordination: Contribute to AMLA’s strategy, policies, governance, and decision-making as a member of the middle management team. Work closely with other managers and team leaders to ensure effective organizational cooperation and the achievement of strategic goals.
- Policy Development:
- Develop and oversee methodologies for identifying, assessing, and prioritizing ML/TF risks.
- Develop statistical indicators assessing the potential risk exposure of obliged entities, supporting both remote and on-site anti-money laundering assessments and inspections.
- Perform studies and analyses using statistical and econometric methods on high-risk operational typologies, specific economic sectors, payment instruments, and regional economic contexts related to money laundering and terrorism financing.
- Analyse the aggregate-level exposure to money laundering risks in the economic and financial system.
- Lead the design and deployment of detection models for identifying operations and activities at risk of money laundering, through the integration and analysis of extensive and diverse datasets.
- Leveraging advanced technologies, including AI and machine learning, to detect emerging threats.
- Draft research papers and technical reports that effectively convey methodologies and results of complex statistical and econometric analyses to enhance understanding of AML risk.
- Collaborate with authorities and law enforcement agencies for all the above.
- Stakeholder Engagement: Represent AMLA in high-level meetings and forums, leading cooperation with EU institutions, Member States authorities, and other stakeholders.
- People Management:
- Provide leadership to the team, ensuring effective planning and delivery of tasks aligned with AMLA’s mandate, and manage the unit’s work plan, including setting objectives, coordinating efforts, and fostering team development.
- Building and maintaining strong, complementary teams, and support career development and learning opportunities for unit members.
The successful candidates might be required to perform other duties as necessary under the responsibility of their line manager according to the evolution and development of AMLA’s structure and activities.
QUALIFICATIONS AND OTHER REQUIREMENTS
Eligibility criteria
To be admitted to the selection process you must meet the following eligibility criteria on the closing date for application and on the date of filling the vacant post:
- Be a national of a Member State of the European Union.
- Completed university studies of at least 3 years attested by a diploma.
- Thorough knowledge (C1 level as per the CEFR1) of one of the 24 EU official languages and a satisfactory knowledge (B2 level) of another EU official language for the performance of your duties [1].
- Enjoy full rights as a citizen and meet the character requirements for the duties involved [2].
- Have fulfilled any obligations imposed by national laws concerning military service.
- Be physically fit to perform the duties linked to the post [3].
This vacancy is open for internal mobility at AMLA and inter-agency mobility at the grade bracket AD 9 - AD 10.
[1] Mother tongue English speakers will be expected to demonstrate knowledge of a second EU language.
[2] An official certificate confirming the absence of any criminal record must be submitted prior to recruitment.
[3] If you are not currently working for an EU institution, you will be required to undergo a pre-employment medical examination at a center we specify.
Essential Criteria
To be considered for the assessment phase you must meet the following essential criteria on the closing date for applications:
Education and Professional Experience:
- A university degree (minimum 4 years studies) in economics and/or finance, statistics or a closely related discipline followed by at least 12 years of relevant professional experience in statistical and econometric analysis in public or private sector
OR
- A university degree (minimum 3 years studies) in economics and/or finance, statistics or a closely related disciplinefollowed by at least 13 years of relevant professional experience as indicated above.
- A minimum of 5 years of professional experience in statistical, econometric, and advanced quantitative methods in risk analysis for anti-money laundering.
Technical Skills:
- Advanced knowledge of statistical methods and econometric modelling applied to AML risk analysis and economic research.
- Proficiency in data analysis software.
- Strong knowledge of advanced data analytics, such as machine learning, applied to AML.
- Knowledge of EU AML regulation.
Managerial experience
- Professional experience of at least 3 years in managing team/(s) of not less than 7 staff members (for example: Head of Unit, Team leader or equivalent). Please indicate the level of responsibility, the size of team coordinated and/or the number of line reports as well as the number of years in each work experience listed in the application.
Language Skills
- Very good command of both written and spoken English (at least level C1 as per the CEFR) [4]
[4] English oral and written skills will be assessed throughout the assessment phase
Desirable Criteria
The following criteria are considered as nice to have:
- PhD in Statistics/Econometrics or other post-graduate qualifications.
- Proven track record of scientific published papers on AML risk analysis.
Interpersonal Skills
Success in this role depends on strong interpersonal skills, which will be evaluated during the assessment phase :
- General Management skills;
- Ability to guide and coach colleagues to achieve common goals;
- Excellent organisational and planning skills;
- Ability to think strategically;
- Ability to establish and develop good inter-personal relations with a broad range of stakeholders in cross-cultural environments;
- Negotiation skills.
APPLICATION, SELECTION & RECRUITMENT PROCESS
Please submit your application in English.
Before submitting your application look at our careers page and check out the Guide for candidates. Proof of compliance with specific criteria may be requested at any stage during the selection process. If you fail to comply with the eligibility and essential criteria, your application will be disqualified.
The selection process will be organised in several consecutive stages:
Screening and shortlisting: After the deadline for online registration, the selection committee will check the submitted applications against the eligibility and essential criteria. Upon completion of the initial assessment, the selection committee will establish a shortlist of the most suitable candidates.
Assessment phase: The shortlisted candidates will be invited to the assessment phase which will be organised remotely. This phase will be conducted in English. The assessment phase involves an oral interview with the selection committee and a written test. The oral and written test aim at testing the specific competencies and knowledge with reference to the selection criteria of the present vacancy notice.
Managerial assessment centre and interview with the Executive Director: Candidates shortlisted in the assessment phase will be invited to undergo a remotely organised managerial assessment centre organised by an external service provider, and an interview with the ad-interim Executive Director of AMLA.
Indicative timeline:
Details of the date and time of the assessment will be communicated to the shortlisted candidates in due time. The written test, interview(s) and assessment centre are tentatively scheduled for Q3 - 2025. Shortlisted candidates will be required to make themselves available on the date of the written test as no alternative date will be offered. This timeline may be subject to change.
DATA PROTECTION & APPEAL PROCEDURE
The information provided in the application form is collected for the purpose of the selection/ recruitment procedure(s) at AMLA. Consult the data protection notice for more information about the processing of personal data in the selection and recruitment process.
If you believe a decision made during the selection process has negatively impacted your interests, you can request a review of your application, lodge an administrative complaint, a judicial appeal or a complaint to the European Ombudsman. You can find more information on the appeal procedure in our Guide for candidates.
CONTACT
In case of questions related to careers at AMLA, email us at careers@amla.europa.eu