AML Operations Manager
Help make the world more hospitable
The hospitality industry is uniquely human, and it deserves technology that’s just as inspiring as the people behind it. At Mews, we’re transforming the industry with a platform that helps hotels run smarter, move faster and create better guest experiences.
You’ll work with smart, curious people who care deeply about what they do. You’ll have autonomy and the trust to make good decisions and move quickly. And you’ll enjoy a real sense of purpose as you see the impact of what we’re building.
If you’re motivated by ownership, curiosity and meaningful impact, and are driven to deliver consistent high performance, you’ll feel at home here.
About the role
Let's get into the specifics. It’s impossible to capture every nuance of a role – especially at a rapidly growing company like Mews – but if we had to distil it into a job description (which we do because this is a job description), it would be this:
At Mews, we’re building a robust, scalable and future-ready compliance function. We’re looking for an AML Operations Manager to take ownership of the quality and effectiveness of our AML and CTF operational controls as a first line of defence leader.
This is a high-accountability role with real scope. You’ll own outcomes across core AML operations, ensuring that customer due diligence, transaction monitoring, screening, escalations and reporting consistently meet the standards expected of a regulated financial institution. Much of the operational delivery is performed by centralised and outsourced teams, so success in this role means combining strong AML judgement with excellent oversight, decision-making and stakeholder management. As Mews continues to grow, this role is expected to broaden in scope alongside our product and customer footprint.
✅ Your mission, should you choose to accept it:
- Own the quality and effectiveness of AML and CTF operational controls across Mews FS
- Ensure initial and ongoing customer due diligence, including KYC, KYB, onboarding and customer risk assessments, are completed to policy and regulatory standards
- Review and approve enhanced due diligence decisions and risk-based approaches for higher-risk customers
- Oversee first line AML alerts, exceptions and investigations, ensuring high-risk matters are escalated appropriately and followed through to resolution
- Approve customer acceptance decisions and direct offboarding where required for CDD-related reasons
- Own the quality and effectiveness of transaction monitoring activities delivered by central or third-party teams
- Approve or escalate suspicious activity reports and ensure investigations and reporting are timely, traceable and audit-ready
- Oversee sanctions, PEP and adverse media screening frameworks, including decisioning on escalations and positive matches
- Ensure AML and CTF policies, procedures, playbooks and escalation frameworks are applied consistently and remain effective as the business evolves
- Drive remediation and process improvements following audits, regulatory findings or internal lessons learned
- Ensure first line training and awareness programmes are effective, current and aligned to regulatory expectations
- Partner closely with Compliance, Risk, the MLRO, Operations and wider Mews teams on escalation, governance and reporting
- Own the quality and integrity of operational AML reporting for leadership and governance forums
- Ensure the business is prepared for internal audit, external audit and regulatory review
- Oversee outsourced and third-party AML operations, ensuring performance, control quality and regulatory expectations are met
🤝️ You’ll be a great fit if you bring a few of the below with you:
- 7+ years of experience in AML operations, CDD or financial crime operations within a European regulated financial services environment
- Strong understanding of AML and CTF regulation and best practice, including EU AML frameworks, Dutch AML requirements and FATF recommendations
- Experience operating in a first line role with meaningful accountability for AML outcomes
- Proven experience working with or overseeing outsourced or centralised operational teams
- Strong familiarity with transaction monitoring systems and CDD technology solutions
- Sound judgement and confidence making risk-based decisions in a regulated environment
- Ability to translate regulatory requirements and risk findings into practical operational controls and scalable processes
- Excellent communication skills in English, with the ability to work effectively across senior stakeholders, control functions and delivery teams
- A proactive, hands-on and detail-oriented approach
- Compliance qualifications such as ICA, ACAMS or CAMS are a strong plus
Salary:
- NL - 83,000 to 110,000 EUR
- ES - 68,500 to 86,000 EUR
Pay Transparency at Mews
Salary ranges are provided in good faith and reflect current market conditions and internal pay structures. Final compensation may be adjusted based on funding, budget constraints, or exceptional candidate qualifications, but will remain within reasonable proximity to the stated range.
This salary disclosure is provided in compliance with applicable pay transparency legislation. We are committed to equal pay practices and prohibit salary history inquiries during our recruitment process.
If the location you're applying from wasn't originally advertised for this role, salary range information is available upon request at any point during the application/interview process - your recruiter will be able to help.
What’s in it for you?
Our success is powered by our incredible people, supported by benefits that help them thrive.
Global benefits
No matter where you’re based, you’ll enjoy:
- Unlimited paid holiday (yes, really)
- Participation in our company share program
- Paid parental leave (6 months fully paid for primary caregivers, 2 months for secondary, available after one year of service)
- An annual Learning budget of €300 (and more for high performers) to support your development
- Monthly "EDGE" time to Explore, Develop, Grow, and Elevate yourself
- A work from anywhere policy with flexibility to work abroad for a few weeks each year
- Relocation options, available after one year
- Flexible, hybrid working options
- A home office setup budget to make your workspace your own and a monthly work-from-home allowance
- Claude tokens, so you can automate workflows and build smarter, more efficient ways of working
Local benefits
You'll receive additional benefits that vary by location, from healthcare and retirement plans to team events, socials and other perks. Ask us about it during your interview process.
Life at Mews
We’re an equal opportunities employer. We value teams that reflect the diversity of the customers and communities we serve. Different perspectives make better ideas, stronger products and a more welcoming company.
We also believe transparency is important when deciding if you're the right fit. Mews is an ambitious, high-pressure environment of continuous learning and high standards. Success here requires resilience, adaptability and a willingness to solve difficult problems.
A few things that define how we work:
- High autonomy means high responsibility. People are expected to take ownership and drive outcomes. There isn’t a detailed playbook for everything, and that’s part of what makes the work challenging – and rewarding.
- Change is constant. We’re growing quickly and adapting as we scale. Teams, processes and priorities continue to evolve, and only people who stay curious and agile will thrive.
- We’re remote-first, not relationship-free. Flexibility is core to how we work, but strong relationships still matter. Our teams are global, so we need expert collaborators and communicators to help us move forward together.
- AI is an integral part of our processes. It’s not here to steal people’s jobs, but to amplify efficiency and productivity. We’re motivated to proactively use the technology to seek out better ways of working and share our findings with the rest of the company.
If there's anything we can do to support you during the application process, let us know.
We don't discriminate on the basis of race, religion, colour, nationality, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, disability or any other protected characteristic.
One final thing: don't hold back. If you don't meet 100% of the criteria in this job description but you're certain you could make a big impact, apply. Everyone should have equal access to opportunities, and we're committed to providing an inclusive experience.
If Mews sounds like the kind of environment where you'd thrive, we'd love to hear from you.