Head of Fraud Investigations

Alexander Barnes is leading the search for a Fraud Investigations Team Lead / Senior Programme Manager to drive fraud investigation quality and operational excellence within a high-growth, regulated fintech.

This role sits in the first line of defence and is designed for an experienced fraud professional – whether from a major bank, financial institution, or law enforcement background – who understands how fraud manifests in banking and finance and knows what good investigation practice looks like.

You will lead a team of investigators, own the quality of fraud casework end-to-end, and translate operational findings into meaningful improvements across processes, controls, and training.

• Lead and manage a team of fraud investigators, setting standards for case quality, consistency, and decision-making.
• Oversee complex or high-value fraud investigations from alert through to resolution or escalation.
• Review investigative work product for accuracy, completeness, and alignment with internal standards and regulatory expectations.
• Act as the senior point of escalation for challenging cases, including those with potential criminal, civil, or regulatory dimensions.
• Maintain oversight of case volumes, SLA adherence, and team performance metrics.

• Identify recurring quality issues and root causes across fraud alerts and investigations.
• Produce clear reporting on defect trends, control weaknesses, and risk themes for senior stakeholders.
• Share findings with Fraud Operations, Compliance, and Risk to support governance and oversight.
• Translate QA findings into actionable recommendations that improve investigative outcomes.

• Identify gaps or ambiguity in fraud investigation routines based on operational experience and QA findings.
• Work with Operations, Compliance, and Training to improve and standardise investigation playbooks.
• Bring a practitioner’s lens to control changes, process rollouts, and tooling decisions.

• Provide targeted feedback and coaching to investigators at all levels.
• Use real case examples and fraud typologies to support training design and delivery.
• Lead calibration sessions to reinforce consistent interpretation of standards and risk appetite.

• Significant experience leading fraud investigations within a bank, financial institution, or law enforcement agency (e.g. economic crime units, financial intelligence, or specialist fraud teams).
• Deep understanding of fraud typologies relevant to banking and financial services – including payment fraud, account takeover, identity fraud, and first/third‑party fraud.
• Proven ability to manage and develop investigation teams in a fast‑paced, regulated environment.
• Strong grasp of the evidential and regulatory standards required to progress cases effectively.
• Comfortable engaging with legal, compliance, and law enforcement counterparts.
• Excellent written communication – able to document complex findings clearly and concisely.
• Confident using case management systems, transaction monitoring platforms, and standard productivity tools.

• Experience in fintech or digital financial services environments.
• Familiarity with referral and disclosure processes (e.g. SARs, police referrals, civil recovery).
• Professional certifications such as CFE, CAMS, or ICA qualifications.