Seconded National Experts (multiple profiles)
### 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...
Deadline: 31 Dec 2028
Anti-Money Laundering Jobs
1 positions at EU institutions
Anti-money laundering (AML) and counter-terrorist financing roles at EU level are one of the fastest-growing areas of European public-sector hiring, driven by the establishment of the Anti-Money Laundering Authority (AMLA) in Frankfurt and the wider modernisation of the EU's financial-crime framework under the 2024 AML package. If you have a background in financial-crime investigation, supervisory authority work, financial intelligence analysis, sanctions compliance, transaction monitoring, or AML law, the EU institutions now offer a genuinely substantial career path with intensive cross-border exposure, deep specialisation, and the unusual opportunity to help build a new pan-European supervisor from scratch.
1 position found
About Anti-Money Laundering careers at EU institutions
Typical roles in anti-money laundering
The most common AML hiring categories include supervisors and supervisory analysts at AMLA (planning and conducting direct supervision of high-risk obliged entities, drafting supervisory methodology, coordinating with national AML supervisors), financial intelligence specialists supporting the AMLA-coordinated cooperation between national Financial Intelligence Units, policy and legal officers at DG FISMA drafting EU AML regulations, directives, and implementing acts, sanctions specialists at the European External Action Service and DG FISMA working on EU restrictive measures, and financial-crime auditors at OLAF and the European Public Prosecutor's Office investigating fraud against the EU budget. The European Banking Authority maintains an AML/CFT team historically responsible for EU-wide AML supervisory convergence, transferring competence progressively to AMLA. The European Central Bank also hires AML supervisors in its banking-supervision arm. Day-to-day work combines analysis of suspicious-activity reports, supervisory inspection planning, methodology drafting, cross-border coordination with national supervisors, and legal interpretation of the AML Regulation and AML Directive.
Top hiring institutions for anti-money laundering
AMLA in Frankfurt is the new central employer, ramping up from a small founding team to a planned headcount of around 400 staff by 2027 to 2028. The agency will directly supervise around 40 of the highest-risk credit and financial institutions across the EU and indirectly oversee the rest through national supervisors. DG FISMA at the Commission remains the AML policy maker, drafting the legislative architecture and managing relations with the Financial Action Task Force. The European Banking Authority in Paris retains residual AML responsibilities during the transition. The European Central Bank's Single Supervisory Mechanism integrates AML considerations into prudential banking supervision. OLAF investigates fraud and corruption affecting EU finances, including money-laundering linked to EU funds. The European Public Prosecutor's Office in Luxembourg prosecutes serious cross-border financial crime. The European External Action Service handles EU sanctions policy. Specialised teams at Europol and Eurojust work on financial-crime operations.
Salary expectations for anti-money laundering
Standard EU staff scales apply at AMLA, the Commission, OLAF, and EPPO. AD5 entry-level AML analysts and policy officers earn around €5,000 to 5,700 per month gross at step 1. AD7 senior AML supervisors and senior policy officers earn €7,400 to 8,500. AD9 supervisory team leads and senior policy specialists earn €9,500 to 10,500. AD12 heads of unit at AMLA or DG FISMA reach €13,000 to 14,500. Function Group IV (FG IV) Contract Agents in compliance analysis or methodology drafting typically earn €4,200 to 6,800/month. The European Central Bank operates a separate scale typically 15 to 25% above EU institutional pay for comparable seniority. Frankfurt's correction coefficient is close to 100, in line with Brussels and Luxembourg. Standard EU benefits (expatriation allowance, household allowance, education allowance, EU community tax) apply across AMLA, ECB-SSM, and the Commission. Specialist supervisors with backgrounds at FATF, the IMF, or major national AML supervisors can often negotiate higher entry grades.
Required qualifications and background
AML supervisor positions typically require a master's degree in law, finance, economics, or a related field, plus 4 to 8 years of relevant experience in AML supervision, financial-crime investigation, FIU work, or a major bank's financial-crime compliance team. Professional certifications carry significant weight: ACAMS (Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialist), ICA International Diploma in AML, CFE (Certified Fraud Examiner), and national equivalents. Direct experience with the EU's AML legal framework (the AML Regulation (Regulation (EU) 2024/1624), the AML Directive (Directive (EU) 2024/1640), and the AMLA Regulation) is highly valued, as is familiarity with FATF Recommendations and the Wolfsberg Principles. Language requirements include working English; French is helpful for cross-institutional coordination; a third EU language is required for permanent statutory posts. Sanctions-focused roles benefit from prior work at a major sanctions-screening firm, the US OFAC, a national export-control authority, or an EU member-state foreign ministry. Security clearance up to EU SECRET may be required for sensitive operational roles.
EU-specific context to be aware of
EU AML is undergoing the deepest reform in two decades. The 2024 AML package created a directly applicable AML Regulation (replacing the variable national transpositions of previous directives), a Sixth AML Directive on institutional cooperation, and the new AMLA. AMLA will eventually exercise direct supervisory powers over the most cross-border-active credit and financial institutions in the EU, while continuing to coordinate national supervisors and FIUs. The shift from minimum-harmonisation directives to a uniform regulation is a fundamental change for compliance teams across the EU's regulated entities and for staff working on enforcement. The EU's restrictive measures (sanctions) framework has expanded enormously since 2022 due to the response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine, creating substantial demand for staff who can navigate complex listing decisions, asset-freeze enforcement, and the new offence of violating EU restrictive measures. Career mobility between AMLA, DG FISMA, ECB-SSM, OLAF, EPPO, and Europol's financial-crime work is increasingly common. Multinational, multilingual environments are the norm; expect to draft in English, consult colleagues across nationalities, and coordinate with national authorities in 27 distinct legal traditions.
Frequently asked questions
What qualifications are needed for anti-money laundering roles?
A master's in law, finance, economics, or a related field plus 4 to 8 years of relevant AML, FIU, supervisory authority, or bank-side financial-crime compliance experience is the typical profile for AD7+ roles. Professional certifications like ACAMS, ICA AML diploma, or CFE add weight. Direct knowledge of the 2024 EU AML package (Regulation 2024/1624, Directive 2024/1640, AMLA Regulation) is highly valued. Working English is essential, French is helpful, and a third EU language is required for permanent posts. Security clearance up to EU SECRET may be required for operational roles.
Which EU institutions hire anti-money laundering professionals?
AMLA in Frankfurt is the new central hub, scaling toward 400 staff by 2027 to 2028. DG FISMA at the Commission drafts AML policy. The European Banking Authority retains residual AML responsibilities during the transition. The ECB-SSM integrates AML in banking supervision. OLAF and EPPO investigate and prosecute financial crime against EU finances. The EEAS handles sanctions policy. Europol and Eurojust support cross-border financial-crime operations.
What is the typical salary for anti-money laundering roles at EU institutions?
AD5 around €5,000 to 5,700/month gross at step 1, AD7 €7,400 to 8,500, AD9 €9,500 to 10,500, AD12 heads of unit €13,000 to 14,500. FG IV contract agents earn €4,200 to 6,800/month. The ECB pays 15 to 25% above standard EU scales. Standard EU allowances (expatriation 16%, household, education) and the favourable community tax further increase net pay. Frankfurt's correction coefficient is close to 100.
Are anti-money laundering roles available across all duty stations?
AMLA is centralised in Frankfurt. EBA AML roles are in Paris. DG FISMA, OLAF, and EEAS sanctions roles are in Brussels. EPPO and ECB-SSM AML work is split between Luxembourg and Frankfurt. Europol is in The Hague. Eurojust is in The Hague. Most positions require relocation to the duty station, with 2 to 3 days of telework per week typical after onboarding.
Can non-EU citizens apply for anti-money laundering positions?
Permanent statutory positions and most Temporary/Contract Agent posts at AMLA, the Commission, OLAF, and EPPO require EU citizenship. The ECB regularly recruits non-EU citizens for AML supervisory roles. The EBA and Europol have narrower exceptions. Realistic non-citizen paths include ECB recruitment, work at the EU's institutional contractors (Big Four AML advisory teams supporting AMLA build-out), or pursuing EU citizenship through residency.