Nominated Officer

The person designated to receive internal reports of suspicion from staff and to decide whether to disclose them to the authorities.

Definition

The nominated officer is the individual to whom employees must report knowledge or suspicion of money laundering, and who then determines whether that information should be disclosed to the national financial intelligence unit. The term comes from proceeds-of-crime legislation and describes a function rather than a job title; in many gambling businesses the same senior person serves as both the nominated officer and the MLRO, while larger firms may appoint deputies. Making an internal report to the nominated officer is what discharges a staff member's personal legal obligation and provides a defence against a failure-to-disclose offence.

Worked example

A cashier who suspects a customer is using the venue to clean cash files an internal report to the nominated officer, who reviews it and decides whether to submit an external suspicious activity report.

Why it matters

For learners it clarifies the chain from front-line suspicion to official reporting. For professionals, knowing that reporting to the nominated officer is what protects staff legally underpins effective internal reporting culture.

Related

Note: The exact title and statutory basis vary by jurisdiction; the description reflects the UK proceeds-of-crime model, which many regimes resemble.