Head of Financial Crime - UK, US, EMEA

Take ownership of the Financial Crime function across the UK, US and EMEA, leading a high-performing team and overseeing the development and execution of a robust global financial crime framework.

With a presence across key financial and commercial centres in the UK, US and EMEA, the firm advises an elite client base, including multinational corporates, financial institutions and high-growth businesses on complex, high-value matters.

Key responsibilities include:

• Developing and delivering a global financial crime strategy, ensuring alignment with regulatory expectations across multiple jurisdictions while supporting business growth
• Designing, implementing and continuously enhancing AML, CTF, sanctions and anti-bribery & corruption frameworks, ensuring they remain risk-based and proportionate
• Leading the firm-wide financial crime risk assessment programme, including client, matter and geographic risk, and ensuring appropriate mitigation strategies are in place
• Overseeing policies, procedures and controls, ensuring they are effectively embedded, regularly reviewed and consistently applied across all regions
• Acting as the senior escalation point for high-risk clients, complex matters and reputational risk issues, providing clear, commercially balanced guidance
• Managing and developing international teams, driving consistency in approach while recognising regional regulatory nuances
• Owning relationships with regulators, auditors and external advisors, including managing inspections, audits and regulatory enquiries
• Leading on financial crime governance, including reporting to senior leadership and relevant committees on risk exposure, trends and key metrics
• Driving technology and systems enhancements, including transaction monitoring, screening tools and case management systems to improve efficiency and effectiveness
• Embedding a strong financial crime culture, through training, awareness and engagement initiatives across the business
• Monitoring and horizon scanning for regulatory developments, ensuring the firm remains ahead of emerging risks and evolving expectations
• Collaborating with legal, risk, compliance and business teams to ensure financial crime considerations are integrated into strategic decision-making

Candidate Profile

• A proven track record of leading financial crime / AML functions within complex, international environments, ideally within professional services, legal, banking or other highly regulated sectors
• Deep technical expertise across AML, counter-terrorist financing, sanctions, anti-bribery & corruption and client risk management, with a strong understanding of how these intersect in practice
• Extensive experience operating across UK, US and EMEA regulatory frameworks, with the ability to navigate differing supervisory expectations and implement globally consistent yet locally effective solutions
• Demonstrated success in designing and embedding risk-based financial crime frameworks, including client onboarding, ongoing monitoring, escalation processes and governance structures
• Strong exposure to regulatory engagement, including managing audits, inspections, remediation programmes and direct interaction with supervisory bodies
• A track record of advising on high-risk, complex and reputationally sensitive matters, balancing technical compliance with commercial judgement
• Experience leading and scaling high-performing international teams, with the ability to drive consistency, accountability and excellence across multiple jurisdictions
• The ability to operate as a strategic partner to senior leadership, influencing decision-making and embedding financial crime considerations into broader business strategy
• Exceptional stakeholder management skills, with the gravitas to engage and challenge at Executive Committee and Board Level

Qualifications & Background

• Legal background advantageous, though not essential if experience is demonstrably transferable
• Extensive experience in financial crime / AML compliance, ideally within a complex, international environment
• Proven leadership experience managing global or multi-jurisdictional teams
• Strong knowledge of UK, US and EMEA regulatory frameworks
• CAMS or Equivalent