Head of Financial Crime

Head of Financial Crime - Law Firm A prestigious international law firm is seeking a Head of Financial Crime to provide strategic direction and operational excellence across its UK, US, and EMEA offices. This is an exceptional opportunity for you to shape the future of financial crime prevention in a highly respected legal environment, where your expertise will directly influence global compliance standards and risk management frameworks. You will be at the forefront of developing, implementing, and embedding robust anti-money laundering (AML) and counter-terrorist financing (CTF) programmes, ensuring the firm remains ahead of regulatory changes while fostering a culture of integrity and accountability. The role offers significant scope for professional growth, with the chance to lead a diverse team, engage with senior stakeholders, and drive continuous improvement initiatives that have a lasting impact on the firm's reputation and client trust. Flexible working opportunities are available, supporting your work-life balance as you take on this pivotal leadership position. * Shape and lead the global financial crime strategy for a renowned law firm, influencing policy and best practice across multiple jurisdictions including the UK, US, and EMEA. * Enjoy flexible working opportunities within a supportive environment that values diversity, inclusion, and continuous professional development. * Engage directly with senior leaders, regulators, and industry experts to ensure the highest standards of compliance and risk management are maintained throughout the organisation.

What you'll do:

As Head of Financial Crime you will play a central role in safeguarding the firm's reputation by driving excellence in compliance across all areas of financial crime prevention. Your day-to-day responsibilities will involve collaborating with cross-functional teams globally to develop forward-thinking strategies that anticipate regulatory shifts while optimising operational efficiency. You will guide your team through complex challenges—ensuring they are equipped with up-to-date knowledge through tailored training programmes—and foster strong relationships with both internal stakeholders and external regulators. By championing best practices in governance and risk assessment frameworks you will help create an environment where compliance is embedded into every aspect of business operations. Your ability to communicate clearly at all levels will be essential as you report on key risks or emerging issues while supporting colleagues in navigating new business opportunities safely. Success in this role means not only meeting but exceeding industry standards for AML/CTF compliance—setting benchmarks that others aspire to follow.

• Provide strategic oversight for all aspects of financial crime compliance including policy development, advisory services, governance structures, risk assessments, training programmes, communications strategies, operations management, quality assurance processes, and remediation activities.
• Lead and inspire the Financial Crime Team across UK, US, and EMEA regions by managing recruitment, onboarding, ongoing training and development initiatives, staff retention efforts, and overall team engagement.
• Collaborate closely with the Director of Financial Crime to enhance risk management practices, streamline compliance processes, identify efficiencies, and implement process improvements that align with business objectives.
• Develop and refine comprehensive AML/CTF policies and procedures to ensure alignment with evolving regulatory requirements in all relevant jurisdictions while maintaining consistency with international best practices.
• Oversee firm-wide risk assessments to proactively identify money laundering or terrorist financing risks; implement mitigation strategies to address emerging threats effectively.
• Serve as the primary liaison with regulatory bodies by managing responses to regulatory changes, overseeing reporting obligations such as Suspicious Matter Reports (SMRs), and providing guidance during escalated enquiries from EMEA or US offices.
• Support new business intake processes by ensuring thorough due diligence is conducted on prospective clients; act as a senior approver for high-risk matters in collaboration with the Conflicts Team.
• Establish robust governance mechanisms to monitor AML/CTF programme effectiveness; deliver regular reports on financial crime risks, control performance metrics, emerging trends, audit findings, and key initiatives to senior management.
• Champion ongoing training initiatives by designing role-specific learning modules for employees at all levels; communicate regulatory updates promptly to maintain awareness across the firm.
• Ensure internal policies are regularly reviewed and updated in line with legislative changes; oversee implementation of controls that evaluate and mitigate ML/TF risks throughout the organisation.

What you bring:

To excel as Head of Financial Crime you will draw upon extensive experience gained within financial crime compliance roles—ideally within leading law firms or similarly regulated environments—where you have demonstrated both technical mastery over AML/CTF frameworks and an empathetic approach towards team development. Your background should reflect not only advanced academic achievement but also practical application through professional certifications that reinforce your credibility among peers. You will be adept at translating complex regulatory requirements into actionable policies while nurturing collaborative relationships across departments. Your interpersonal skills will shine as you mentor colleagues at all levels—empowering them through clear communication about their responsibilities under evolving legislation. A passion for continuous learning ensures you remain ahead of industry trends while your commitment to ethical conduct inspires trust throughout the organisation. Above all else your ability to unite people around shared goals—while respecting individual perspectives—will set you apart as an influential leader who drives positive change.

• A degree in finance, law, business administration or a related field provides a solid academic foundation for this role.
• At least 10 years’ experience in financial crime compliance or risk management ensures you bring deep subject matter expertise to complex challenges.
• A minimum of 10 years’ leadership experience demonstrates your ability to build engaged teams that thrive in diverse environments.
• Experience working within a law firm for at least 3 years is highly desirable as it equips you with sector-specific insights crucial for success.
• Professional certifications such as Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialist (CAMS) or ICA qualifications are preferred; supplementary credentials in operations or risk management add further value.
• Proven track record in developing robust AML/CTF policies aligned with international regulations showcases your technical proficiency.
• Exceptional verbal and written communication skills enable you to present complex information clearly to senior stakeholders or regulators alike.
• Demonstrated ability to interpret data from compliance activities—such as suspicious matter reports or risk assessments—to inform strategic decisions is essential.
• Strong commercial awareness allows you to balance client needs with sustainable profitability when devising solutions.
• Commitment to fostering inclusive teams that value diversity of thought enhances your capacity for innovative problem-solving.

What sets this company apart:

This international law firm stands out for its unwavering commitment to creating an inclusive workplace where everyone can thrive regardless of background or identity. The organisation’s core values emphasise humanity boldness outstanding performance—and these principles are reflected not just in client service but also in how employees are supported every day. Flexible working arrangements empower staff members to achieve balance between personal commitments and professional ambitions while generous investment in training ensures ongoing career progression. Diversity is celebrated here—not only as a moral imperative but also as a driver of innovation—which means your unique perspective will always be valued. The firm’s collaborative culture encourages open dialogue mutual respect shared success making it an ideal environment for those who want their contributions recognised within a truly global network. As part of this team you’ll benefit from access to cutting-edge resources expert mentorship opportunities meaningful work that has real-world impact—all within an atmosphere defined by warmth support genuine camaraderie.

What's next:

If you are ready to make a significant impact on global financial crime prevention within a world-class legal setting this is your moment—take the next step today!

Apply today by clicking on the link provided—we look forward to connecting with talented professionals who share our vision for excellence in compliance.

Robert Walters Operations Limited is an employment business and employment agency and welcomes applications from all candidates