Forensic Director in Leeds

Our client is a specialist forensic accounting firm with a strong reputation, long-standing client relationships, and a genuine depth of expertise across personal injury, clinical negligence, commercial, insurance, and criminal forensic work.

Established in 2002, the firm has evolved from an ambitious MBO into a recognised specialist, trusted by solicitors, insurers, and the Courts alike. As part of a respected Group, this firm has the backing, stability and investment needed to continue developing the practice, without the short-term pressures often found in a traditional partnership structure.

This appointment sits within the criminal forensic accounting department. It is an experienced and committed team delivering high-quality criminal forensic work, including POCA, confiscation, fraud, money laundering, and wider financial analysis in litigation.

Due to a retirement, they are looking for a Director to provide senior technical confidence and expert witness capability, who can lead the criminal litigation team as the main expert on complex matters. The team already functions at a high level and produces excellent work; the incoming Director will provide continuity, senior support, and future direction to help drive the department forward.

This opportunity will appeal to different people for different reasons. You may already be an established criminal forensic specialist, expert witness, or Associate Director who is ready for a broader platform and a more visible senior role. You may be doing similar work elsewhere but feel your current environment is less joined-up or supportive than it could be. If you are at a stage in your career where you want to focus on excellent technical work and to lead and develop a specialist team without the politics of building an empire, this fits.

Equally, you may see a more commercial opportunity here. The firm has a well-established criminal practice with a steady flow of high-quality instructions. There is clear scope to develop the department further into privately funded fraud, prosecution work, regulatory matters, asset tracing, or cyber-related financial loss.

The most important element is team fit. The right person will bring technical authority and a collaborative approach, recognising the capability already in the team. You will be comfortable as the lead expert on cases, preparing reports for Court alongside your team, dealing with counterparts, solicitors, counsel and the Courts, and exercising the independent judgement expected of a credible expert.

Just as importantly, you will be invested in developing others. A key attraction of this role is the opportunity to coach existing team members, helping them progress through exposure to complex cases and Court experience. They want to appoint a leader who strengthens the department and creates a clear pathway for the next generation.

The role can therefore be shaped around the individual: For one person this may be a senior expert role focused on high-level criminal forensic casework, report quality, expert witness delivery, and team mentoring. For another, it may be a more market-facing role helping them scale the department into a wider criminal, regulatory, and corporate investigatory practice. Both routes (or a combination of the two) are credible, and the firm is keeping an open mind.

You are likely an experienced forensic accountant with a deep understanding of POCA, confiscation, fraud and financial investigation. Your background may be within a specialist expert witness firm, a larger professional services forensic team, or an economic crime/regulatory environment.

The role is hybrid and can be based out of Leeds or Manchester provided there is a practical commitment to spending regular time with the team and maintaining client relationships across the region. This is a rare opportunity to step into a secure, respected forensic practice where the immediate workload is real, the team is established, and the longer-term direction of the department is one you can help shape.