CDD Onboarding Lead in Birmingham

CDD Onboarding Lead in Birmingham

Birmingham Full-Time 70000 - 90000 £ / year (est.) Home office (partial)
Grant Thornton UK

At a Glance

  • Tasks: Lead a team in managing CDD onboarding engagements and ensure high-quality client reviews.
  • Company: Join a leading firm in Financial Crime & Compliance with a focus on teamwork.
  • Benefits: Enjoy flexible working options, family-friendly policies, and support for your career growth.
  • Other info: Opportunity to mentor and train junior colleagues while navigating complex corporate structures.
  • Why this job: Make a real impact in compliance while developing your leadership skills in a dynamic environment.
  • Qualifications: Experience in leading CDD or KYC teams, with strong stakeholder management skills.

The predicted salary is between 70000 - 90000 £ per year.

As a Senior Manager - CDD Onboarding Lead, within our Financial Crime & Compliance practice, you will take ownership of the end-to-end management of CDD onboarding engagements, leading a large team of analysts to deliver high-quality client due diligence reviews. This leadership role requires deep expertise in CDD and AML frameworks, alongside strong management, people leadership capability and the ability to develop a team. You will have a strong commitment to quality and be responsible for setting and maintaining high standards across your team, managing delivery against business priorities and goals and have a right first-time mindset.

Responsibilities

  • Lead and manage the delivery of CDD onboarding team, overseeing the end-to-end review of onboarding files against applicable KYC/AML regulatory requirements, ensuring quality, consistency and timeliness across all workstreams.
  • Act as the primary point of contact for senior stakeholders/partners, building trusted relationships and providing clear, confident updates on progress, risks and issues.
  • Manage and mentor a large team of CDD analysts, driving performance through structured feedback, coaching, and day-to-day support.
  • Maintain governance oversight of our CDD frameworks, procedures and quality controls, ensuring consistency and regulatory alignment across all engagements.
  • Support the team to identify and elevate complex or high-risk cases, including PEPs, sanctioned entities, adverse media flags, and complex ownership structures, providing clear guidance to the FCC team on risk-based decision-making.
  • Play an active role in the training and upskilling of junior and newly joined colleagues, sharing technical knowledge and helping to build capability across the team.

Qualifications

  • Proven background in leading CDD or KYC onboarding teams at scale, ideally within a professional services or financial services environment is essential.
  • Experience managing and developing high-performing teams across multiple locations in a deadline-driven environment, with a commitment to quality and continuous improvement.
  • Expertise in a build-out or rollout of a new CDD platform, case management system or operating model would be a distinct advantage.
  • Experience managing high-volume CDD engagements, with a particular focus on corporate onboarding and the complexities that come with it, including complex ownership structures, multi-jurisdictional entities and escalated risk profiles, would be a strong advantage.
  • The ability to manage competing priorities effectively, requiring swift allocation, clear delegation and confident decision-making under pressure.
  • Strong technical knowledge of KYC/AML regulatory requirements, including sanctions, PEP & adverse media screening frameworks.
  • Excellent stakeholder management skills, with the confidence to engage at Partner & Director level.
  • Relevant professional qualifications (e.g. ICA, ACAMS, CISI or equivalent) are desirable but not essential.
  • Strong analytical and risk assessment skills, with the ability to navigate complex corporate structures & ownership chains.

Benefits

We’re also committed to supporting you through different life stages, with a range of family friendly and wider leave policies. Flexible working options are available to help you maintain a healthy work-life balance.

CDD Onboarding Lead in Birmingham employer: Grant Thornton UK

As a Senior Manager - CDD Onboarding Lead, you will thrive in a dynamic and supportive work environment that prioritises employee growth and development. Our commitment to quality and excellence is matched by our flexible working options, allowing you to maintain a healthy work-life balance while leading a talented team in the heart of the financial services sector. Join us to make a meaningful impact in the field of compliance and financial crime prevention, where your expertise will be valued and your career can flourish.

Grant Thornton UK

Contact Details:

Grant Thornton UK Recruitment Team

StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫

We think this is how you could land CDD Onboarding Lead in Birmingham

Join Compliance Communities

Get involved in compliance and risk communities — both online and offline. Look for forums, LinkedIn groups, or even local meetups where compliance pros hang out. You never know who might drop a job opportunity your way!

Attend Industry Conferences

Keep an eye out for compliance and risk management conferences and workshops in your area. These events are a goldmine for networking, and they often have job boards or recruiters on-site looking for new talent. Plus, it’s a chance to learn what's trending in the field.

Leverage Your University Career Services

If you’ve recently graduated or are still studying, head over to your university's career services. Many companies, including those in compliance, actively recruit fresh talent through these services, so make sure you tap into that resource.

Showcase Your Knowledge Online

Start writing articles or blog posts about compliance topics that interest you. Share them on platforms like LinkedIn to demonstrate your knowledge and passion. This not only builds your presence in the field but can also catch the attention of companies like Grant Thornton UK looking for candidates who are engaged and informed.

We think you need these skills to ace CDD Onboarding Lead in Birmingham

CDD Expertise
AML Frameworks
KYC Regulatory Requirements
Team Leadership
Stakeholder Management
Performance Management
Coaching and Mentoring

Some tips for your application 🫡

Show Your Understanding of Compliance:In the compliance-risk field, it's super important to showcase your understanding of regulations and risk management frameworks. Highlight any relevant coursework, certifications (like ICA or AML), or even projects that demonstrate your knowledge and commitment to this area. We want to see how you can navigate this complex landscape!

Quantify Your Achievements:When detailing your experience, try to quantify your achievements. For example, if you've previously worked on a project that improved compliance metrics or reduced risk exposure, give us the numbers! This data-driven approach really stands out to hiring managers in compliance-risk roles.

Tailor Your CV to Reflect Relevant Skills:Make sure your CV highlights skills that are particularly relevant to compliance, like attention to detail, analytical thinking, and report writing. Ensure these are easy to spot – consider using bullet points to break down your responsibilities and achievements for maximum impact!

Craft a Motivating Cover Letter:In your cover letter, let us know why you’re excited about the compliance-risk role at Grant Thornton UK. Share what motivates you about compliance, and how you believe you can contribute to our mission. This is your chance to showcase not only your skills but also your passion for this important field!

How to prepare for a job interview at Grant Thornton UK

Master the Regulations

Brush up on key compliance regulations relevant to the industry you're applying to. Familiarising yourself with specific laws and frameworks used in your field will give you an edge during technical questions. Show that you’re not just aware of them but can also apply them—think real-life scenarios!

Show Your Analytical Skills

Compliance roles really focus on analytical skills, so be prepared for case studies or situational questions during the interview. We've got to demonstrate how we approach risk assessments or compliance audits, possibly drawing on examples from past experiences or university projects. Bring some thoughtful case scenarios to discuss!

Know Your Tools

Get comfortable with commonly used compliance software and tools. Familiarity with platforms like RSA or MetricStream can really impress during your interview, as it shows you're ready to hit the ground running. If you’ve had any experience with them, make sure to highlight that!

Align with Company Culture

Since it's a full-time position, show your long-term commitment and interest in the company’s mission and values. Dive into how your ethics and professional philosophy align with Grant Thornton UK’s stance on compliance. A shared vision can really resonate with interviewers looking for fit as much as skill!