At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead client onboarding and ensure compliance with KYC/CDD regulations while providing bespoke support.
- Company: Join a forward-thinking firm that values integrity, curiosity, and kindness.
- Benefits: Flexible working options, community engagement opportunities, and a supportive work-life balance.
- Other info: Opportunity for career growth and involvement in meaningful projects.
- Why this job: Make a real impact by guiding clients through complex onboarding processes and enhancing their experience.
- Qualifications: Experience in client onboarding and strong communication skills are essential.
The predicted salary is between 60000 - 75000 £ per year.
As an Onboarding Business Lead (KYC/CDD) within our Quality & Risk / Centralised Onboarding team, you will act as a trusted risk partner and strategic enabler for the firm. This is not a box‑ticking role; it requires a sophisticated understanding of regulatory requirements (especially KYC/CDD), contractual and commercial considerations, and the ability to apply independent judgment to complex situations.
Your accountabilities span three core areas:
- Client Outreach: Lead the client outreach process to gather required CDD information and documentation, including direct conversations with client contacts. Apply independent, high‑level judgment to determine the sufficiency and credibility of information provided by the client against the firm’s CDD Standard. Manage complex ownership structures and support enhanced due diligence where required. Formulate and record clear risk rationales for CDD/EDD conclusions and approvals, and manage escalations in line with the firm’s CDD Standard. Guide senior client stakeholders through digital identity verification and other biometric processes, ensuring a smooth and professional experience.
- Priority Client Support: Act as a concierge‑style onboarding advisor, providing bespoke operational onboarding advice for larger, more complex or priority cases while maintaining the required risk controls. Troubleshoot onboarding bottlenecks by suggesting structural modifications or alternative evidence routes to align with the firm’s risk appetite.
- Risk & Compliance: Act as a subject matter expert for client‑facing Partners and Directors, advising on the practicalities of onboarding complex and commercially important engagements. Provide a holistic view of risk, balancing contracting requirements, commercial viability, insurance nuances, financial crime prevention, regulatory obligations and the firm’s ethical standards. Provide clear, practical advice on evidence strategy, risk‑based options and when/what to elevate, ensuring decisions and documentation align with the firm’s policies.
Qualifications: Substantial hands‑on experience delivering client onboarding (including KYC/CDD) within professional services, banking or financial services, with end‑to‑end ownership of complex cases. Proven ability to write and defend risk rationales and make risk‑based decisions with confidence, even in the absence of perfect information. Demonstrable experience of engaging with clients/customers and stakeholders through strong written and verbal communication skills, facilitating a positive experience throughout regulated onboarding processes.
Additional experience we welcome:
- Ethical Standards Awareness: familiarity with professional body ethical standards and an understanding of how regulatory and ethical obligations interact in a client‑facing context.
- Stakeholder Influence: experience influencing Partners and Directors with diplomacy and clarity, driving outcomes without direct authority in a complex, matrix environment.
Core competencies:
- Integrity: Maintain a firm line on ethics, financial crime and regulatory compliance under commercial pressure.
- Commercial Acumen: Understand that onboarding is a business enabler, opting for compliant solutions rather than defaulting to “no”.
- Professional, human communication: Explain regulatory and information requirements clearly, respectfully and in plain language, and communicate confidently.
- Analytical rigour: Apply a logical, evidence‑led approach, testing assumptions and drawing conclusions from facts.
- Cross‑functional thinking: Connect contracts, regulation, commercials, delivery reality and legal risk, seeing how decisions in one area affect others.
- Systems & controls literacy: Understand how onboarding technology and controls are used, and work to improve them.
- Decisiveness: Make and defend risk‑based decisions even when information is incomplete.
Benefits & Flexibility: We support flexible working, reduced hours and job shares to help you balance work and life. Beyond the job, you can engage in secondments, fund local charities, invest in entrepreneurs and contribute to society— all in line with our values of purpose, curiosity and kindness. We’re looking for people who want to contribute, spark fresh ideas and go beyond expectations—people who want to proudly do what’s right for the firm, our clients, our people and themselves. It’s how it should be.
Onboarding Risk Lead: KYC/CDD & Client Concierge employer: Grant Thornton UK
As an Onboarding Risk Lead within our Quality & Risk / Centralised Onboarding team, you will thrive in a dynamic work culture that values integrity, collaboration, and professional growth. We offer flexible working arrangements to support your work-life balance, alongside opportunities for secondments and community engagement, allowing you to make a meaningful impact both within the firm and beyond. Join us to be part of a forward-thinking organisation that encourages innovative ideas and prioritises ethical standards in all client interactions.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Onboarding Risk Lead: KYC/CDD & Client Concierge
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to people in the industry, attend events, and connect on LinkedIn. The more you engage with others, the better your chances of landing that dream role.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by practising common questions related to KYC/CDD and client onboarding. We recommend doing mock interviews with friends or using online platforms to boost your confidence.
✨Tip Number 3
Showcase your expertise! Bring examples of how you've handled complex cases or made risk-based decisions in previous roles. This will demonstrate your capability and understanding of the responsibilities involved.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, we love seeing candidates who are proactive about their job search.
We think you need these skills to ace Onboarding Risk Lead: KYC/CDD & Client Concierge
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Off Your Experience:When you're writing your application, make sure to highlight your hands-on experience with KYC/CDD processes. We want to see how you've tackled complex cases and made risk-based decisions in the past.
Be Clear and Concise:Use straightforward language to explain your understanding of regulatory requirements and risk management. We appreciate clarity, so avoid jargon and keep it professional yet approachable.
Tailor Your Application:Make your application specific to the Onboarding Risk Lead role. Mention how your skills align with our needs in client outreach and risk compliance. This shows us you’ve done your homework and are genuinely interested.
Apply Through Our Website:Don’t forget to submit your application through our website! It’s the best way for us to receive your details and ensures you’re considered for the role. Plus, it makes the process smoother for everyone involved.
How to prepare for a job interview at Grant Thornton UK
✨Know Your KYC/CDD Inside Out
Make sure you brush up on your knowledge of KYC and CDD regulations. Be prepared to discuss how you've applied these in past roles, especially in complex situations. This will show that you understand the nuances of the role and can handle the responsibilities.
✨Showcase Your Client Engagement Skills
Prepare examples of how you've successfully engaged with clients and stakeholders in previous positions. Highlight your ability to communicate complex information clearly and effectively, as this is crucial for the Onboarding Risk Lead role.
✨Demonstrate Analytical Thinking
Be ready to discuss how you approach problem-solving and decision-making. Use specific examples where you've had to apply analytical rigour to make risk-based decisions, especially when faced with incomplete information.
✨Exhibit Your Commercial Acumen
Understand the balance between compliance and business needs. Prepare to discuss how you've navigated this in the past, opting for compliant solutions that still enable business growth. This will show that you can be a strategic enabler for the firm.
