Financial Crime Risk Associate Director (Insolvency & Restructuring) in London

At Grant Thornton we do things differently - looking to the future, driving ambitious growth and pioneering positive change in our industry. Providing audit, tax and advisory services, we empower clients through strategic insight, curiosity, and genuine partnership. And we empower our people with real opportunity, an inclusive culture and work life balance.

NEW GROUND WON’T BREAK ITSELF. Every day our teams help people in businesses and communities to do what is right and achieve their goals. The role sits within the firm’s insolvency service lines, providing embedded, chargeable specialist support directly to live insolvency appointments. As part of the leading asset recovery, restructuring and financial services teams, the Associate Director leads the delivery of first‑line financial‑crime support across engagements, working closely with Insolvency Practitioners, directors, and case teams identifying, assessing, and resolving financial-crime risks on their appointments.

The role is responsible for overseeing and shaping case‑level responses where AML, sanctions, due‑diligence, or suspicious‑activity risks arise, ensuring IPs can discharge their regulatory responsibilities while maintaining momentum on complex and time‑sensitive appointments. The Associate Director is the primary escalation point for complex or sensitive matters, engaging directly with second‑line Financial Crime Compliance teams where required.

As a Financial Crime Risk Associate Director within our Insolvency & Restructuring team, you will:

• Lead embedded first‑line financial‑crime support on insolvency and restructuring appointments, overseeing the identification, assessment, and resolution of AML, sanctions, fraud, and wider financial‑crime risks on complex and time‑critical cases, while enabling Insolvency Practitioners (IPs) to meet their regulatory obligations.
• Act as the senior first‑line decision‑maker within delegated authority, providing oversight and direction on case‑level judgements relating to client due diligence, sanctions exposure, suspicious‑activity considerations, screening outcomes, and risk mitigations, and determining when escalation to second‑line Financial Crime Compliance is required.
• Provide strategic financial‑crime advice to partners, directors, and case teams, interpreting intelligence, documentation, and stakeholder information to identify material risks, shape proportionate responses, and balance regulatory compliance with effective commercial delivery of appointments.
• Set and enforce high standards of governance and documentation, ensuring audit‑ready decision‑making, robust record‑keeping, and effective data and document management across sensitive and high‑risk appointments.
• Act as the primary escalation and coordination point for complex financial‑crime matters, working closely with engagement teams, legal advisers, and second‑line compliance specialists to prevent regulatory breaches, protect the firm’s reputation, and support the safe continuation of appointments.

Knowing you’re right for us: Joining us as a Financial Crime Risk Associate Director, the minimum criteria you’ll need is:

• Extensive hands‑on experience in financial‑crime risk management, including AML, sanctions, due diligence, and suspicious‑activity matters within complex or high‑risk environments.
• Proven senior first‑line capability, with responsibility for overseeing and making case‑level financial‑crime decisions within delegated authority and guiding others’ judgement.
• Trusted adviser to Insolvency Practitioners, partners, and directors, providing confident, pragmatic advice on live, sensitive, and high‑risk engagements.
• Strong command of regulatory, ethical, and escalation frameworks, underpinned by sound judgement, clear rationale, and consistently high documentation standards.

It would be great if you had some of the following skills, but don’t worry if you don’t tick every box, we’ll help you develop along the way:

• Experience supporting insolvency, restructuring, or other high‑risk advisory engagements within complex regulatory environments.
• Strong confidence exercising and articulating risk‑based judgement in fast‑moving, ambiguous, and sensitive situations.
• Solid familiarity with sanctions regimes, complex ownership and control structures, and international financial‑crime risk exposure.
• Ability to clearly and credibly explain financial‑crime risks, decisions, and trade‑offs to senior non‑specialist stakeholders.
• A track record of deepening technical expertise while working closely with partners, directors, and other senior stakeholders.

Embracing uniqueness, the culture at Grant Thornton thrives on the contributions of all our people. Building an inclusive culture, where we value difference and respect our colleagues helps our people to perform at the best of their ability and realise their potential. Our open and accessible culture means you’ll interact with leaders who are interested in you and everything you bring to our firm.

Life is more than work. The things you do, and the people you’re with outside of work matter, that’s why we’re happy to look at flexible working options for all our roles, and we’ll always do our best to keep your work and life in balance. The impact you can make here will go far beyond your day job. From secondments, to fundraising for local charities, or investing in entrepreneurs in the developing world, you’ll be giving back to society.

We’re looking for people who want to contribute, spark fresh ideas and go beyond expectations. People who want to be able to proudly do what’s right, for the firm, our clients, our people and themselves.