At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead a team in shaping financial crime compliance and policy across international offices.
- Company: A leading international law firm with a focus on financial crime risk management.
- Benefits: Hybrid working, competitive salary, and opportunities for professional growth.
- Other info: Join a dynamic team and enjoy a high-visibility role with significant influence.
- Why this job: Make a real impact by driving change in financial crime compliance at a prestigious firm.
- Qualifications: Proven experience in financial crime leadership and strong knowledge of UK regulations.
The predicted salary is between 80000 - 100000 £ per year.
A leading international law firm is seeking a Head of Financial Crime to provide strategic leadership across its financial crime compliance function. This is a high-profile opportunity to shape policy, lead a sizeable specialist team, and play a central role in ensuring the firm maintains a robust, commercial and forward-thinking approach to financial crime risk across its UK and international offices.
Why Apply?
- Senior strategic influence: The successful candidate will have the opportunity to shape the firm’s financial crime framework, influence policy and act as a senior decision-maker on complex and high-risk matters.
- High-visibility leadership role: This position sits at the heart of the firm’s risk and onboarding function, working closely with senior leadership, the General Counsel, MLRO community and key stakeholders across the business.
- Genuine scope to drive change: The role offers the chance to improve processes, enhance service delivery, embed best practice and help the firm respond effectively to an evolving regulatory landscape.
The Head of Financial Crime will lead a team responsible for financial crime compliance across the firm, including client due diligence, risk assessments, sanctions, AML, anti-bribery and corruption, fraud prevention, tax evasion controls, internal reporting support, policy ownership and regulatory engagement. The role will combine technical leadership, people management, stakeholder influence and operational oversight, ensuring the function delivers clear, commercial and risk-based advice while supporting efficient client and matter onboarding.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead, develop and support a high-performing financial crime team across multiple offices.
- Provide senior oversight on complex financial crime, sanctions and high-risk client or matter issues.
- Own and enhance the firm’s financial crime policies, controls and procedures.
- Oversee client due diligence, risk assessments, periodic reviews and escalations.
- Support internal reporting processes, including suspicious activity reports and external disclosures where required.
- Drive improvements across workflows, service levels, reporting, training and use of technology.
- Build strong relationships with senior stakeholders across risk, compliance, onboarding, legal and partnership groups.
- Support regulatory, audit and wider compliance projects across the firm’s international network.
This role would suit an experienced financial crime leader with strong technical expertise, sound judgement and the confidence to operate as a trusted senior adviser in a complex professional services environment. The successful candidate will bring excellent knowledge of the UK financial crime regime, experience of international frameworks, and proven ability across AML, sanctions, anti-bribery and corruption, fraud prevention and risk-based compliance controls. They will be commercially minded, resilient, persuasive and comfortable challenging senior stakeholders where required, while providing clear, practical and timely recommendations. Previous experience leading a team, developing policy, managing escalations and improving financial crime processes will be essential as well as familiarity with onboarding, CDD and compliance systems.
This is an outstanding opportunity for a senior financial crime professional to take ownership of a broad and influential function within a growing international law firm. With hybrid working available from Leeds, Manchester or London, the successful candidate will be expected to spend three days per week in the office and maintain strong visibility across the wider office network.
Head of Financial Crime - International Law Firm in London employer: Pembury Legal
As a leading international law firm, we pride ourselves on fostering a dynamic and inclusive work culture that empowers our employees to excel. The Head of Financial Crime role offers not only strategic influence and high-visibility leadership but also genuine opportunities for professional growth and development within a supportive environment. With hybrid working options available from vibrant cities like Leeds, Manchester, or London, our firm provides a unique blend of flexibility and collaboration, ensuring that you can thrive both personally and professionally while making a significant impact in the field of financial crime compliance.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Head of Financial Crime - International Law Firm in London
✨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 Pembury Legal looking for candidates who are engaged and informed.
We think you need these skills to ace Head of Financial Crime - International Law Firm in London
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 Pembury Legal. 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 Pembury Legal
✨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 Pembury Legal’s stance on compliance. A shared vision can really resonate with interviewers looking for fit as much as skill!
