Head of Financial Crime

We are Eversheds Sutherland, a global law firm, with more than 5,000 people across over 30 countries. We’re full-service with deep niche and sector experience. Whatever challenge, wherever in the world, we’re equipped and ready to meet it. We live our values, we’re purposeful and purpose-led. So although the world is fast-moving and rapidly changing, we see it as a place where everyone can thrive. We’re ambitious for our clients, our communities – and for you. Whether you’re starting out on your career or well established, whether you’re a lawyer or in business services. If you’re looking for what’s next, we are too.

Role Purpose

The Office of the General Counsel (OGC) forms part of the firm’s in-house legal and compliance function, led by the Chief Governance Officer and General Counsel. The team works closely with partners, lawyers and business services colleagues to develop and implement effective policies, procedures and controls and to support compliance with legal, regulatory and professional obligations across the firm’s international network.

The Associate General Counsel/Head of Financial Crime is a senior leadership role within OGC. The role leads the firm’s Financial Crime framework, covering anti-money laundering, POCA, sanctions, DAC6, fraud and bribery, market abuse and insider dealing, the criminal facilitation of tax evasion, client and matter financial crime risk management, and the operational client opening team within the Business Acceptance Team. The role also acts as the firm’s deputy MLRO, reporting directly to the firm’s global MLRO and Deputy General Counsel.

A key focus is the continued maturation of the firm’s Financial Crime framework so that it remains effective, proportionate, risk-based and scalable across every jurisdiction in which the firm operates. This includes strengthening governance, improving the way financial crime risks are identified and managed, and ensuring policies, processes and controls are aligned, clearly understood and capable of operating effectively in practice.

The role has a significant international dimension. It requires a clear understanding of applicable financial crime requirements across jurisdictions, the ability to identify local requirements and areas of divergence, and the judgement to support a global approach without unnecessary fragmentation. The objective is a coherent, risk-based model with global policies and controls that are consistent, practical and adaptable where needed.

The Associate General Counsel/Head of Financial Crime leads the Financial Crime team and the operational client opening team, and acts as a senior adviser to the business. The role provides clear, pragmatic and commercially grounded advice, supports the Deputy General Counsel/Global MLRO, MLCO, General Counsel/COLP and senior leadership, and helps embed a strong Financial Crime compliance culture across the firm. It also ensures that client and matter onboarding is robust, efficient and aligned with the firm’s risk appetite.

Key Responsibilities

Leadership and management

• Lead, manage and develop the Financial Crime team and the operational client opening team.
• Set priorities and oversee delivery of the firm’s Financial Crime compliance programme across all relevant risk areas.
• Advise the Deputy General Counsel/MLRO, MLCO, General Counsel/COLP and other senior stakeholders on financial crime risk, client onboarding risk and client opening operations.
• Ensure a consistent, high-quality and business-focused service that meets or exceeds performance targets.
• Build and maintain a high-performance working culture within the team focused on operational excellence, continuous improvement and proportionate risk management.

Financial Crime Compliance, AML and Client Due Diligence

• Lead the firm’s approach to compliance with applicable financial crime legislation, professional rules, regulatory guidance and internal risk appetite.
• Oversee the design and operation of client and matter risk assessment, customer due diligence and client opening processes.
• Advise on complex client, matter, ownership, source of funds, source of wealth and jurisdictional risk issues.
• Liaise with regulators and other relevant bodies where required, and manage financial crime and AML-related reporting and engagement.

Financial Crime Regulatory Change

• Lead horizon scanning for financial crime and related regulatory developments relevant to the firm.
• Assess the impact of legal and regulatory change across the firm and its  international offices.
• Design and implement financial crime change programmes in response to new requirements, regulatory expectations and internal assurance findings.
• Translate complex financial crime requirements into clear, practical guidance for partners, lawyers and business services colleagues.
• Ensure changes are embedded into policies, systems, workflows, training and operational practice.

Financial Crime Risk and Controls

• Lead the firm’s financial crime risk assessment framework, including firmwide, client, matter, jurisdictional and service-line risk assessments.
• Oversee financial crime policies, procedures, controls, monitoring, assurance and management information across all relevant risk areas.
• Advise on higher-risk clients and matters, including politically exposed persons, complex ownership structures, high-risk jurisdictions and sensitive sectors.
• Support investigations and responses to potential financial crime breaches, control failures, suspicious activity concerns, sanctions issues and other related risk events.
• Work with the wider Office of the General Counsel, Finance, IT, Conflicts and other teams to manage cross-cutting financial crime risks.

International Financial Crime Compliance

• Lead the development of the firm’s International Financial Crime compliance approach.
• Maintain a clear understanding of financial crime requirements across jurisdictions, including areas of local divergence and emerging regulatory expectations.
• Identify areas of alignment and divergence, and drive consistency where appropriate.
• Ensure global AML policies, processes and controls meet relevant legal and regulatory requirements while remaining workable across different jurisdictions.
• Work with international offices, risk representatives and local counsel to support implementation of financial crime policies, processes and controls.
• Advise on financial crime aspects of international growth, new offices, client intake models and structural changes.

Governance, policies and controls

• Lead the development and maintenance of Financial Crime policies, procedures, standards and guidance across all relevant risk areas.
• Ensure policies are capable of international application, with appropriate local adaptation.
• Ensure appropriate governance, documentation, audit trails and evidence of compliance are in place.

Projects and firmwide support

• Lead and contribute to Financial Crime, client intake and related projects as part of the firm’s Operational Excellence programme, including the effective and responsible use of AI.
• Work with Business Services and other teams on initiatives impacting the firm’s onboarding, client opening, risk assessment and compliance framework.
• Provide financial crime input on operational, structural and client-related matters.

Stakeholder engagement

• Act as a senior point of contact for financial crime, client due diligence, client opening and onboarding risk matters.
• Build strong relationships with partners, senior management, international offices, the client opening team and other operational teams.
• Respond to client, auditor and third-party enquiries where required.
• Influence stakeholders to ensure financial crime requirements are understood, embedded and applied effectively.

Training and culture

• Lead the development and roll-out of financial crime training and related guidance, including targeted training for higher-risk areas.
• Provide targeted support to higher-risk teams, jurisdictions, sectors and client-facing groups.
• Promote a strong, practical and risk-aware financial crime compliance culture.

Skills and Experience

• Significant experience in financial crime, client due diligence, client onboarding operations or compliance within a complex professional services environment, including exposure to AML, POCA, sanctions, DAC6, fraud and bribery, market abuse and insider dealing, and the criminal facilitation of tax evasion.
• Strong knowledge of UK AML requirements, POCA, sanctions obligations, DAC6, fraud and bribery, market abuse and insider dealing, the criminal facilitation of tax evasion, financial crime risk management, SRA expectations and relevant regulatory guidance, with an understanding of international financial crime regimes.
• Experience designing, operating and improving financial crime policies, controls, risk assessments and monitoring frameworks.
• Experience advising on complex client and matter risk, beneficial ownership, source of funds, source of wealth and high-risk jurisdiction issues.
• Experience of regulatory change, horizon scanning and implementation.
• Experience advising senior stakeholders and leading projects.
• Proven ability to lead and develop teams, including operational service delivery teams.
• Commercial, pragmatic and risk-based approach.
• Excellent communication, influencing and negotiation skills.
• Highly organised, with strong attention to detail and a continuous improvement mindset.

Key Competencies

• Leadership: sets direction and develops capability.
• Judgement: clear, balanced and risk-based decision-making.
• Commercial awareness: understands and supports business objectives.
• Influence: credible and effective with senior stakeholders.
• Collaboration: works effectively across teams and jurisdictions.
• Independence: able to act autonomously, with appropriate escalation.
• Resilience: operates effectively under pressure and change.
• Integrity: demonstrates strong ethical standards and sound judgement

What’s in it for you?

At Eversheds Sutherland, we provide benefits focused on looking after you: your development, your performance, your financial future and your health, as well as providing the opportunity to make a contribution to the world.

• We’re fair, transparent and equitable
• We share in the success of the firm, reward alignment to our values, going above and beyond and your individual performance
• We support flexible ways of working through our remote working policy and commitment to flexible, agile and hybrid ways of working
• We support your health and performance through our dental, healthcare and wellness support
• We support everything you are and all you bring through our powerful commitment to diversity and inclusion
• We provide a platform for your career, whatever your ambitions through our structured professional and personal training, mentoring and development programs
• We provide experience and opportunity through international and cross-function exposure
• We provide an opportunity to give back through our pro bono work and community engagement
• We help you plan ahead through retirement planning, insurance and assurance

Diversity & Inclusion

At Eversheds Sutherland, “Inclusive” is a core business value. We bring together different skillsets, global mindsets and approaches. We foster diversity of thought and the freedom to put ideas into action. We have an inherent respect for the individual. We have a strong belief in collaboration and teamwork. Sharing ideas, asking questions, solving challenges and meeting our clients’ goals: together.

We want all our people to thrive at work and reach their full potential and we work hard to continue to build a diverse and inclusive culture, monitor and report on our progress and impact, and develop our approach. This is reflected in our policies, systems and processes, and in our work with diversity membership organisations.

Many of our people work flexibly in some way and we are open to considering how we can accommodate flexible working arrangements alongside role requirements. If this is important to you, please talk to us about it during the recruitment process.

We want you to perform at your best during our recruitment process. If there is any adjustment or support you need, please contact us so we can discuss how we can best assist you.

For you,

For your success.

And what's next.

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