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Head of Financial Crime
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Head of Financial Crime and Sanctions – Law Firm – London (Hybrid)
An elite international law firm is seeking a senior financial crime leader to head up its Financial Crime and Sanctions function within a global onboarding team. This is a high-impact leadership role, offering the opportunity to shape strategy, influence senior stakeholders, and drive best-in-class compliance across a complex, multi-jurisdictional environment.
This role sits at the heart of the firm’s risk and compliance infrastructure, leading a sizeable Financial Crime and Sanctions team and setting the strategic direction across AML, sanctions, and broader financial crime frameworks. You will play a critical role in evolving the firm’s approach to regulatory compliance while ensuring efficient, commercially aware decision-making.
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Working closely with the General Counsel, MLRO, and senior onboarding leadership, you will operate as a key decision-maker on complex issues. The role offers significant exposure across the firm’s UK and international offices, requiring visible leadership and regular engagement with senior stakeholders and regulators.
Key Responsibilities:
- Lead, motivate and develop a high-performing Financial Crime and Sanctions team
- Drive the firm’s response to an evolving global regulatory landscape
- Oversee financial crime strategy, policy development, and implementation
- Act as a senior decision-maker on complex client and matter risk issues
- Collaborate closely with GC, MLRO and onboarding leadership
- Provide visible leadership across multiple offices, building strong stakeholder relationships
- Represent the function internally and externally, including engagement with regulators
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About You:
- Minimum 8 years’ experience in financial crime within a law firm environment
- Proven leadership and team management experience within a legal or professional services setting
- Strong technical expertise across AML, sanctions and broader financial crime frameworks
- Experience operating within a complex, international and regulated environment
- Ability to influence at senior level and act as a trusted advisor to leadership
- Commercially minded with strong judgement and decision-making capability
Take the Next Step:
If this opportunity resonates, please contact Chris Simmonds at chris.simmonds@mrasearch.co.uk or 07947 857 473 for a confidential discussion.
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