Financial Crime Manager

Grant Thornton UK; Manchester; On-site; GBP 50,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading company seeks a Financial Crime Manager to oversee the High-Risk Assessment Unit. The role involves managing operations, conducting due diligence, and providing training on financial crime risks. Flexibility and a commitment to quality are essential.

Benefits

Flexible working options

Work-life balance support

Qualifications

• Experience in financial crime roles.
• Understanding of enhanced due diligence and risk assessments.
• Experience with high-risk clients.

Responsibilities

• Manage daily operations of the High-Risk Assessment Unit.
• Conduct enhanced due diligence and risk assessments.
• Provide guidance and training on financial crime risks.

Skills

Analytical

Communication

Research

Education

ICA

CAMS

Job description

More than you expected

The UK member firms of Grant Thornton are part of a global network of independent audit, tax, and advisory firms, comprising approximately 76,000 professionals across over 150 countries. We are a team of independent thinkers who prioritize quality, inclusion, and integrity. Globally, we bring diverse experiences to our clients, offering a better, personal, proactive, and agile service. That’s Grant Thornton.

Job Description:

Financial Crime Manager

NEW GROUND WON’T BREAK ITSELF.

Every day, our teams help businesses and communities do what is right and achieve their goals.

The Financial Crime team supports the firm in managing financial crime risk and compliance effectively and efficiently. This is a senior role within the team, reporting directly to the Senior Manager of the High Risk Assessment Unit (HRAU). The team is led by the MLRO. You will manage the daily operations of the HRAU, working closely with the Senior Manager and senior team members, overseeing a team of Assistant Managers and Analysts.

You will focus on ensuring higher risk clients undergo appropriate due diligence, scrutiny, and approval during onboarding and ongoing monitoring. You will also advise and engage with stakeholders across the firm, providing guidance and training on financial crime risks. Monitoring, reporting, and investigations are key responsibilities, with decisions made by you or presented for decision to senior management. The role requires a proactive, self-motivated individual with strong analytical and communication skills, capable of building and maintaining strong relationships.

We support flexible working arrangements, including reduced hours and job shares, to help balance your work and personal life.

A look into the role

As a Manager in the High-Risk Assessment Unit within our Financial Crime Team, you will:

• Undertake enhanced due diligence and risk assessments on clients, third parties, and insolvency payments at onboarding, event-driven, and periodic reviews to ensure the firm manages financial crime exposure appropriately, engaging with clients and third parties within risk appetite and ensuring compliance with legal and regulatory requirements.
• Provide guidance and support to the team, including Assistant Managers, Executives, and Analysts. Complete approvals according to the risk approval matrix, including delegated authority for high-risk relationships.
• Manage reporting on Suspicious Activity Reports (SARs), ensuring proper escalation and reporting to authorities.
• Ensure the efficient operation of the High-Risk Assessment Unit, collaborating with the Client Due Diligence (CDD) team and reporting issues to the Senior Manager.
• Review and assess high-risk screening matches, documenting risks, assessments, recommendations, and required mitigations.
• Engage with client engagement teams on complex high-risk clients to ensure full understanding of risks. Provide training on financial crime matters to develop team knowledge.
• Create and maintain process documentation for the high-risk escalation process in collaboration with the Senior Manager.
• Lead projects to implement new processes and technology to enhance due diligence and risk assessment efficiency.

Knowing you’re right for us

The minimum criteria for joining as a Financial Crime Manager, High-Risk Assessment Unit, include:

• Experience working within a financial crime role.
• In-depth understanding of legal requirements and best practices around enhanced due diligence and complex risk assessments.
• Experience reviewing and approving high-risk clients.
• Strong research skills, including open source and structured database analysis, with the ability to analyze complex information, identify key issues, and make recommendations.

Desirable skills include:

• A relevant professional qualification (e.g., ICA, CAMS).

• High accuracy and attention to detail.
• Ability to comply with legal, ethical, and regulatory requirements, maintaining credibility as a senior team member.
• Ability to engage and motivate the team while building networks across stakeholder groups.
• Self-motivation and ability to meet multiple deadlines while providing high-quality service.

Knowing we’re right for you

Our culture at Grant Thornton values diversity, inclusion, and respect. We foster an environment where everyone can perform at their best and reach their potential. We encourage you to bring your whole self to work and pursue your passions both inside and outside of work.

Beyond the job

We recognize that life extends beyond work. We offer flexible working options and strive to maintain a healthy work-life balance. The impact you make here can go far beyond your day job, from secondments to supporting charities and investing in entrepreneurs worldwide. Our core values—purposefully driven, actively curious, and candid but kind—guide us in doing the right thing.

We seek individuals eager to contribute, innovate, and exceed expectations—people committed to doing what’s right for the firm, clients, colleagues, and themselves. That’s how it should be.