Financial Crime Compliance / KYC Manager - 15-month FTC

Saffery; London; On-site; GBP 100,000 - 125,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading accounting firm in London is seeking a Financial Crime Compliance/KYC Manager for a 15-month fixed-term contract. The role involves overseeing AML/KYC procedures, leading a dedicated team, and ensuring compliance with regulations. Successful candidates will have KYC/AML expertise and proven leadership skills within professional services. This position offers a competitive salary, flexible working arrangements, and various employee benefits.

Benefits

Flexible working arrangements

Profit Sharing Plan

Private medical insurance

Life assurance cover

Contributory pension scheme

Qualifications

• Proven experience in KYC/AML at management level.
• Experience in a professional services or accounting firm.
• Ability to manage a busy workload in a fast-paced environment.

Responsibilities

• Oversee AML/KYC procedures and team activities.
• Drive compliance and make critical decisions on client relationships.
• Act as a key contact for KYC completion and query resolution.

Skills

Leadership skills

KYC/AML expertise

Communication

Regulatory precision

Risk assessment

Education

Relevant professional qualification

Tools

KYC systems

CRM systems

Job description

Overview

Financial Crime Compliance/KYC Manager - 15-month FTC

Step into a Leadership Role in AML/KYC

We are offering an exciting opportunity for a seasoned KYC/AML professional to take the lead in a fast-paced, high-impact environment. As a Manager and team leader, you will oversee the day-to-day execution of AML/KYC procedures while guiding and mentoring a small, dedicated team. This 15-month fixed-term contract (maternity cover) is a chance to take on fresh challenges, sharpen leadership skills, and gain deeper insight into managing AML/KYC responsibilities in a top 15 accounting firm. We are looking for someone with proven experience at Manager level; however, if you are currently an Assistant Manager with 3+ years of experience and are ready to take your next step, we want to hear from you.

The role

Take the Lead in KYC & AML Operations. We are seeking a detail-driven leader to steer the day-to-day KYC and ongoing monitoring processes, working closely with the FCC's leadership team. This is a hands-on role with real impact—perfect for someone who thrives in a fast-paced environment and can manage a busy workload with precision.

As a Manager, you will be at the heart of a wide range of CDD responsibilities, including:

• Driving compliance: Ensure firm-wide KYC policies and procedures are applied consistently across new or existing clients.
• Making critical decisions: Approve new business relationships and the continuation of existing business relationships, including a limited mandate to approve Enhanced Due Diligence (EDD) risk triggers/clients.
• Being the go-to expert: Act as a key contact for the business, enabling timely and high-quality CDD/KYC completion and query resolution.
• Empowering your team: Build capability, share knowledge, and support career growth.
• Staying ahead: Keep up with evolving AML regulations and industry best practices.
• Innovation: Support tech-driven improvements that boost efficiency without compromising compliance. (Saffery will be implementing a new KYC system during the course of the FTC and some involvement in the roll-out of the new system will be an important and exciting aspect of the successful candidate's role).
• Improving processes: Spot opportunities to streamline and enhance service delivery.
• Inspiring confidence: Build strong stakeholder relationships and establish yourself as a trusted, empowering leader.
• This list is not exhaustive, and you will be expected to help on other associated risk management tasks/projects.

The team

The FCC team is well established and is led by the firm's MLRO and Deputy MLRO, both of whom have full-time responsibility for overseeing the function. The team currently consists of 17 members of staff.

The office

Our London office is situated in the City and is home to more than 40 partners and over 400 members of staff.

You

The successful candidate will have worked within Professional Services, ideally an accountancy firm, and have extensive knowledge of AML regulations and how they apply to CDD procedures. We are ideally looking for an experienced Manager but will consider applications from highly skilled Assistant Managers who are more than ready for their next challenge.

The successful candidate will have:

• Deep CDD/EDD expertise - You know your way around complex client structures (Trusts, Estates, Private Clients, Corporate Groups) and understand the risks they carry, ideally from a background in Accounting or Professional Services.
• Regulatory precision - You've applied CDD procedures with confidence, ensuring compliance and overseeing timely, high-quality outputs.
• Risk radar - You can assess client risk holistically—AML and beyond—and know when and how to escalate.
• Sector savvy - You understand the services we offer and associated risk management requirements.
• People skills - You're a natural communicator who builds strong relationships with client-facing teams and your direct colleagues, adding value through collaboration.
• Leadership mindset - You've led teams, nurtured talent, and take pride in helping others grow and overcome challenges.

Salary/benefits

• A 35-hour working week
• Eligibility for the firm's Profit Sharing Plan that runs from October to September each year. The scheme enables staff to share in the profits of the firm.
• Flexible working arrangements (flexible start and finish times around core hours and working from home) upon successful completion of probationary period and line manager approval
• Working from home allowance of £25 a month (where applicable)
• Competitive annual salary
• Eligibility for the discretionary bonus scheme (this will be an end of contract bonus given that the position is an FTC).
• Twenty-five days annual leave.
• Eligibility for firm's private medical insurance upon successful completion of probation
• Under the flexible benefits programme, employees are entitled to buy or sell up to five days holiday a year, subject to manager approval.
• Life assurance cover of four times salary.
• Eligibility for interest free season ticket loan on completion of probation
• Contributory pension scheme (The firm will contribute 5% of salary on a matched basis with employee after six months service)
• Three-month probationary period
• Access to other benefits with preferential rates under the flexible benefit programme, including health screening/GP support, critical illness cover, dental and optical plan.
• Reward gateway includes benefits such as discounted retail, travel & activities.

The organisation

Saffery is a firm of chartered accountants and business advisers. We have over 80 partners and 1000 staff that work from nine offices in the UK, plus offices in Ireland, Guernsey, Switzerland and the UAE. We are bound by our shared values: ensuring excellence and integrity, being enthusiastic and collegiate, and providing exemplary client service. We are a member of Nexia International, connecting us to over 250 other member firms in 120 countries. Our sectors include private wealth; owner-managed businesses; real estate; landed estates and rural businesses; sports and entertainment; not-for-profit organisations; and professional firms and consulting businesses.

About us

Saffery LLP is an adviser to individuals and businesses across a range of sectors, providing market-leading accountancy, audit, business advisory, tax and VAT services. Founded in 1855, we are the UK's 15th largest accountancy firm. We value our people and offer training and development opportunities. We are a proud member of Nexia, a leading international network of independent accounting and consulting firms.

Equality, Diversity & Inclusion

Equality, diversity and inclusion is a top priority for us. With our ED&I strategy, Everyone Belongs, we are building a positive work culture and implementing initiatives to improve diversity and strengthen our equitable culture of inclusion, led from the top. We invite applications from all backgrounds, ethnicities, genders, ages, sexual orientations, disabilities or neurodivergence, because individual differences are a collective strength. Built on values of excellence, integrity, enthusiasm and collegiality, Saffery is where Potential meets Personal.