Financial Crime Manager

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

Job summary

A leading company is seeking a Financial Crime Manager to oversee the High Risk Assessment Unit. The role involves managing operations, conducting due diligence, and providing guidance on financial crime risks. The ideal candidate will have strong analytical skills and experience in financial crime, ensuring compliance with legal standards while fostering a collaborative team environment.

Benefits

Flexible working options

Support for well-being

Qualifications

• Experience in a financial crime role.
• Deep understanding of legal requirements and best practices.

Responsibilities

• Manage daily operations of the High Risk Assessment Unit.
• Undertake enhanced due diligence and risk assessments on clients.
• Manage reporting on Suspicious Activity Reports (SARs).

Skills

Analytical Skills

Communication Skills

Research Skills

Self-motivation

Education

Relevant professional qualifications (e.g., 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 over 76,000 professionals across more than 150 countries. We are a team of independent thinkers committed to quality, inclusion, and integrity. We bring diverse experiences to our clients, delivering 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 to do what is right and achieve their goals.

The Financial Crime team supports the firm in managing financial crime risk and compliance effectively. This senior position reports directly to the Senior Manager of the High Risk Assessment Unit (HRAU). The team leader is the MLRO. The role involves managing the daily operations of the HRAU, working closely with the Senior Manager and senior team members. It also includes managing a team of Assistant Managers and Analysts.

You will focus on ensuring that higher-risk clients undergo appropriate due diligence, scrutiny, and approval during onboarding and ongoing monitoring. You will 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 to senior management. The ideal candidate is proactive, self-motivated, with strong analytical and communication skills, and capable of building and maintaining relationships.

We are open to flexible working arrangements, including reduced hours and job sharing, to help you balance work and life.

A look into the role

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

• Undertake enhanced due diligence and risk assessments on clients, third parties, and insolvency payments at onboarding and during reviews to manage financial crime risks and ensure compliance with legal and regulatory requirements.
• Provide guidance and support to the team, including approval of high-risk relationships within delegated authority levels.
• Manage reporting on Suspicious Activity Reports (SARs), ensuring proper escalation and reporting to authorities.
• Ensure the efficient operation of the HRAU, 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, and recommended mitigations.
• Engage with client teams on complex high-risk clients to ensure risks are fully understood and provide training to the team on financial crime matters.
• Create and maintain process documentation for the high-risk escalation procedures.
• Lead projects to implement new processes and technologies to enhance due diligence and risk assessment effectiveness.

Knowing you’re right for us

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

• Experience in a financial crime role.
• Deep 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 and the ability to analyze complex information, make decisions, and recommend actions.

Preferred but not essential skills include:

• Relevant professional qualifications (e.g., ICA, CAMS).

• High accuracy and attention to detail.
• Ability to comply with legal, ethical, and regulatory standards, and to stay updated on changes.
• Ability to motivate and engage teams, and build networks across stakeholder groups.
• Self-motivation and ability to meet multiple deadlines while maintaining high service levels.

Knowing we’re right for you

At Grant Thornton, we value diversity and foster an inclusive culture where everyone’s contributions are appreciated. We encourage you to bring your whole self to work and pursue your passions both inside and outside of work.

Beyond the job

We believe work-life balance is important. We offer flexible working options and support your well-being. Your role offers opportunities to make a societal impact through secondments, charity work, and supporting entrepreneurs worldwide. Our core values — purposefully driven, actively curious, and candid but kind — guide us in doing the right thing for our firm, clients, and community.

We seek individuals eager to contribute, innovate, and uphold high standards of integrity and service. That’s how it should be.