Head of AML Proactive Supervision

Solicitors Regulation Authority; West Midlands; Hybrid; GBP 77,000 - 95,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Bonus pension scheme

Life Assurance 4x salary

Income protection

25 days annual leave

Employee discounts

Wellbeing programmes

Job summary

Solicitors Regulation Authority seeks a Head of AML Proactive Supervision to lead risk-based AML supervision across the legal sector. You will steer proactive supervisory activity, identify emerging risks and guide programmes to deliver meaningful regulatory outcomes.

You will manage a team of specialist supervisors, coordinating with regulators, government bodies, law enforcement and professional bodies to safeguard the sector from financial crime.

Qualifications

• Excellent knowledge of AML legislation, regulation and guidance.
• Experience developing and implementing risk-based regulatory or supervisory strategies.
• Strong analytical and strategic thinking with ability to assess complex information.

Responsibilities

• Lead the delivery of the proactive AML supervision strategy and programme of activity.
• Identify emerging risks using data, intelligence and market insight.
• Direct complex programmes and change initiatives to support proportionate regulation.
• Provide strategic advice and challenge to senior leaders on AML risks and regulatory developments.
• Build and maintain relationships with regulators, government departments and professional bodies.
• Represent the SRA at national and international meetings and forums.
• Ensure high-quality reports, publications and regulatory returns.

Skills

AML knowledge

Regulatory leadership

Strategic thinking

Stakeholder engagement

Regulatory representation

Governance & oversight

Job description

As Head of AML Proactive Supervision, you will lead the development and delivery of the SRA's risk-based approach to anti-money laundering supervision, helping to ensure the legal sector remains resilient to financial crime risks.

This is an important leadership role, responsible for directing proactive supervisory activity, identifying emerging risks, leading supervisory programmes and ensuring that supervisory intelligence is translated into meaningful outcomes.

You will provide leadership to a team of specialist supervisors and managers, ensuring the delivery of high-quality, risk-based supervision while maintaining organisational resilience through periods of change and uncertainty.

The role requires strong engagement with senior internal and external stakeholders, including regulators, government departments, professional bodies and law enforcement partners. You will represent the SRA at senior forums, contribute to sector-wide discussions on AML supervision and help shape the future direction of regulatory practice.

Working closely with senior colleagues across the organisation, you will provide strategic advice on emerging risks, supervisory priorities and regulatory developments, ensuring that the SRA remains forward-looking and responsive to changes in the financial crime landscape.

What you'll be doing:

• Leading the delivery of the SRA's proactive AML supervision strategy and annual programme of supervisory activity.
• Identifying and assessing emerging risks and using data, intelligence and market insight to inform supervisory priorities and regulatory interventions.
• Leading complex programmes, projects and change initiatives that support effective and proportionate regulation.
• Providing strategic advice and challenge to senior leaders on AML risks, supervisory approaches and future regulatory developments.
• Building and maintaining effective relationships with regulators, government departments, professional bodies, law enforcement agencies and other key stakeholders.
• Representing the SRA at national and international meetings, conferences, working groups and stakeholder forums.
• Ensuring the delivery of high-quality reports, publications, regulatory returns and external communications.
• Developing and leading a high-performing team through effective coaching, performance management and capability development.
• Ensuring workforce, succession and contingency plans are in place to maintain operational resilience and delivery.
• Promoting continuous improvement, quality assurance and innovation across supervisory activities.

What's in it for you:

• This is a unique opportunity to play a leading role in protecting the legal sector from financial crime and influencing the future direction of AML supervision.
• You will work with senior leaders and key stakeholders across the regulatory landscape, contribute to nationally significant regulatory activity and lead a highly skilled team delivering impactful, risk-based supervision.
• The role offers the opportunity to combine strategic leadership, regulatory influence and operational delivery in a dynamic and high-profile environment.
• A diverse, inclusive environment where you can bring your whole self to work
• An additional 3% of annual basic salary to spend on benefits that suit your lifestyle
• A generous pension scheme - We will contribute 1½ - 2 times your contribution, up to 12.25%. So, if you contribute 7%, you will enjoy the maximum combined contribution of 19.25%
• 25 days annual leave, plus bank holidays and buy/sell/save holiday trading scheme.
• Access to employee discount vouchers for savings on High Street brands, travel and supermarkets.
• Life Assurance cover of 4 times basic salary.
• Income Protection
• An extensive range of Heka Health and Wellbeing experiences to choose from with monthly company funding allowance.

What we are looking for:

We are looking for an experienced leader with a strong regulatory, supervisory or professional background and a track record of delivering outcomes in complex and evolving environments.

You will be able to demonstrate:

• Excellent knowledge of AML legislation, regulation and guidance.
• Experience of developing and implementing risk-based regulatory, supervisory or compliance strategies.
• Strong analytical and strategic thinking skills, with the ability to assess complex information, identify emerging risks and develop practical solutions.
• Experience of leading high-performing teams through change, transformation and uncertainty, while maintaining performance and engagement.
• Experience of influencing and constructively challenging senior stakeholders, including regulators, government departments and professional bodies.
• Strong communication and external representation skills, with the ability to explain complex issues clearly and represent the organisation at senior-level forums.
• Experience of operating effectively within complex governance structures and influencing strategic decision-making.

Useful and additional information

There is a Role Profile attached at the bottom of the advert on our website.

This role will be based in our Birmingham or London office for a minimum of 2 days a week, with the opportunity to work from home the rest of the week. though travel to our main office in Birmingham will be required at least once a week.

The salary we can offer for this role is circa £86,000 per Annum and If you are offered a London based role an additional 10% weighting would apply on the advertised salary. .

If you have any questions that are not answered in the advert, additional documents or our website, you can contact us via: .

Closing date for applications is 09 November at 9am