Head of Financial Crime

Baker McKenzie; City Of London; On-site; GBP 85,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading international law firm in London is seeking a Head of Financial Crime to lead compliance with anti-money laundering regulations. The ideal candidate is a qualified lawyer with experience in a City law firm, strong team collaboration skills, and confidence in advising senior stakeholders. This role emphasizes a commitment to ethical practices and diversity within the firm.

Benefits

Diversity and inclusion commitment

Career development opportunities

Qualifications

• Strong PQE and experience in financial crime law.
• Experience in a City or international law firm environment.
• Excellent team-building and stakeholder relationships.
• Attention to detail with strong commercial judgment.
• Confidence in advising senior stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Provide advice on compliance with anti-money laundering laws.
• Manage AML Compliance Manager and assist with complex queries.
• Oversee and refresh AML and Sanctions policies.
• Support MLCO with reputational risk evaluations.
• Lead the AML training programs for the firm.

Skills

Financial Crime law expertise

Team collaboration

Drafting policies

Written and oral communication

Public speaking skills

Education

Qualified lawyer

Job description

The Head of Financial Crime will provide specialist advice and support to the London Office of Baker McKenzie (the "Firm") (Money Laundering Compliance Officer (MLCO) / Money Laundering Reporting Officer (MLRO), Partners, lawyers and business services professionals) on all aspects of financial crime regulations, including Anti-Money Laundering (AML) and Sanctions advice. For this role, the role-holder will be currently either engaged as a Financial Crime lawyer, Head of Financial Crime, or equivalent, or working as a private practice financial crime / financial services Associate and looking for an alternative career path. In all cases, the role requires a good understanding of the types of clients, transactions, and matters being advised upon by an international Firm, and a good working knowledge of new business intake / on-boarding controls and processes is key.

The individual will work closely with the Risk & Compliance team, the Firm's MLRO and MLCO, as well as the Firm's Partners and the global AML and New Business Intake team. The Risk & Compliance team is led by the General Counsel / Head of Risk & Compliance / MLCO and currently comprises one Senior Risk Lawyer, two Risk Lawyers, an AML Compliance Manager, a Deputy AML Compliance Manager, a team of AML Analysts, a Paralegal, and one PA.

Main responsibilities

• Act as a subject-matter expert and adviser to the Firm on the Firm's compliance with anti-money laundering and sanctions laws and obligations
• Act as manager and sounding board to the AML Compliance Manager and will assist in the analysis of complex CDD / risk assessment queries; (Day-to-day management of the London AML team will reside with the AML Compliance Manager)
• Responsible (in collaboration with the MLCO) for oversight, review and refresh of the Firm's AML and Sanctions policies, controls and procedures
• Responsible (in collaboration with the MLCO) for oversight, review and refresh of the Firm's Firmwide Risk Assessment
• Keep up to date with developments in financial crime laws and legal sector guidance, and ensure the Firm's PCPs are updated in line with the same
• Support the MLCO with evaluation and advice in respect of reputational risk issues presented by high-risk new and existing clients and matters
• Support the MLRO with analysis of internal suspicious activity reports (SARs) and assist with drafting SARs for submission
• Assist the MLCO and MLRO with responding to requests for information from law enforcement (production orders) and regulatory requests from the SRA
• Lead on the instruction of the Firm's regular independent AML audit and the implementation of recommendations provided by the auditor
• Responsible for designing, leading, and supporting the AML team with the delivery of the programme of AML / Sanctions training to the Firm and the AML team
• Work with the Firm's global AML and New Business Intake (NBI) teams to share knowledge, work on European-wide projects and support compliance with good practice across the global Firm

Skills and experience

• A qualified lawyer with strong PQE and experience operating as a Financial Crime lawyer, whether in Private Practice or within a Law Firm environment
• Background / experience in a City / international law firm and / or leading regional firm environment
• Able to work well in a team environment whilst building excellent working relationships with other departments and stakeholders across the office
• Commercially minded with experience in drafting policies and advice, with good attention to detail and commercial judgment
• Strong academic background and written and oral communication skills
• Confidence in working with and advising Partners / senior stakeholders across the Firm, including globally.
• Confidence in public speaking to a range of audiences
• Respects and enjoys the diversity of cultural, social, and academic backgrounds found in the Firm

Reports to

General Counsel; Head of Risk & Compliance; MLCO and MLRO

Direct Reports

AML Compliance Manager

Position Type

In Market

Development Framework

Associate Director

About us

At Baker McKenzie we are different in the way we think, work and behave. With our team of 13,000 people, including over 6,500 locally admitted lawyers, in over 70 offices worldwide, we have a passionately collaborative community of 60 nationalities and are committed to world-class career development to everyone in every job at every level. Baker McKenzie can offer you both the uncompromising commitment to excellence expected of a top firm paired with a passionately global and genuinely collaborative working environment.

Additional Information

Baker McKenzie is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to promoting diversity and inclusion for all. Our unique international culture is reflected in the drawing together of a worldwide family of individuals from diverse cultures and backgrounds in all of our offices. We encourage the best people - regardless of race, religion or belief if any, gender, gender identity, disability, sexual orientation or age - to fulfill their professional aspirations with us. We are committed to ensuring an inclusive and accessible experience for all candidates.