Operations Manager (Client Onboarding, CDD, KYC & AML)

Elevate Legal Talent; Manchester; On-site; GBP 45,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

Elevate is hiring an Operations Manager focused on Client Onboarding, CDD, KYC and AML for a regulated environment in Manchester. The role offers autonomy over daily operations and works with senior stakeholders to ensure high-quality delivery during transformation.

Ideal candidates will have hands-on leadership in CDD/KYC/AML, experience managing workflow, capacity, and quality, and a track record of maintaining strong controls in a high-volume setting.

Qualifications

• Extensive experience in regulated onboarding operations and financial crime controls.
• Proven ability to lead CDD/KYC/AML functions within a high-volume environment.
• Strong stakeholder management and hands-on leadership style.

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage CDD Team Leaders and oversee day-to-day operations.
• Ensure AML, CDD, KYC compliance and regulatory requirements.
• Drive continuous improvement and risk management in onboarding processes.
• Collaborate with Legal, Risk and Technology to support transformation.
• Oversee workflow, capacity, service levels, productivity and quality.

Skills

CDD

KYC

AML

regulated operations

stakeholder management

Job description

Operations Manager (Client Onboarding, CDD, KYC & AML)

Start: ASAP

We are looking for an energetic, hands-on operational leader with experience managing CDD, KYC, AML, financial crime, client onboarding or similar regulated operations.

This is an opportunity to take ownership of a critical client onboarding operation within a well-established, highly regulated organisation, while supporting a significant period of technology and operational change.

The successful candidate will have considerable autonomy over the day-to-day operation and will work closely with senior stakeholders to ensure the CDD function remains stable, well controlled, engaged and focused on high-quality delivery throughout the transformation.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and manage CDD Team Leaders and oversee day-to-day operations.
• Manage workflow, capacity, productivity, service levels and quality.
• Identify and address operational risks, capacity pressures and service issues.
• Coach, develop and hold Team Leaders accountable for performance.
• Ensure compliance with AML, CDD, KYC, SRA and relevant regulatory requirements.
• Maintain strong operational controls, quality standards and audit trails.
• Use management information to drive performance and resource decisions.
• Support technology implementation, process improvements and operational transformation.
• Lead colleague engagement, communications and readiness through periods of change.
• Build strong relationships with Legal, Risk, Technology and other key stakeholders.
• Drive continuous improvement and resolve recurring operational issues.
• Strong operational leadership experience within a high-volume, complex and regulated environment.
• Experience leading teams responsible for CDD, KYC, AML, financial crime, client onboarding or similar regulated activity.
• Proven experience managing workflow, capacity, service levels, productivity and quality.
• Strong people leadership, coaching and performance management skills.
• Experience maintaining operational control and team engagement through significant change.
• Good understanding of operational controls, quality management and regulatory compliance.
• Strong stakeholder management and communication skills.
• Confident, decisive and hands-on leadership style.
• Law firm or professional services experience.
• Knowledge of legal-sector CDD, AML, sanctions and SRA requirements.
• Experience supporting technology implementation or operating model transformation.
• Experience managing teams across multiple locations.
• Experience improving client and colleague journeys.
• Knowledge of workflow, case management, digital identity or client verification technology.

About Elevate

Elevate is a global provider of consulting, technology, and services for law departments and law firms. Headquartered in Los Angeles, our team of 1,600+ legal professionals, lawyers, consultants, project managers, and engineers operates across the United States, Europe, the UK, Asia, Hong Kong, and Australia.

Legal Talent is our flexible resourcing division, redefining careers in the legal industry. We connect exceptional legal professionals with the evolving needs of our customers through a curated, world-class global talent community and advanced, technology-enabled search capabilities. We are proud to have been ranked Band 1 in Chambers’ Global Flexible Legal Resourcing category.

Our Vision:

At Legal Talent, equity and inclusion are fundamental to our success. As The Law Company, transforming the legal business landscape, we believe a diverse and inclusive culture is essential for attracting, retaining, and celebrating the industry’s top talent. We empower our people to bring their authentic selves to work because diversity of experience and perspective drives innovation and simply makes good business sense.

As strong advocates for diversity, equity, and inclusion, Legal Talent is committed to hiring talented professionals from all backgrounds.

We invite you to join the Legal Talent team and help us reshape the legal industry, making a real impact on the legal universe.