Alternatively, Grant Thornton

At Grant Thornton we do things differently - looking to the future, driving ambitious growth and pioneering positive change in our industry. Providing audit, tax and advisory services, we empower clients through strategic insight, curiosity, and genuine partnership. And we empower our people with real opportunity, an inclusive culture and work life balance. A true alternative.

With over 5,000 people in the UK, and a presence in 150 global markets, we're on an ambitious journey, from great to exceptional, and we need the best people to help us achieve our potential. And with that comes the opportunity to help redefine what our industry looks like, and what you want from your career.

Job Description:

Alternatively, Grant Thornton

At Grant Thornton we do things differently - looking to the future, driving ambitious growth and pioneering positive change in our industry. Providing audit, tax and advisory services, we empower clients through strategic insight, curiosity, and genuine partnership. And we empower our people with real opportunity, an inclusive culture and work life balance. A true alternative.

With over 5,000 people in the UK, and a presence in 150 global markets, we're on an ambitious journey, from great to exceptional, and we need the best people to help us achieve our potential. And with that comes the opportunity to help redefine what our industry looks like, and what you want from your career.

New ground won’t break itself

Every day our teams help people in businesses and communities achieve their goals.

We are looking for an Associate Director to help build and deliver our Financial Crime Transformation & Optimisation capability across banking, payments, asset management and other regulated financial services firms.

The role spans AML, sanctions and fraud and is focused on helping clients change how financial crime risk is managed in practice: redesigning operating models and processes, improving controls, implementing regulatory remediation, and making better use of technology, data and AI.

You will lead client engagements and major workstreams, work directly with senior financial crime, operations and transformation stakeholders, and help turn our propositions and methodologies into repeatable client offerings. You will also support the Director and Partners in developing client relationships and converting opportunities.

We’re happy to discuss flexible working and consider reduced hours and job shares, and we’ll support you to balance your work and life.

A look into the role

As an Associate Director you will:

• Lead financial crime transformation and optimisation engagements across AML, sanctions and fraud.
• Design and implement target operating models, processes, controls and governance arrangements.
• Lead regulatory remediation programmes and responses to regulatory reviews, including skilled person work.
• Assess financial crime operations to identify control weaknesses, duplication, unnecessary manual activity and opportunities for simplification or automation.
• Help clients integrate financial crime technology, data and AI into their operating models while maintaining appropriate governance, auditability and human oversight.
• Lead workstreams involving areas such as KYC/CDD, transaction monitoring, sanctions screening, investigations, fraud prevention and case management.
• Translate regulatory requirements and risk issues into practical change plans and implementation activity.
• Manage engagement delivery, including scope, resourcing, commercial performance, quality and senior client reporting.
• Build trusted relationships with Heads of Financial Crime, MLROs, Transformation Directors, COOs and other senior stakeholders.
• Support proposals, pitches and account development and begin to originate opportunities through your own client network.
• Contribute to development of our Financial Crime Transformation methodology, propositions, tools and market perspectives.
• Lead and develop Managers and junior team members, providing clear direction and quality review.

Knowing you’re right for us

You will have significant experience in financial crime transformation, either within consulting or in a change or transformation role within financial services.

You should bring:

• Strong knowledge of financial crime across AML, sanctions and/or fraud, with depth in at least one area.
• Experience leading complex transformation, remediation or regulatory change programmes.
• Practical experience of operating model, process and control design rather than purely policy or advisory work.
• Understanding of the technology and data used within financial crime functions, including screening, monitoring, KYC and case-management platforms.
• Experience working with senior stakeholders across Compliance, Operations, Technology and Transformation.
• Strong programme and engagement management skills, including managing multidisciplinary teams.
• The ability to take an issue from diagnosis through design and into implementation.
• Commercial experience, including proposals, scoping, pricing and supporting client development.
• An interest in how automation and AI can change financial crime processes while maintaining appropriate controls.
• Experience of regulatory remediation, s166 reviews, large-scale technology implementation or multi-jurisdictional transformation would be particularly relevant.

Knowing we’re right for you

Embracing uniqueness, the culture at Grant Thornton thrives on the contributions of all our people, we never settle for what is easy, we look beyond to deliver the right thing, for everyone.  Building an inclusive culture, where we value difference and respect our colleagues helps our people to perform at the best of their ability and realise their potential. 

Our open and accessible culture means you’ll interact with leaders who are interested in you and everything you bring to our firm. The things that set you apart, we value them. That’s why we give you the freedom to bring your whole self to work and pursue your passions inside and outside of work.

Beyond the job 

Life is more than work. The things you do, and the people you’re with outside of work matter, that’s why we’re happy to look at flexible working options for all our roles, and we’ll always do our best to keep your work and life in balance.

The impact you can make here will go far beyond your day job. From secondments, to fundraising for local charities, or investing in entrepreneurs in the developing world, you’ll be giving back to society. It’s that drive to do the right thing that runs through our every move, grounded in our firm’s values – purposefully driven, actively curious and candid but kind.

We’re looking for people who want to contribute, spark fresh ideas and go beyond expectations. People who want to be able to proudly do what’s right, for the firm, our clients, our people and themselves. It’s how it should be.

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