Head of AML & Financial Crime

Are you keen to find an exciting new role where you will be part of a dynamic, forward-thinking, agile team? If so, come and join us on the journey.

Why Michelmores? Michelmores is the destination law firm for the ambitious, the imaginative and the distinctive. We help enterprises and individuals navigate change to find a positive future.

We are a flexible, friendly and inclusive organisation with as clear a focus on fresh thinking as we have on growth and success. We value and nurture our people’s potential and inspiration and give them a creative, open and collaborative environment in which to develop a career and succeed.

As our clients’ needs change and evolve, so do we. Our business services teams are continuously looking for ways to innovate and attract and retain the best clients and the brightest people. Central to our culture is our nurturing, friendly and flexible environment which genuinely allows our people to grow and flourish, both professionally and personally. We really care about what we stand for and want to move forward together.

What sort of work? We are seeking a skilled and experienced Head of Anti Money Laundering (AML) and Financial Crime to play a pivotal role in leading the Firm's approach to AML compliance.

Your role will involve developing, implementing and maintaining robust AML policies, controls and procedures, conducting risk assessments and providing training on AML, sanctions and related areas to ensure compliance with the Firm's legal and regulatory requirements and best practice.

You will also oversee the Firm's onboarding processes and work closely with the Business Intake Manager, the Governance & Risk team and central Business Intake team on complex CDD/AML escalations.

This is an exciting opportunity to work closely with the Firm's senior management and wider business, as you will also act as the Deputy Money Laundering Reporting Officer (MLRO) and Deputy Money Laundering Compliance Officer (MLCO), reporting to the Governance & Risk Partner.

Why this team? The Governance & Risk team is undergoing a period of growth, and this is a fantastic opportunity to join a growing team.

Effective risk management is a key part of the Firm's governance structure and its culture. The Governance and Risk team of specialists work with the Firm and its lawyers to ensure we maintain the highest standards of professional conduct, effectively mitigate risk and are compliant with all our legal and regulatory requirements. The team's focus is very much on providing timely, pragmatic and solution-orientated risk advice and guidance. We pride ourselves on developing ways to continually improve the Firm's processes and the delivery of consistently high-quality services to our clients, which differentiate us from our competitors and enhances our client care.

How do we work? We take a flexible, agile approach to working patterns. As a Firm we are committed to supporting our people across all levels to achieve the balance they need. We are open to talk flexible working and to empower any candidate to put forward a flexible working pattern to meet their needs. We pride ourselves on our high-performance culture whilst offering a good work/life balance.

Most of the team work part of the week from their 'base' office and part of the week from home (with flexibility) but there is an expectation of working in the office two to three days a week. There would also be a requirement to travel between our other offices as and when required.

We are flexible about the location for this role, but you would need to have either Exeter, Bristol, Cheltenham or London as your 'base' office.

As a Firm we are committed to supporting our people across all levels to achieve the balance they need. We are open to talk flexible working and to empower any candidate to put forward a flexible working pattern to meet their needs.

Who are we looking for? We are looking for somebody who will understand our values and thrive in our culture. Ideally, we are looking for:

• A qualified Solicitor or Risk & Compliance professional with extensive experience of AML and POCA, with experience of working in a law firm.
• A proven record of accomplishment in providing AML, sanctions and financial crime advice at all levels.
• Outstanding technical skills, with the ability to provide formal written legal advice to the firm's Partners, senior management, MLRO and MLCO.
• Extensive knowledge of AML, POCA, and relevant case law.
• Experience of Intapp Intake and Conflicts would be advantageous.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to effectively collaborate, communicate with and influence stakeholders at all levels.
• Credibility to gain respect internally and externally with people at all levels and to build trusted relationships both internally and externally.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities, with a keen attention to detail and the ability to exercise sound judgment and decision making, particularly in high-pressure situations and the ability to adapt to changing regulatory requirements.
• An enthusiasm for providing excellent client service.
• Proven leadership skills, with the ability to effectively lead and motivate.

This is a great opportunity to join a Firm which believes potential, inspiration, and teamwork should be valued and nurtured.

We work hard to create and sustain an open and collaborative environment. We embrace change and constantly evolve to meet our people’s diverse needs, in the same way that we help our clients to navigate and stay ahead of developments, to move forward together.

Next Steps To apply please click below or if you would like to talk to someone about the role, please call Lisa Gater in our Recruitment Team on 073556 77986.

Michelmores LLP is an Equal Opportunities Employer

We do not discriminate on grounds of race, gender, marital status, age, religion, colour, nationality, ethnic origin, disability or sexual orientation in the selection, recruitment and treatment of our staff.

View our Inclusion and Belonging pages for more information.

*No agencies please – any agency assistance will be via invitation only. Please note any speculative candidates submitted via agencies without invitation will not be considered as represented by that agent.