Head of CDD (Director leve) required for a well-established and growing financial services organisation is looking to appoint a senior leader to head up its CDD function.

This is a key leadership role responsible for shaping and delivering the firm’s financial crime framework across client onboarding, due diligence, and ongoing monitoring, while supporting commercial growth in a regulated environment.

The Role

• Lead and define the strategy for CDD, EDD and customer screening across the business
• Act as the subject matter expert on client risk and financial crime controls
• Oversee end-to-end client lifecycle management, ensuring robust and proportionate due diligence
• Partner with senior stakeholders to provide practical, commercial advice on financial crime risk
• Ensure compliance with UK and international AML, sanctions and financial crime regulations
• Drive improvements in systems, controls and processes to enhance efficiency and risk management
• Lead, develop and scale a high-performing financial crime team (UK and offshore)
• Represent the function internally at senior level and externally where required

What They’re Looking For

• Strong senior leadership experience within financial crime compliance in a banking or financial services environment
• Deep expertise across CDD, EDD and complex client risk assessments
• Strong knowledge of UK AML/CTF, sanctions, and broader financial crime frameworks
• Experience operating in a regulated environment, ideally with exposure to FCA expectations
• Proven ability to balance regulatory requirements with commercial outcomes
• Experience managing and developing teams across multiple locations
• Excellent stakeholder management, with the ability to influence at senior/executive level

Why Join

• Opportunity to take ownership of a critical financial crime function
• High visibility role with direct exposure to senior leadership
• Business undergoing growth and transformation
• Scope to shape frameworks, influence strategy, and build out capability

If this is of interest, or you’d like to hear more, feel free to get in touch.

Applicants must be located and eligible to work in the UK without sponsorship.

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