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:
MORE THAN YOU EXPECTED
Grant Thornton UK LLP is part of a global network of independent audit, tax and advisory firms, made up of some 58,000 people in over 135 countries. We’re a team of independent thinkers who put quality, inclusion and integrity first. All around the world we bring a different experience to our clients. A better experience. One that delivers the expertise they need in a way that goes beyond. Personal, proactive, and agile. That’s Grant Thornton.
NEW GROUND WON’T BREAK ITSELF.
Every day our teams help people in businesses and communities to do what is right and achieve their goals.
About the team
Our Client Due Diligence (CDD) practice sits at the heart of our Financial Crime team, supporting banks, payment firms, wealth managers and other regulated institutions across onboarding, remediation and ongoing compliance. Within the practice, our Enhanced Due Diligence (EDD) capability handles the most complex and high-risk cases — including PEPs, sanctioned entities, adverse media exposures and multi-jurisdictional corporate structures. We operate a hybrid onshore and offshore delivery model, supported by AI-assisted research and drafting tools, and we are investing in experienced leadership to drive quality, consistency and innovation across everything we produce.
We’re happy to talk flexible working and consider reduced hours and job shares, we’ll support you to balance your work and life.
A look into the role
As an Enhanced Due Diligence Lead (Senior Manager) within our Financial Crime & Compliance practice, you will lead the firm’s EDD production capability end to end — owning quality, process, systems and the skills framework that underpins our output. You will act as the operational owner of our AI-assisted EDD drafting and research capability, and you will be accountable for the standard of every EDD risk assessment that reaches the second-line Financial Crime Risk Advisory function for decision. This is a technically demanding, client-facing leadership role that requires deep EDD practitioner expertise, a genuine appetite for AI-assisted compliance tools, and the ability to lead and develop a team of managers and analysts working across multiple jurisdictions.
Day to day you will:
- Own the EDD process end to end, from intake and allocation through to compilation standards and the release of decision-ready risk assessments to the Financial Crime Risk Advisory function.
- Maintain quality oversight of all EDD output, including review and sampling of finalised assessments produced by your Managers, with calibration sessions and trend reporting; working closely with the QC, Training & MI Lead on independent first-line sampling.
- Take operational ownership of the firm’s AI-assisted EDD drafting capability, including accuracy monitoring, human-review and override logging, versioning control, and building the evidence base for progressive reliance on the system.
- Own and manage the firm’s specialist research and screening intelligence relationships, and contribute to use-case design for High and Restricted risk clients, third parties and insolvency payments.
- Design and maintain the competence framework for EDD risk assessment compilation, including training standards, assessment criteria and the sampling regime for all populations performing input work, onshore and offshore.
- Operate the risk-based review framework, applying the MLRO-approved tiering ruleset that determines the level of human review required for each assessment, and manage the competence gate governing analyst conclude authority.
- Lead and develop two direct report Managers, allocating and rotating responsibilities including ownership of the AI drafting accuracy log and override reporting.
- Lead the transition of EDD production from the current operating model into the target model, managing the change with minimal disruption to quality or throughput.
- Provide guidance and act as escalation point on complex compilation questions, including source corroboration, adverse media relevance, identity resolution and narrative fairness.
- Produce management information for the Head of CDD and the MLRO covering volumes, quality outcomes, system accuracy and capacity.
Knowing you’re right for us
Joining us as an Enhanced Due Diligence Lead (Senior Manager), the minimum criteria you’ll need is a deep EDD practitioner background with hands-on experience producing and reviewing enhanced due diligence on complex structures, including PEPs, adverse media and sanctions exposure. It would be great if you had some of the following skills, but don’t worry if you don’t tick every box — we’ll help you develop along the way.
- Significant hands-on EDD production and review experience, ideally gained in professional services, banking, corporate intelligence or a specialist EDD provider, with a strong track record on complex, high-risk cases.
- Demonstrable experience building or running a quality framework, including sampling, calibration, feedback loops and competence assessment.
- Genuine fluency with research and screening systems; direct experience of AI-assisted compliance tools is a strong advantage, and an evidenced appetite for working with them is essential.
- Strong writing and analytical standards, with the ability to distinguish between a data pack and a coherent, well-reasoned risk assessment — and to coach others to do the same.
- Experience managing teams across jurisdictions and time zones, including offshore delivery models.
- Solid working knowledge of MLR 2017 and JMLSG guidance; familiarity with the accountancy-sector AMLGAS is an advantage.
- Experience contributing to the build-out or rollout of a new EDD platform, case management system or operating model would be a distinct advantage.
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.
We’re also committed to supporting you through different life stages, with a range of family friendly and wider leave policies. You can find full details of our reward, benefits and leave policies on our website.
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.
#LI-SB1
