Customer Due Diligence Onboarding Lead, Grant Thornton UK
Leading UK professional services firm offering audit, tax, and advisory
Open for applications
Leading UK professional services firm offering audit, tax, and advisory
1001+ employees
Open for applications
1001+ employees
Company mission
To make businesses more personal by investing in building relationships.
Role
Who you are
- Joining us as a Senior Manager - CDD Onboarding Lead, the minimum criteria you’ll need is significant, demonstrable experience in CDD/KYC onboarding within a professional or financial services environment, with a track record of leading large teams and complex engagements
- 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
- Proven background in leading CDD or KYC onboarding teams at scale, ideally within a professional services or financial services environment is essential
- Experience managing and developing high-performing teams across multiple locations in a deadline-driven environment, with a commitment to quality and continuous improvement
- Expertise in a build-out or rollout of a new CDD platform, case management system or operating model would be a distinct advantage, as we continue to invest in and evolve our own delivery infrastructure
- Experience managing high-volume CDD engagements, with a particular focus on corporate onboarding and the complexities that come with it, including complex ownership structures, multi-jurisdictional entities and escalated risk profiles, would be a strong advantage
- The ability to manage competing priorities effectively, requiring swift allocation, clear delegation and confident decision-making under pressure
- Strong technical knowledge of KYC/AML regulatory requirements, including sanctions, PEP & adverse media screening frameworks
- Excellent stakeholder management skills, with the confidence to engage at Partner & Director level
- Relevant professional qualifications (e.g. ICA, ACAMS, CISI or equivalent) are desirable but not essential
- Strong analytical and risk assessment skills, with the ability to navigate complex corporate structures & ownership chains
What the job involves
- As a Senior Manager - CDD Onboarding Lead, within our Financial Crime & Compliance practice, you will take ownership of the end-to-end management of CDD onboarding engagements, leading a large team of analysts to deliver high-quality client due diligence reviews
- This leadership role requires deep expertise in CDD and AML frameworks, alongside strong management, people leadership capability and the ability to develop a team
- You will have a strong commitment to quality and be responsible for setting and maintaining high standards across your team, managing delivery against business priorities and goals and have a right first-time mindset
- Lead and manage the delivery of CDD onboarding team, overseeing the end-to-end review of onboarding files against applicable KYC/AML regulatory requirements, ensuring quality, consistency and timeliness across all workstreams
- Act as the primary point of contact for senior stakeholders/partners, building trusted relationships and providing clear, confident updates on progress, risks and issues
- Manage and mentor a large team of CDD analysts, driving performance through structured feedback, coaching, and day-to-day support
- Maintain governance oversight of our CDD frameworks, procedures and quality controls, ensuring consistency and regulatory alignment across all engagements
- Support the team to identify and escalate complex or high-risk cases, including PEPs, sanctioned entities, adverse media flags, and complex ownership structures, providing clear guidance to the FCC team on risk-based decision-making
- Play an active role in the training and upskilling of junior and newly joined colleagues, sharing technical knowledge and helping to build capability across the team
Application process
- End Date: July 6, 2026
Our take
Grant Thornton UK is a leading professional services firm that's part of a global network spanning over 150 countries and more than 76,000 people. With 23 offices across the UK and a team of over 5,000, they combine an international reach with deep local insight.
It specialises in audit, tax, and advisory services, but what really sets it apart is its focus on fresh thinking and building strong, personal relationships. From helping CFOs digitise their operations to advising on high-stakes mergers and acquisitions, Grant Thornton works across a wide range of industries to tackle complex challenges and unlock real progress.
Recently, the company has doubled down on its growth, welcoming hundreds of new trainees, launching digital-first roles, and promoting key talent into leadership. With investments in technology and talent development, it's building future-ready teams for clients and pushing into new markets.
Kirsty
Company Specialist at Welcome to the Jungle
Insights
Company
Company benefits
- Life cover
- Income protection
- Matched pension
- Private medical, including anytime access to Doctor@Hand and Stronger Minds
- Professional subscriptions
Company HQ
City of London, London, UK
Leadership
Malcolm Gomersall
(CEO)Malcolm has been at Grant Thornton since 2001, holding various roles including Office/Regional Managing Partner and Business Unit Leader. And he became CEO of the company in 2024.
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