Director of Risk - Client Onboarding

Director – New Business Intake - Europe

Our client is one of the world’s largest law firms operating in over 80 countries with more than 170 offices. In Europe there are more than 20 offices across 18 jurisdictions. The firm is widely recognised for its excellent client service, diversity and innovation.

The firm is currently undertaking a review of its business services functions to create new teams that will provide best practice and support the firm in Europe. This includes the risk and compliance function, and the intention is to separate new business intake, which includes conflicts, CDD, KYC, AML and sanctions, from the current wider legal and risk function. As a result of the review and changes a new role, Director New Business Intake, has been created to manage the European new business intake team. The postholder will report to the European CEO and work closely with the European General Counsel.

The position will involve managing the current business intake team, which is around 20 people, and is dispersed with most employees based in Warsaw, and others sitting in London and Prague. In addition to managing the team the new postholder will be required to review and improve processes, conduct streamlining and ensure best in class service delivery, so we are seeking an individual who has managed teams and established or improved functions previously.

To fill this vacancy we are seeking the following experience:

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• At least 10+ years of work experience in legal or risk and compliance.
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• A strong track record in new business intake/business acceptance management gained in either a law firm or another similar professional services environment.
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• Extensive knowledge of AML and Sanctions across Europe.
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• Experience handling complex conflict of interest issues, also gained in a law firm or professional services environment.
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• Ideally you will hold qualifications as a lawyer in a European jurisdiction, although this is not essential if you have the required experience.
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There will also need to be extensive stakeholder management, so it is important the successful candidate has the gravitas, rapport and presence to work at a very senior level. You must be comfortable working in a fluid environment because of the multiple offices and jurisdictions that need to be accommodated when creating the new solution.

This is a fantastic opportunity for a candidate to have an influential and multi-jurisdictional role. You will have the autonomy and independence to shape and manage your own function and work at the executive level.

Please note that the team sits in Warsaw so extensive travel will be required to that location but the role can be based out of the London office.

If you would like to have a confidential discussion about this role and explore the opportunity in more detail please contact Michelle Corneby at Cyan Partners, [email protected].

Cyan Partners are exclusively retained on this assignment and all applications will be forwarded to them for handling.