Legal Counsel - Financial Crime

This is an exciting opportunity for a seasoned legal professional to join a prominent financial institution and play a pivotal role in safeguarding its operations and reputation.

Role Overview: Legal Counsel - Financial Crime

The primary purpose of this role is to ensure that the institution's activities are conducted in full compliance with applicable financial crime laws and regulations. As a Legal Counsel specializing in Financial Crime, you will be instrumental in managing and mitigating the significant legal and reputational risks that can arise from these activities.

Advantages for Aspiring Candidates:

• Impactful Work: Directly contribute to maintaining the integrity and stability of a major financial institution by navigating complex legal landscapes and preventing financial crime.
• Career Growth in a Niche Area: This role offers deep specialization in financial crime law, a field with growing importance and demand. You'll develop expert knowledge in areas like AML, sanctions, and anti-bribery and corruption.
• Senior Stakeholder Engagement: Develop and hone essential skills in managing relationships with senior leaders across the organization, both domestically and globally, fostering collaboration and influence.
• Strategic Contribution: Beyond providing legal advice, you will be expected to contribute to setting strategy, driving change initiatives, and making recommendations that shape the institution's future.
• Exposure to Complex Environments: Thrive in a fast-paced, complex, and multi-dimensional environment, which offers continuous learning and problem-solving challenges.
• Global Collaboration: Opportunity to work alongside legal colleagues in different teams globally, broadening your perspective and professional network.
• Leadership Potential (or Expert Guidance): Depending on the specific position, you could lead a team, fostering talent and driving departmental strategy, or act as a subject matter expert, guiding technical direction and mentoring less experienced colleagues.
• Strong Focus on Values: Be part of an organization that deeply values Respect, Integrity, Service, Excellence, and Stewardship, and operates with an Empower, Challenge, and Drive mindset.

Key Considerations for Your Career Path:

• Required Qualifications: Candidates must be qualified lawyers (solicitor, barrister, attorney, or equivalent) with demonstrable post-qualification experience in areas such as litigation, investigations, enforcement, and/or regulatory engagement.
• Essential Skills: Proven experience in senior stakeholder management and relationship building is crucial. The ability to work effectively and collaboratively within a dynamic, complex environment is also paramount.
• Highly Valued Expertise: While not strictly mandatory, candidates with a strong understanding of legal risk management and regulatory engagement within financial institutions, experience with large-scale change programs affecting control environments, and prior experience in the financial services industry (in-house or private practice) will have a distinct advantage.
• Analytical and Strategic Thinking: Success in this role requires sophisticated analytical thought, the ability to interpret complex information, and the development of innovative solutions. Strategic thinking and business acumen are essential.
• Adaptability and Learning: The financial crime landscape is constantly evolving. A commitment to continuous learning, staying abreast of changes in laws and regulations, and adapting legal strategies accordingly is vital.
• Risk Management Focus: A deep understanding and proactive approach to identifying, assessing, and mitigating legal and reputational risks are core to this position.

This full-time permanent position offers a significant opportunity to advance your career in financial crime law, contributing meaningfully to a leading financial institution. The role, based in either Glasgow or London, is ideal for ambitious legal professionals seeking a challenging and rewarding career.