Director - Financial Crime

About Financial Crimes Legal:

The Financial Crime Legal team advises the business, functions (e.g., legal, compliance, risk audit), and senior management on financial crime laws and regulations, and how they impact our business and controls. The team globally provides timely, high-quality, and commercially focused legal and regulatory advice on complex anti-money laundering (AML), counter-terrorist financing (CTF), financial sanctions, and anti-bribery and corruption (ABC) matters.

• Support business transactions related to financial crime matters.
• Provide expertise and leadership for investigations involving AML/CTF, Sanctions, and ABC.
• Lead policy efforts on AML/CTF, Sanctions, and ABC issues.

Engage with key government stakeholders and law enforcement on AML/CTF, Sanctions, and ABC issues.

Overall purpose of role

• Serve as the primary regional contact for sanctions matters across all business lines, providing timely and expert legal advice.
• Lead internal and external policy efforts related to sanctions in the region.
• Participate in governance forums, such as Transaction Review Committees, where sanctions are a key consideration.
• Lead on complex financial crime issues with a sanctions nexus within CIB.
• Provide strategic legal leadership on sanctions, collaborating with other functions to enhance sanctions risk management.
• Support regional Business MLROs and financial crime compliance teams.
• Deliver high-quality legal advice on sanctions, ABC, AML, and CTF issues.
• Collaborate with Compliance, Legal, Audit, and business units to improve risk management strategies and support financial crime projects.
• Proactively identify emerging risks and trends in financial crime, including upcoming laws and regulations.
• Assist in investigations and enforcement actions related to financial crime, collaborating with Litigation and Compliance teams.
• Manage external counsel as needed.

Key Responsibilities

• Advise regional management on financial crime issues, especially sanctions.
• Support strategic oversight of Financial Crime Compliance projects and policies.
• Engage with regulators on sanctions developments.
• Support investigations and enforcement with Litigation, Investigations, and Intelligence teams.
• Develop governance and reporting processes, including Management Information.
• Prepare and deliver training on sanctions to senior management and stakeholders.
• Participate actively in team activities and development.

Person Specification

• Qualified lawyer (Solicitor, Barrister, Attorney, or equivalent).
• Strong analytical skills for financial crime legal issues.
• Experience with UK/EU sanctions laws.
• Problem-solving skills with a pragmatic, collaborative approach.
• Excellent interpersonal, communication, and relationship-building skills.
• Strong negotiation skills.
• Understanding of the commercial context of legal advice.
• Willingness to identify emerging issues across legal areas.
• Ownership and accountability for high-quality output.

Essential Skills

• In-depth knowledge of UK financial crime law, especially sanctions.

Purpose of the role

Ensure compliance with financial crime laws and regulations, managing legal and reputational risks.

Accountabilities

• Develop and implement legal risk management strategies.
• Provide legal support on AML, sanctions, and ABC laws.
• Support legal representation in proceedings related to financial crime.
• Advise on compliance policies and procedures.
• Conduct legal research on regulatory changes.
• Contribute to training programs on legal and regulatory requirements.
• Proactively communicate and advise on legal rules and regulations, updating policies accordingly.

Director Expectations

• Manage a business function, contributing to strategic initiatives and policies.
• Lead teams or major projects, providing technical expertise and leadership.
• Advise senior management and influence decisions.
• Manage resources, budgets, and policies within the sub-function.
• Ensure compliance with regulations and foster a culture of adherence.
• Monitor and influence external regulatory environment.
• Maintain broad knowledge of industry practices and external developments.
• Use advanced analysis to solve complex problems.
• Make strategic decisions and influence stakeholders at senior levels.
• Act as a principal contact and spokesperson for the function.

All senior leaders should demonstrate the Barclays LEAD behaviors: Listen and be authentic, Energise and inspire, Align across the enterprise, Develop others. All colleagues are expected to uphold Barclays Values: Respect, Integrity, Service, Excellence, and Stewardship, and to embody the Barclays Mindset: Empower, Challenge, and Drive.