Job Description
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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.
You will be part of our Onboarding Client Experienceteam, a specialist function which supports our onboarding activities, with a particular focus on complex, high-risk and commercially important engagements. The team plays a vital role in ensuring that Grant Thornton’s professional, ethical and regulatory obligations are met without compromising commercial momentum.
We believe that strong regulatory outcomes and a high-quality client experience are not competing objectives.As the initial touch point for our clients, our outreach activities must build trust and reinforce confidence in our firm’s operational capabilities.
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 anOnboarding Business Lead (KYC/CDD) within our Quality & Risk / Centralised Onboarding team, you willact as a trusted risk partner and strategic enabler for the firm. This is not a box-ticking role; it requires a sophisticated understanding of regulatory requirements (especially KYC/CDD), contractual and commercial considerations, and the ability to apply independent judgement to complex situations. Strong verbal communication is essential. We avoid hiding behind policy where explanation builds trust. You will speak directly with senior client representatives (e.g., via phone/MS Teams) and advise our Partners and Directors on complex risk and compliance matters as a routine and vital part of the role.Your accountabilities spanwill three areas:
Client Outreach
1. Lead the Client outreach process to gather required CDD information and documentation, including direct conversations with client contacts (written and verbal).
2. Apply independent, high-level judgement to determine the sufficiency and credibility of information provided by the Client against the firm’s CDD Standard (including UBO understanding and, where relevant, Source of Funds/Source of Wealth), consulting where necessary with the firm’s CDD Policy & Advisory function.
3. Manage complex ownership structures (e.g., private equity stacks, trusts, and entities in opaque or high-risk jurisdictions) and support enhanced due diligence (EDD) where required (e.g., PEP/sanctions screening outcomes, adverse media, higher-risk geographies).
4. Formulate and record clear risk rationales for CDD/EDD conclusions and approvals and manage escalations in line with the firm’s CDD Standard.
5. Guide senior client stakeholders through digital identity verification and other biometric processes, ensuring a smooth and professional experience.
Priority Client Support
6. Act as a concierge-style Onboarding advisor, providing bespoke operational Onboarding advice for larger, more complex or priority cases, delivering a frictionless client experience while maintaining the required risk controls for the firm.
7. Troubleshoot Onboarding bottlenecks by suggesting structural modifications or alternative evidence routes to align with the firm’s risk appetite.
Risk & Compliance
8. Act as a subject matter expert (SME) for client-facing Partners and Directors, advising on the practicalities of Onboarding complex and commercially important engagements.
9. Provide a holistic view of risk, balancing contracting requirements, commercial viability, insurance nuances, financial crime prevention, regulatory obligations, and the firm’s ethical standards.
10. Provide clear, practical advice on evidence strategy, risk-based options and when/what to escalate, ensuring decisions and documentation align to the firm’s policies.
While not a requirement at hire, we will expect you to develop a strong understanding of the ethical standards applying to our work.
Knowing you’re right for us
Joining us as an Onboarding Business Lead (KYC/CDD), the minimum criteria you’ll need are:
11. Substantial hands-on experience delivering client onboarding (including KYC/CDD) within professional services, banking or financial services, with end-to-end ownership of complex cases.
12. Proven ability to write and defend risk rationales and make risk-based decisions with confidence, even in the absence of perfect information.
13. Demonstrable experience of engaging with clients/customers and stakeholders through strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to facilitate a positive experience throughout regulated onboarding processes.
Additional experience we welcome:
14. Ethical Standards Awareness: familiarity with professional body ethical standards, such as the FRC Ethical Standard and ICAEW Code of Ethics, and an understanding of how regulatory and ethical obligations interact in a client-facing context.
15. Stakeholder Influence: experience of influencing Partners and Directors with diplomacy and clarity, and driving outcomes without direct authority in a complex, matrix environment.
Core competencies:
16. Integrity: You maintain a firm line on Ethics, Financial Crime and Regulatory Compliance, even when under pressure from commercial deadlines.
17. Commercial Acumen: You understand that Onboarding is a business enabler and seek to formulate compliant solutions rather than defaulting to “no”.
18. Professional, human communication: You can explain regulatory and information requirements clearly, respectfully and in plain language, and you are a confident verbal communicator.
19. Analytical Rigour: You apply a logical, evidence-led and analytically grounded approach - testing assumptions and drawing conclusions from facts rather than gut instinct.
20. Cross-Functional Thinking: You can connect the dots between contracts, regulation, commercials, delivery reality and legal risk, seeing how decisions in one area affect outcomes in another.
21. Systems & Controls Literacy: You understand how onboarding technology and controls are used to manage, document and govern risk, and you are comfortable working within and improving those systems.
22. Decisiveness: You are comfortable making and defending risk-based decisions in the absence of perfect information. You know when to escalate and when to resolve, and you do not default to inaction when faced with ambiguity.
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.
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.
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