Job Description

At EY, we're all in to shape your future with confidence.
We'll help you succeed in a globally connected powerhouse of diverse teams and take your career wherever you want it to go.
Join EY and help to build a better working world.
Manager, Sanctions, Financial Crime
EY is on the lookout for a Manager to become a part of our Financial Crime team within the UK Financial Services Consulting business. In today's competitive market landscape, the essence of success lies in making smart, data-driven choices. The ideal candidate will possess a robust technical background along with core consulting expertise and will play a pivotal role in guiding our clients through strategic and operational change. Joining our team means working with some of the most renowned names in the financial services industry, where your contributions will be vital to our collective success.
The opportunity
Geopolitical events have created a dynamic and complex sanctions landscape for firms to navigate in order to comply with international economic and trade sanctions and maintain pace with evolving industry practice. Firms seek a balance between effective sanctions systems and controls and optimal efficiency to manage the demands on its people and costs. Firms need our support in striking this balance as well as navigating a constantly evolving regulatory landscape.
We're currently growing our Financial Crime Risk Consulting practice to meet increasing demand for our services and looking for people with practical experience in managing sanctions risk. Our practice consists of people from both regulatory and technology backgrounds, and we have a number of large-scale projects for some of the world's biggest financial services to support their sanctions compliance programmes. With our support you'll be given opportunities to develop your skills by working on a range of projects with a variety of clients. Our engagements typically involve managing multiple stakeholders and teams and require you to advise our clients using your knowledge and experience to provide the desired outcomes.
Your key responsibilities

• To lead and work as part of a team to create valuable and practical insights for our clients, adapting methods and practices to fit their business needs.
• Undertake sanctions systems and controls review of clients' policies, procedures and controls against sanctions regulations, regulatory requirements and expectations and industry practice.
• Provide input into the development of innovative solutions to address complex financial crime and sanctions risks and issues and help our clients meet global regulatory expectations for managing sanctions risks.
• Lead / support with the end-to-end delivery of projects, ensuring they are completed on time, within scope, and budget.
• Take responsibility for engagement planning, management, and leading teams in a variety of financial crime engagements.
• Act as a day-to-day point of contact for clients and team members, communicating effectively and managing relationships, with awareness of service quality and risk management.
• Support bids and proposals for new client opportunities and grow existing relationships.
• Contribute to or take a leading role in developing financial crime and sanctions solution, campaigns and go-to-market activities.
• Mentor staff and provide performance feedback for members your team.

Technical skills and attributes for success

• Strong knowledge of the international sanctions regulatory landscape, including authorities, regulatory requirements and expectations, and the practical application of controls in the financial services industry
• Experience in a consulting or industry role applying sanctions regulatory requirements, e.g. 1LOD or 2LOD sanctions policy advisory, testing sanctions systems and controls, leading sanctions operational teams, undertaking business-wide risk assessments.
• A clear understanding of the strategic implications of sanctions regulations.
• The ability to articulate the impact of sanctions regulations on firms and effectively implement a variety of regulatory directives.
• Understanding of complex regulation and industry guidance and formulate appropriate point of views.
• Experience managing teams in a consulting or industry role with responsibility for the implementation of sanctions risk management processes and controls.
• A background in executing sanctions change and screening transformation projects within the financial services industry.

Non-technical skills and attributes for success
Stakeholder Management

• Experience of working with diverse range of stakeholders and in effectively communicating with stakeholders at all levels, including written and verbal communication
• Proven track record of building and maintaining strong relationships with stakeholders, including the ability to establish trust and rapport

Project and people management

• Understanding of project management principles and experience in establishing project governance structure, ways of working and stakeholder update reports and metrics
• Experience in proactively identifying, managing and addressing project quality, budget and resourcing risks and issues
• Experience in setting up and managing complex project budgets and forecasts, including ability to identify financial risk
• Experience in motivating junior members of the team and providing necessary support through feedback and coaching

Leadership

• Demonstrated leadership skills, including the ability to guide and motivate others, and to make decisions that balance the needs of various stakeholders
• Experience in leading and managing a team of financial crime specialists, including hiring, training, and performance management
• Strong communication skills, with the ability to clearly articulate financial crime risks and strategies to a variety of audiences, including senior management and the board of directors

Personal development

• Applies problem-solving and critical thinking skills when identifying issues, analysing problems, and devising effective solutions
• Ability to evaluate information from multiple sources and perspectives to make reasoned judgments
• Proven ability to work collaboratively with other wider stakeholders across different departments, geographies and cultures and willingness for contributing to a team environment with a positive attitude
• Demonstrates learning agility, is quick to learn and apply new knowledge and skills, and willing to continuously develop professionally

To qualify for the role you must have

• Minimum of 5 years of sanctions experience in 1LOD or 2LOD at a regulated financial institution, capital markets, payment, an asset management firm, or experience in a client-facing role at a consulting practice or equivalent in-house role.
• Functional knowledge of the UK and European sanctions and financial crime regulatory environment (with knowledge of the global environment an advantage)
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to present information in a clear and concise manner
• Knowledge of multiple financial crime domains, i.e. AML, Sanctions, Market Abuse, Fraud
• Sound technical knowledge of financial services businesses and products
• Enthusiasm to be involved in business and practice development activities and developing the Financial Crime team
• Flexibility to travel and work full-time on assignments, as necessary

Ideally, you'll also have

• Experience of working with law enforcement, or a regulatory or governmental body such as the FCA, HMT or equivalent body in another country
• Experience of working at a financial crime technology vendor
• Experience helping firms to deliver transformation programmes or recognise efficiencies in their operating model through implementing process or technology enhancements
• Strong academic background, ideally to a degree level or equivalent
• AML and/or Sanctions professional qualification preferred.

What working at EY offers
We offer a competitive remuneration package where you'll be rewarded for your individual and team performance. Our comprehensive Total Rewards package includes support for flexible working and career development, and with MyReward you can select benefits that suit your needs, covering holidays, health and well-being, insurance, savings and a wide range of discounts, offers and promotions.
Plus, we offer:

• Continuous learning: You'll develop the mindset and skills to navigate whatever comes next.
• Success as defined by you: We'll provide the tools and flexibility, so you can make a meaningful impact, your way.
• Transformative leadership: We'll give you the insights, coaching and confidence to be the leader the world needs.
• Diverse and inclusive culture: You'll be embraced for who you are and empowered to use your voice to help others find theirs.

If you can demonstrate that you meet the criteria above, please contact us as soon as possible.
The exceptional EY experience. It's yours to build.
Apply now.
UKFSConsulting2025
EY | Building a better working world
EY is building a better working world by creating new value for clients, people, society and the planet, while building trust in capital markets.
Enabled by data, AI and advanced technology, EY teams help clients shape the future with confidence and develop answers for the most pressing issues of today and tomorrow.
EY teams work across a full spectrum of services in assurance, consulting, tax, strategy and transactions. Fueled by sector insights, a globally connected, multi-disciplinary network and diverse ecosystem partners, EY teams can provide services in more than 150 countries and territories.

Skills Required