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Global Head of Financial Crime Legal

London, United Kingdom

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Date live: 31/03/2025

Business Area: Legal

Area of Expertise: Legal

Contract: Permanent

Reference Code: JR-0000044879

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Barclays Legal

Join the Legal team to protect Barclays, its employees, and its brands while ensuring global competitiveness and compliance with legal standards. Your responsibilities will include risk mitigation, managing strategic transactions, and overseeing business contracts.

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  • This role leads the global Financial Crime Legal team.  We advise all business lines, functions, executive leadership and the various subsidiary and group boards. 
  • Experience in people leadership will be critical, including experience managing a team in multiple geographies.
  • Senior lawyer, needs to be a subject matter expert with 10 years of experience advising on money laundering, anti-money laundering, sanctions, export controls, and/or anti-bribery in a cross-border context.  The lawyer can come from external counsel, government or another financial institution, but they must be a subject matter expert.  Very few people have equal expertise in all financial crime fields, but they must have some and have experience overseeing lawyers who give advice on others. 
  • Extensive network in financial crime, including among professionals at financial institutions, government agencies (E.g., FCA, FinCEN, OFAC, OFSI), trade groups (BPI, SIFMA) and external counsel.  The network will be really critical here as we need to leverage that network for benchmarking and understanding policy/laws/rules/regulations.
  • Experience in a financial institution, or advising financial institutions, or working with them (e.g., for those in government, if they were covering financial institutions as part of their portfolio and regularly engaging with them) will be important and something we want to target.  It isn’t a must per se, but ideally, we will be looking for someone who can hit the ground running, and that can be more challenging if they have very little experience with the challenges the regulated financial institutions face.   
  • In a BAU, this role supports the team to advise on transactions, design of first and second line controls, advising accountable executives on the laws, rules and regulations that impact their areas, supporting internal and enforcement investigations, advising on remediation and change programs in the financial crime control ecosystem, advising on impact of geopolitical events/policies to obligations the bank may face (i.e., on sanctions and export controls), presenting to executives and/or boards and/or advising the Group GC to do so either in writing or orally, supporting reputation risk management on financial crime matters.  It is a broad portfolio that requires the team lead to describe legal concepts in common sense for a smart but non-expert audience, to tailor advice (and the team’s advice) to the Bank’s business and practical context, to ensure an appropriate target operating model and recruitment/retention strategy and appropriate engagement model for external counsel. 

Purpose of the role

To ensure that the institution’s activities are conducted in compliance with applicable financial crime laws and regulations, and to help the bank manage legal and reputational risks associated with its activities. 

Accountabilities

  • Development and implementation of best practice legal strategies for risk management and compliance.
  • Legal advice and support to the business on financial crime laws, regulations, and rules, including anti-money laundering (AML), sanctions, and anti-bribery and corruption (ABC) laws and regulations.
  • Support other legal teams in representation, of the bank in legal proceedings that raise financial crime issues, such as litigation, arbitration, and regulatory investigations.
  • Advising on financial crime compliance policies and procedures including to assess compliance with applicable laws and regulations.
  • Legal research and analysis to stay up to date on changes in laws and regulations that may impact the bank's financial crime compliance practices.
  • To support Compliance, contributing to and delivering training to educate employees on legal and regulatory requirements related to financial crime.
  • Pro-active identification, communication, and provision of legal advice on applicable laws, rules and regulations (LRRs). Keeping up to date with regards to changes to LRRs in the relevant coverage area. Ensuring that LRRs are effectively allocated to, and adequately reflected within, the relevant policies, standards and controls.

Manager Director Expectations

  • To manage a large, complex or diverse function and take accountability for the strategic direction of the function to significantly strengthen successful and efficient businesses and contribute to the strategic initiatives of the Barclays Group
  • Lead and mentor high performing teams and embed a performance culture aligned to the values of the business. Or for an individual contributor, they lead organisation wide projects, act as a profound technical expert and thought leader, Identifying new and innovative/ground breaking ways of working. They will train, guide and coach less experienced specialists and provide information affecting long term profits, organisational risks and strategic decisions.
  • Drive and achieve overall success and / or competitiveness of a business division by influencing senior leaders and committees.
  • Strategically assess and manage risks to protect the business division / function and growth.
  • Influence company policy and develop functional procedures in conjunction with senior leaders / strategic positions across the business.
  • Demonstrate interpretative thinking for innovative solutions in complex situations and conceptual thinking in completely new situations.
  • Exercise management authority to make significant / complex business and strategic decisions that impact the Barclays Group, business division or function.
  • Negotiate with and influence stakeholders at a senior level both internally and externally and foster growth for Barclays business.
  • Mandated as the business division/ functional spokesperson or representative to external bodies and shapes the public image of Barclays.
  • Demonstrate exceptional knowledge of how business divisions and functions integrate with the Group to achieve the overall business objectives alongside industry theories and practices within own discipline.
  • Maintain broad and comprehensive functional expertise and significant product knowledge.
  • Accountable for the control and governance agenda of the business division / function.
  • Focus on the external environment, regulators, or advocacy groups to both monitor and influence on behalf of Barclays.

All Senior Leaders are expected to demonstrate a clear set of leadership behaviours to create an environment for colleagues to thrive and deliver to a consistently excellent standard. The four LEAD behaviours are: L – Listen and be authentic, E – Energise and inspire, A – Align across the enterprise, D – Develop others.

All colleagues will be expected to demonstrate the Barclays Values of Respect, Integrity, Service, Excellence and Stewardship – our moral compass, helping us do what we believe is right. They will also be expected to demonstrate the Barclays Mindset – to Empower, Challenge and Drive – the operating manual for how we behave.

Barclays welcomes applications from all candidates and is committed to ensuring reasonable adjustments (accommodations) are put in place to allow for a fair and inclusive recruitment process. For more information and how to request one, please review Adjustments to the recruitment process.

We’re a global, vital and highly respected financial organisation with an inspiring Purpose. Operating in 39 countries and employing around 100,000 people across the world, we help communities, individuals and businesses thrive. And we’ve created financial solutions and technology that the world now takes for granted. A career with us can offer incredible variety, depth and breadth of experience, and the chance to learn from some of the best minds in technology and finance.

To find out more about Barclays' strategy please click here.

Barclays offers a diverse, inclusive and engaged culture. A place where people can bring their whole selves to work and be respected for who they are, valued for what they do and celebrated for their contribution to our business and our community.

We are an equal opportunity employer and opposed to discrimination on any grounds. It is the policy of Barclays to ensure equal employment opportunity without discrimination or harassment on the basis of race, colour, creed, religion, national origin, alienage or citizenship status, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital or domestic/civil partnership status, disability, veteran status, genetic information, or any other basis protected by law.

Barclays is required by law to confirm that you have the Legal Right to Work in any role that you apply for. If you currently hold a work visa sponsored by Barclays, or you would require sponsorship from Barclays, you must declare this as part of your application. Sponsored visas are role and entity specific and any changes must be reviewed. It is important that you ensure you are working on the correct visa at all times. Failure to accurately disclose your visa status or Legal Right to Work may result in your application or any employment offer being withdrawn at any time.

Barclays welcomes applications from all candidates and is committed to ensuring reasonable adjustments (accommodations) are put in place to allow for a fair and inclusive recruitment process. For more information and how to request one, please review Adjustments to the recruitment process.

We’re a global, vital and highly respected financial organisation with an inspiring Purpose. Operating in 39 countries and employing around 100,000 people across the world, we help communities, individuals and businesses thrive. And we’ve created financial solutions and technology that the world now takes for granted. A career with us can offer incredible variety, depth and breadth of experience, and the chance to learn from some of the best minds in technology and finance.

To find out more about Barclays' strategy please click here.

Barclays offers a diverse, inclusive and engaged culture. A place where people can bring their whole selves to work and be respected for who they are, valued for what they do and celebrated for their contribution to our business and our community.

We are an equal opportunity employer and opposed to discrimination on any grounds. It is the policy of Barclays to ensure equal employment opportunity without discrimination or harassment on the basis of race, colour, creed, religion, national origin, alienage or citizenship status, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital or domestic/civil partnership status, disability, veteran status, genetic information, or any other basis protected by law.

Barclays is required by law to confirm that you have the Legal Right to Work in any role that you apply for. If you currently hold a work visa sponsored by Barclays, or you would require sponsorship from Barclays, you must declare this as part of your application. Sponsored visas are role and entity specific and any changes must be reviewed. It is important that you ensure you are working on the correct visa at all times. Failure to accurately disclose your visa status or Legal Right to Work may result in your application or any employment offer being withdrawn at any time.

This is Barclays London

Our global HQ is in Canary Wharf, at the heart of London’s financial district. There are over 10,000 colleagues here – a hugely diverse workforce made up of the world’s best financial and tech talent. If you love the buzz of city life, this is the place to be.

Cycle or run to work? We’ve got everything you need – from cycle hire and parking areas to new showering and changing facilities.

CoSpace is our drop-in co-working space, where networks are built, problems are solved collectively and our community is strengthened.

Our Wellness Suite includes a well-equipped gym and exercise studios, and provides personal training sessions and massage therapy.

Our new trading floors enhance communication, integrate sustainability, and support health and wellbeing through innovative design and British-sourced furniture.

This is Barclays London

Our global HQ is in Canary Wharf, at the heart of London’s financial district. There are over 10,000 colleagues here – a hugely diverse workforce made up of the world’s best financial and tech talent. If you love the buzz of city life, this is the place to be.

Supporting active commuters

Cycle or run to work? We’ve got everything you need – from cycle hire and parking areas to new showering and changing facilities.

Time to connect

CoSpace is our drop-in co-working space, where networks are built, problems are solved collectively and our community is strengthened.

Wellbeing in focus

Our Wellness Suite includes a well-equipped gym and exercise studios, and provides personal training sessions and massage therapy.

Advanced trading floors

Our new trading floors enhance communication, integrate sustainability, and support health and wellbeing through innovative design and British-sourced furniture.

Be you. Be valued. Belong.

We celebrate the unique perspectives and experiences each individual brings, believing our differences make us stronger and drive success. Our colleague networks offer connection, support, and growth, while our "This is Me" series shares the unique stories of our colleagues. Committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion, Barclays values you for who you are and ensures you truly belong.

You can learn more about our commitment to our colleague on our DE&I page.  

Learn more

Application Process

Your application

We’ll ask for information about you, your CV and cover letter.

1

Your assessment

Covering your behaviours and ability at work.

2

Your interview

Exploring your past experiences and skills.

3

Next step

We’ll request additional information so that you can complete our screening process

4
How to ApplyRead our FAQ's
Barclays

Working flexibly

We’re committed to providing a supportive and inclusive culture and environment for you to work in. This environment recognises and supports your personal needs, alongside the professional needs of our business. If you'd like to explore flexible working arrangements, please discuss this with the hiring manager. Your request will be reviewed in-line with the requirements of the role/business needs of the team.

Hybrid working

We have a structured approach to hybrid working, where colleagues work at an onsite location on fixed, ‘anchor’, days, as set by the business area. Please discuss the working pattern requirements for the role you are applying for with the hiring manager. Please note that working arrangements may be subject to change on reasonable notice to ensure we meet the needs of our business.

Barclays is built on an international scale.

Our geographic reach, our wide variety of functions, businesses, roles and locations reflect the rich diversity of our worldwide customer base. All of which means we offer incredible variety, depth and breadth of experience.
And the chance to learn from a globally diverse mix of colleagues, including some of the very best minds in banking, finance, technology and business. Throughout, we’ll encourage you to embrace mobility, exploring every part of our operations as you build your career.

Find more information

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