Senior AML Compliance Officer

Ampa Holdings LLP; West Midlands; Hybrid; GBP 50,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading legal and professional services group in the UK is seeking a Senior AML Compliance Officer to strengthen its Risk & Compliance team. The role involves driving AML compliance, managing financial crime risks, and providing regulatory guidance across the business. Candidates should have over 3 years of compliance experience in a law firm environment and possess relevant AML qualifications. This role includes opportunities for career growth and collaboration within a multidisciplinary team.

Benefits

Career growth opportunities

Collaborative work environment

Qualifications

• Strong experience in AML, sanctions, and financial crime compliance within a regulated environment.
• Solid understanding of relevant regulations and guidance.
• Able to work independently and manage multiple tasks.

Responsibilities

• Lead on financial crime compliance and ensure adherence to regulatory standards.
• Support the design and improvement of compliance policies.
• Resolve complex compliance queries as a subject-matter expert.

Skills

AML compliance

Financial crime risk management

Collaborative communication

Detailed reporting

Policy enhancement

Education

3+ years’ experience in AML or compliance roles

Professional AML qualification (ICA AML Diploma or Advanced Certificate)

Tools

Regulatory compliance software

IT systems and platforms

Job description

Senior AML Compliance Officer

Department: Ampa Group Services - Risk & Compliance - Risk & Compliance - Risk & Compliance - 9121

Employment Type: Permanent - Full Time

Location: Flexible

Reporting To: Alexandra Iliff

Description

What we can offer you:

• A Crucial Role in Protecting the Business: Join a forward-thinking legal and professional services group where you’ll play a vital part in safeguarding our regulated and unregulated brands through expert risk and compliance leadership.
• Autonomy and Influence: Shape how we manage financial crime risk across the business. Bring your expertise, drive best practice, and take ownership of core AML and regulatory compliance processes.
• Collaborative, Multi-Disciplinary Culture: Work closely with the AML Manager, senior Compliance leaders, and colleagues across the Risk & Compliance function, with opportunities to mentor and develop junior team members.
• Career Growth & Specialism: You’ll gain exposure to complex financial crime matters, regulatory engagement, audits, and business-wide projects, with support to further develop your AML and compliance expertise.

The Role

We’re looking for a Senior AML Compliance Officer to strengthen our Risk & Compliance team and help ensure robust financial crime controls across all of our regulated and unregulated brands. In this role, you’ll provide specialist AML, sanctions, anti‑bribery, and broader compliance guidance to stakeholders across the business, while helping to design, review, and implement our internal systems and controls. You will be a key escalation point for complex CDD, KYC, onboarding, and risk assessment queries, and you’ll support internal audits, regulatory interactions, and continuous improvement of our compliance frameworks. This is an excellent opportunity for someone who thrives in a fast‑paced legal environment and wants to make a meaningful impact on risk management and firm‑wide compliance culture. This role is predominantly based from our West Midlands hub, with travel into the office typically twice per month.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead on Financial Crime Compliance: Drive AML, sanctions, CDD/KYC, and client onboarding processes across the business, ensuring best practice and adherence to regulatory standards.
• Maintain and Enhance Controls: Support the design, review, and ongoing improvement of policies, procedures, and practice‑wide risk assessments.
• Complex Query Resolution: Act as a subject‑matter expert for AML, sanctions, conflicts, and SRA regulatory requirements, handling complex and high‑risk onboarding queries.
• Monitoring, Reporting & Investigations: Track compliance issues, prepare reports, conduct file reviews, and lead internal audits and investigations.
• Regulatory Engagement: Assist in responding to regulatory enquiries and liaise with bodies such as the SRA.
• Training & Guidance: Draft compliance bulletins and advice notes, and deliver training across the business to ensure high standards and awareness.
• Audit Support: Support internal and external audits, including those carried out by clients, suppliers, and regulators.
• Business‑Wide Collaboration: Contribute to cross‑group projects, including new technologies, changes in legislation, and process improvements.
• Horizon Scanning: Stay informed on financial crime trends, regulatory developments, and best practice affecting the legal sector.
• Stakeholder Engagement: Attend internal and external networking events and present as required.

Skills, Knowledge & Expertise

• Strong experience in AML, sanctions, and financial crime compliance within a UK law firm or similar regulated environment.
• Solid understanding of SRA Standards & Regulations, Money Laundering Regulations, Proceeds of Crime Act and LSAG guidance.
• Experience managing internal investigations and responding to regulatory enquiries.
• Able to work independently, prioritise effectively, and manage multiple compliance tasks.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with sound professional judgement.
• Collaborative and approachable, able to engage confidently with stakeholders at all levels.
• High attention to detail and commitment to ethical, compliant working practices.
• Comfortable using a range of IT systems and platforms.

Qualification Requirements

• 3+ years’ experience in AML or compliance roles within a law firm.
• Qualified solicitor or experience within an in‑house Risk & Compliance team.
• Professional AML qualification (e.g., ICA AML Diploma or Advanced Certificate).