Who are we
Founded in 1896, Knight Frank was registered as Knight Frank LLP a Limited Liability Partnership, on 3 November 2003, registered in England & Wales at 55 Baker Street, London, W1U 8AN with the registered number of OC305934. Headquartered in London, UK, Knight Frank is one of the world's leading independent real estate consultancies. We work responsibly in partnership to enhance people's lives and environments in over 50 Markets, 600+ Offices, 20,000+ People, 1 Global Network.
At the heart of all we do are our Clients. A relationship built on trust is vital. As trusted partners in property, we act with integrity and care, understanding our clients’ unique needs and consistently thinking about the bigger picture to provide personalised, clear and considered advice across all areas of property. Through our deep understanding of key markets and sectors – both emerging and established – we are dedicated to meeting and exceeding their property goals.
A true partnership is a balanced one, and our People are passionate about, and committed to, making our business inclusive and diverse. We give every individual the space and opportunity to perform at their best and be recognised for the immense value they bring. We empower everyone to have autonomy in their role and encourage them to use their voice in how we can make a positive impact as a firm and shape the future of real estate, the built environment and the impact on the communities we serve. Our collaborative and engaged teams provide excellent and dedicated client service. In our workplace, opinions are respected, everyone is invited to contribute to the success of our business and innovation, and new ideas are celebrated.
In 2021 we celebrated our 125th anniversary and set out Our Desired Future, cemented in three pillars: People Potential, Client Centricity and always Creating our Future, together. Learn more about what sets us apart here.
About The Role
We are seeking an experienced and commercially minded senior leader to take on the role of Partner, Head Partner, of CDD, EDD and Customer Screening. This position will set the strategic direction for our firm’s financial crime risk management programme, ensuring compliance with UK and international regulations while enabling sustainable business growth. You will act as the firm’s subject matter expert, representing us with regulators, industry bodies, and high-profile clients.
Who we are
At Knight Frank, we believe that property is personal. We’re a collaborative partnership with over 125 years of experience leading the property industry and 740 offices in more than 50 international territories, having advised on more than 500 billion pounds of real estate.
But more than anything, we’re experts. From luxurious residential developments to iconic skyscrapers, prestigious landmarks to historical rural estates, we’re operating at the top of our field, influencing the fabric of communities and shaping the skylines of tomorrow.
For you, that means unrivalled opportunities to grow, develop, and succeed in a rewarding career. It means control of your own destiny, the freedom to impact, and all the tools you need to become an expert in your own right.
Key ResponsibilitiesStrategic Leadership
Define and execute the financial crime strategy of the function, and across all service lines, ensuring alignment with the firm’s business objectives and risk appetite.
Advise Senior Leadership, and Partners on financial crime matters, client risk, emerging risks, and industry best practices.
Provide thought leadership in relation to financial crime risk, client risk (including reputational risk), and best practice.
Be curious: explore, sponsor and foster the development of new technology to drive efficiency, manage risk, and provide better customer outcomes.
Regulatory & Risk Management
Oversee and monitor compliance with Financial Crime risks pertinent to Knight Frank globally, including AML, CTF, sanctions, fraud prevention, anti-bribery/corruption legislation and Tax evasion.
Serve as the SME for CDD & EDD within the business, and the financial crime team.
Ensure effective client onboarding and ongoing monitoring, with proportionate risk-based due diligence processes.
Operational Oversight
Develop, implement, and maintain CDD, EDD and Screening frameworks, including robust procedures, and controls to manage financial crime risk.
Lead and develop the function, comprising: End to end customer lifecycle management; CDD, EDD, Advisory, Ongoing Screening.
Partner with business units to integrate financial crime prevention into day-to-day operations without unnecessary disruption to commercial activity.
People & Culture
Lead and inspire a specialist team of financial crime professionals, in the UK and India.
Drive talent development, succession planning, and knowledge sharing within the financial crime function.
Promote a firm-wide culture of integrity, ethical behaviour, and proactive risk management.
External & Client Advisory
Provide thought leadership to clients on financial crime compliance in the real estate sector.
Support clients with complex, multi-jurisdictional transactions, helping them manage financial crime risks.
Deliver training, seminars, and client briefings on regulatory change and risk mitigation strategies.
Significant senior leadership experience in financial crime compliance, ideally within real estate, property investment, or financial services.
Proven track record within CDD, EDD and complex customer relationships.
Understanding of the UK, EU and global regulatory framework and developments regarding financial crime compliance.
Deep knowledge of UK AML/CTF/Sanctions legislation, FCA and HMRC requirements, and relevant international standards (e.g. FATF, OFAC, EU regimes), relating to AML/CTF/PF; sanctions; bribery and corruption; fraud; tax evasion and market abuse risks.
Knowledge of FCA and EU regulatory frameworks, institutions, and internal operating structures for the market, partiality in relation to Real Estate.
Strong commercial acumen with the ability to design proportionate, business-friendly controls.
Excellent stakeholder management and communication skills, with the ability to influence at ExCo and ExCo -1.
Experience creating, leading and developing high-performing teams.
Relevant AML certifications (e.g., ACAMS, ICA) are highly desirable.
Degree in AML or Financial Crime would be an advantage
Competitive salary
Please note: this is a Direct Search led by Knight Frank. Applications from recruitment agencies will not be accepted nor will fees be paid for unsolicited CVs, even if provided by PSL agencies.
Top Skills
What We Do
At Knight Frank, we build long-term relationships, which allow us to provide personalised, clear and considered advice on all areas of property, in all key markets. We believe personal interaction is a crucial part of ensuring every client is matched to the property that suits their needs best – be it commercial or residential. Operating in locations where our clients need us to be, we provide a worldwide service that’s locally expert and globally connected. Inspired teams naturally provide excellent and dedicated client service. Therefore, we’ve created a workplace where opinions are respected, where everyone is invited to contribute to the success of our business and where they’re rewarded for excellence. The result is that our people are more motivated, ensuring your experience with us is the best that it can be. At Knight Frank, we value our vibrant online community and appreciate your active participation on our social channels. We strive to maintain a safe, respectful, and inclusive environment for all users. Please adhere to the following guidelines to ensure a positive experience for everyone: - We encourage and welcome your comments and feedback, however, they should be shared in a constructive, respectful manner. - We reserve the right to reject or remove comments that are not in keeping with our policy and to block or ban users/followers who violate this policy. - Please treat each other with courtesy and respect. Hate speech, discrimination, or offensive content of any kind will not be tolerated. Our moderators reserve the right to remove any content and any user who violates these guidelines that are intended to maintain a welcoming and respectful community. Thank you for being a valued member of the Knight Frank community.
