Senior Legal Counsel, Financial Crime Legal at Commonwealth Bank in Sydney CBD Area
- Company: Commonwealth Bank
- Location: Sydney CBD Area
- Posted: Sep 23, 2026
- Type: Full-time
- Experience: 6+ years
Overview
Contribute to the disruption of financial crime and help shape the bank’s response to major regulatory reforms. Take ownership of complex, high-impact advice across AML/CTF, sanctions and anti-bribery and corruption (AB&C), including on governance, products, customers and regulatory engagement.
Job description
- Contribute to the disruption of financial crime and help shape the bank’s response to major regulatory reforms.
- Take ownership of complex, high-impact advice across AML/CTF, sanctions and anti-bribery and corruption (AB&C), including on governance, products, customers and regulatory engagement.
- Be part of a supportive, engaged and dynamic team within Group Legal that values excellent advice, sound judgement and thoughtful use of advanced systems and AI tools.
Responsibilities
- The role is responsible for providing clear, timely and high-quality advice on the Group’s compliance with the Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorism Financing Act 2006 (Cth) and related rules, as well as advising on matters involving sanctions compliance and AB&C. The successful candidate will be expected to adapt priorities as the Group’s strategic, regulatory and risk context evolves. Key responsibilities of the role include:
- Take carriage of complex, strategic advisory matters relating to financial crime, with appropriate use of relevant technology and AI tools.
- Support the Group’s implementation of major reforms and engagement with government, regulators and industry bodies.
- Collaborate with stakeholders across the Group on matters relating to financial crime, adapting as required to Group priorities.
- Identify legal risks and provide proactive insights.
- Prepare and review materials for CBA governance forums.
Requirements
- Demonstrated ability to provide excellent advice, exercise sound judgement, work autonomously while collaborating effectively across teams, and to adapt quickly as priorities and context change.
- Relevant legal qualifications and a current Australian practising certificate.
- Strong experience providing legal advice on financial services regulation.
- Experience in AML/CTF, sanctions and/or AB&C is highly regarded, not mandatory.
- Relevant in-house, private practice or regulatory experience.
Skills
Required
- Adaptability to changing priorities
- Financial services regulation expertise
About Commonwealth Bank
Group Services Legal works with the Commonwealth Bank’s business units and support functions to help deliver the Group’s strategic goals and priorities through expert, commercially focused and practical legal advice. We bring legal excellence, sound judgement and a clear understanding of context to the issues that matter most to the Group. The Financial Crime Legal team provides strategic legal advice on the Group’s management of financial crime legal risk, including AML/CTF, sanctions and AB&C. The team supports significant regulatory reform and implementation programs, economic crime governance and accountability, regulatory and law enforcement engagement, policy and control frameworks, and product and customer matters. Recognising the central importance of this work, we are recruiting a Senior Legal Counsel to join the team. Working closely with colleagues across Group Legal, this role will advise Economic Crime Risk, Economic Crime Services, and relevant business units and support functions. At CommBank, we're committed to creating an accessible, inclusive and respectful workplace. If you require support or adjustments, please let us know. We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds and we're particularly committed to making a positive difference for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Peoples. For support please contact 1800 989 696. If you're already part of the Commonwealth Bank Group (including Bankwest, x15ventures), you'll need to apply through Sidekick to submit a valid application. We’re keen to support you with the next step in your career. We're aware of some accessibility issues on this site, particularly for screen reader users. We want to make finding your dream job as easy as possible, so if you require additional support please contact HR Direct on 1800 989 696.