Compliance Lawyer – Financial Crime

The Role

Group Overview

Our central Risk, Legal and Compliance teams provide advice on a range of regulatory and compliance issues.  The teams lead our thinking on risk management and legal and regulatory compliance. They are central to ensuring that the firm and our people maintain the highest standards of legal and regulatory compliance.

Who you will work with

The Compliance Lawyer - Financial Crime reports to the firm's Head of International Compliance.  The role will work alongside the Firm's Money Laundering Compliance Officer ("MLCO") and Anti-Bribery Officer ("ABO") - Chief Risk and Compliance Officer and the Head of International Compliance ("HIC"), the Director of Business Intake and the client onboarding team, the Head of Legal as well as Money Laundering Reporting Officers (MLROs) and Compliance Managers and Officers within the global network

What you will be responsible for

As the Compliance Lawyer - Financial Crime you will play a crucial role in ensuring that the firm complies with all relevant anti-money laundering laws and regulations. Your primary responsibility will be to develop, implement, and oversee the Financial Crime program and Framework, ensuring that the firm's operations remain in full compliance with legal requirements. You will work closely with internal stakeholders, providing advice, conducting risk assessments, and managing financial crime-related compliance matters.

In addition, this role will have responsibility for collating and preparing responses to regulatory and client questionnaires, as well as third party audits and inquiries regarding the firm's financial crime program as well as ensuring the firm has a robust training program in relation to financial crime concerns.

What you will do

Responsibilities include:

Financial Crime Program Development and Implementation:

• Design and implement an effective financial crime program and Framework, incorporating policies, procedures, and controls, including, with respect to anti-bribery and corruption a robust gifts and hospitality program.

• Stay updated on changes in financial crime legislation and regulations to ensure the program remains current and compliant.

Advice and Guidance:

• Provide expert advice to the MLCO, Director of Business Intake, MLROs, HIC and Compliance Managers and Officers across the firm.

• Interpret and communicate complex financial crime legislation and regulations to ensure understanding and compliance across the organization.

• Develop and update policies and procedures in relation to financial crime.

Risk Assessment:

• Advise the MLCO and the Director of Business Intake on the approach to conducting risk assessments to identify and evaluate potential AML risks within the organization and advise the CRCO and HIC in relation to other financial crime risks.

• Support the Head of Legal and MLROs in ensuring the firm's AML risk assessment is kept up to date and support the CRCO and HIC to ensure other financial crime risk assessments are kept up to date.

• Develop strategies to mitigate identified risks and ensure ongoing monitoring and assessment.

Training and Awareness:

• Develop and deliver financial crime training programs to educate employees on financial crime policies, procedures, and legal requirements.

Audits:

• Act as the main point of contact for internal and external audits on financial crime compliance.

• In conjunction with the MLCO and the Director of Business Intake, develop remediation programmes to address any gaps identified as part of any internal or external audit.

• Collaborate with relevant departments to implement any recommendations.

Regulatory and client queries in relation to financial crime:

• Respond to regulatory inquiries and coordinate any necessary reporting.

• Act as the main point of contact for client queries.

• Assist in the preparation of responses to requests for information from regulators and clients and liaise directly with them to explain the firm's policies, controls, and processes.

Documentation and Recordkeeping:

• Maintain accurate and up-to-date records of financial crime-related activities and initiatives.

• Prepare and submit reports to regulatory authorities as required.

• Work with the MCLO and the HIC to create management reports in relation to financial crimes.

Your experience 

Skills:

• You will have strong drafting and communication skills.

• Flexible, with effective and persuasive verbal and written communication skills with the ability to build and maintain relationships with all members of the Firm.

• You should have sound awareness of commercial issues with the ability to resolve them pragmatically You will be commercially minded with strong analytical, organisational, and interpersonal skills.

• You should be highly organised and responsive to the demands of partners, with the ability to carry out tasks independently and to take on a leadership role as necessary.

• The ability to plan and organise effectively to meet business priorities.

• A quick learner able to adapt to new processes, people, and technology.

• Act as the subject matter expert across the firm.

Experience:

• Prior experience as a practicing lawyer who is very familiar with financial crime legislation and advising on financial crime compliance.

• Experienced in developing and delivering AML training programs to educate employees on financial crime policies, procedures, and legal requirements.

• Prior experience implementing an effective financial crime program and frameworks for various financial crimes, incorporating policies, procedures, and controls.

• Experience Developing and updating policies and procedures in relation to financial crime.

Qualifications:

• Suitable legal qualification with first class demonstrable legal ability, coupled with practical commercial awareness.

Who we are

We are one of the largest international law firms in the world. With over 30 offices across the globe, we strive to exceed the expectations of our clients, providing them with the highest-quality advice and legal insight, which combines the firm’s global standards with in-depth local expertise.

Our firm, work and people span jurisdictions, cultures, and languages. We offer our clients a truly international perspective. We believe every career should be rewarding and stimulating - full of opportunities to learn, thrive, and grow. That’s why we’re so proud of our inclusive, friendly, and team-based approach to work.

Our one firm global strategy is focused on targeted growth led by the needs of our core clients, those who we can best support with the breadth and depth of Clifford Chance expertise, across the sectors and geographies, which matter most to them.

You’ll find our clients in commercial and industrial sectors, the financial investor community, governments, regulators, trade bodies, and not-for-profit organisations. But no matter who they are or why they’ve reached out to us, we provide a world-class service every step of the way. And that’s possible thanks to the entrepreneurial spirit and conscientious approach to work that you’ll find across all of our teams.

Whichever area of the business you join, you’ll become an integral part an innovative, diverse and ambitious team of people. Clifford Chance is a place where the brightest minds and the best of colleagues meet.

The Equal opportunities statement

At Clifford Chance, we understand that our true asset is our people. Inclusion is good for our team and their families, our firm and society.

We are committed to treating all employees and applicants fairly and equally regardless of their gender, gender identity and expression, marital or civil partnership status, race, colour, national or ethnic origin, social or economic background, disability, religious belief, sexual orientation, or age.  This applies to recruitment and selection, terms and conditions of employment including pay, promotion, training, transfer and every other aspect of employment.

We have a variety of flourishing employee networks. These networks are a place for colleagues to share experiences and advocate for change wherever they see an opportunity for improvement.

Our goal is to deliver an equality of opportunity, an equality of aspiration and an equality of experience to everyone who works in our firm. 

Find out more about our inclusive culture here.

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