Senior Risk and Compliance Counsel - Financial Crime

A global law firm in London is looking for a Senior Compliance and Risk Counsel to join their team.

They will work alongside and support the Director of Compliance on strategy and policies and procedures as well as supporting with the training of the team.

We're looking for someone with a deep expertise in all financial crime matters who can be the first point of call on all technical matters relating to AML and sanctions compliance, particularly escalations.

Key Responsibilities:

1. Working with the Director of Compliance to provide technical leadership on financial crime compliance matters.
2. Providing legal advice to fee-earners (including at Partner level) on their financial crime compliance obligations.
3. Having effective oversight and management over the firm’s policies and procedures.
4. Be the main point of contact for the New Business Intake team for any escalated queries relating to AML and sanctions compliance.
5. Advising on source of wealth and funds due diligence.
6. Advising on complex sanctions compliance issues in the UK and internationally.
7. Assisting the Director of Compliance in devising the firm’s anti-money laundering (AML) and counter-terrorist financing (CTF) and sanctions policies and procedures, revision and implementation of the same.
8. Supporting the Director of Compliance and General Counsel (COLP) by dealing with mandatory reporting requirements, regulatory audits and ad hoc queries from regulators and auditors.
9. Providing AML/CTF and sanctions training across the firm.
10. Drafting suspicious activity reports for submission to the National Crime Agency (UK) and other equivalent organizations abroad.
11. Where the candidate’s experience and expertise allows, and dependent on business need, an opportunity to provide advice on broader financial crime matters, such as ABC, anti-tax evasion and anti-fraud.
12. Demonstrate leadership in respect of risk management awareness, conduct and behaviors and assist the Director of Compliance with embedding a positive culture of compliance across the business.

Experience:

1. Qualified lawyer likely to have at least 6 years’ experience of advising on AML/CTF and sanctions legislation and its application.
2. Alternatively, if non-legally qualified, can demonstrate equivalent deep technical knowledge of and experience advising at a senior level on financial crime compliance issues, supported by appropriate professional qualifications and certifications.
3. Relevant experience may have been gained either in a fee-earning or in-house role; experience of advising on the practical implementation of relevant legal and regulatory requirements in a law firm environment is preferred.
4. Experience of advising on international AML/CFT and sanctions legislation in jurisdictions is desirable.

This is a hybrid role in London with a salary of between £110,000 and £120,000.

If you would like to apply for or discuss the role in more detail, please contact Rowena Bubb of Lewis Row Recruitment on 07743 590192 or rowena@lewisrow.com.