Conflicts & Compliance Assistant (Manchester)

The Role

Department : Business Acceptance Unit

Location : Manchester

Role : Conflict and Compliance Assistant

The Role

You will be responsible for assisting partners and other members of Clyde & Co with the new business inception process in line with legislation and regulatory requirements.

This will include conflict of interest searches for legal and commercial conflicts, anti-money laundering processes for new and existing clients, on-going client monitoring, sanctions checks and other risk management procedures.

Key Responsibilities Conflicts

• Reviewing new client and matter forms ensuring satisfactory details are provided by the Case Handlers and querying instances where information is either incomplete or unclear.
• Analysing the new client and/or new matter to determine the risks associated with the instruction.
• Conducting conflict checks using the firm's conflict database paying close attention to sensitive entries in the firm's Black Book database.
• Analysing conflict search results and liaising with Partner/ Case Handler on the matters that may present a legal or commercial conflict. Obtaining relevant information on the matter, if required, in order to make a judgement call on whether a conflict or potential conflict is present.
• Escalating conflict issues to the Team Leaders, Head of BAU, Risk Lawyers and General Counsel as appropriate with clear analysis of the conflict and the conclusions reached so far.
• Proactively following up when seeking information or conflict resolution from other stake holders around the firm.
• Maintaining and updating the conflict search database as key information becomes apparent on existing matters.
• Assisting in the research and implementation of information barriers by working with the Risk Team as matters are created, safeguarding confidentiality at all times for the involved teams.
• Supporting the high volume business on matter inception, ensuring that conflict checks are carried out in a timely manner.
• Recording all conflict research, communication with stake holders and analysis and conclusion of the conflict resolution in the firm's client and matter inception software, for the purposes of compliance and auditing.

Anti-Money Laundering

• Researching, identifying and verifying new clients by using online data providers and any other online resources.
• Analysing and establishing the corporate structure for clients where relevant and tracing up to the ultimate beneficial owners.
• Advising Case Handlers on further details that are required from the client in the event that information is not available in the public domain or documentation is required on identified individuals.
• Researching and identifying PEPs and high risk clients by creating an online profile.
• Attributing a risk rating to the client and escalating the client to the Team Leader, Head of BAU where a decision needs to be made upon analysis of documentation and risk.
• Seeking sign off from MLRO's and Risk Partners when required and advising the Case Handlers on any steps that need to be taken to taken to mitigate the risks associated with the client.
• Assisting in the on-going monitoring for existing clients and updating Client Due Diligence for existing clients.
• Recording all AML documentation, communication and risk rating in the Client Risk Assessment section of the client and matter inception software, with a clear synopsis of how the client rating has been attributed stating any mitigating factors and follow up steps that need to be taken by the BAU or Case Handlers.

Compliance

• Maintaining technical knowledge, expertise and know how on the nature of the work each department undertakes in the Firm, conflicts, AML and sanctions.
• Screening all clients and matters for sanctions and escalating any adverse findings to the Risk Team and Sanctions Partners.
• Carrying out the conflict checking and client on-boarding process for lateral hires.
• Supporting junior members of the BAU Team on queries and training.
• Answering queries from Case Handlers and escalating urgent queries to the appropriate individual within the department.
• Assisting on the execution of projects as and when they arise.

Essential Skills & Experience

• Knowledge of the SRA rules including conflicts of interests and knowledge of case law on conflicts of interest (Desirable).
• Knowledge of anti-money laundering legislation (Desirable).
• Strong MS Office.
• Meticulous attention to detail.
• Strong customer focus.
• Excellent communications skills.
• Strong spelling and grammar skills.
• Degree or other relevant qualifications (Desirable).
• Experience using Elite Enterprise or similar management systems (Desirable).
• Strategic thinker with commercial awareness.
• Service orientated: Recognising internal and external clients and the importance of service delivery.
• Ability to work as part of a team and using own initiative, manage own workload and adapt to changing priorities.
• Adaptable to new systems, procedures and requirements of role.
• Flexible approach: Willing to assist others in achieving team objectives.
• Confident dealing with senior management and ensuring service levels are adhered to. Well-disciplined and self-motivated.
• Ability to work well under pressure.
• Confident and proactive approach.
• Enthusiastic and positive attitude.

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