The Opportunity

Primary Objectives:

• To provide expert advice and support to the Firm on its financial crime regulatory obligations including the analysis and management of risk arising from the Firm's new business. As part of this, the individual will lead, coach and manage the Financial Crime Advisory team (London) on undertaking regulatory AML processes such as risk assessments, monitoring and reporting. To overseeing all Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorism Financing (AML/CTF) and Sanctions advisory services; and expert advice with respect to an international law firm’s regulatory developments with a strong knowledge of the types of matters and transactions the firm's global new business policies, on-boarding systems, controls and procedures.
• To work in a global environment with our Australian colleagues to simplify the way we operate putting our clients, people and firm in the centre of everything we do.

Key Internal Relationships:

• Chief New Business & Enterprise Risk Officer
• Head of Financial Crime
• Manager Financial Crime
• General Counsel / Money Laundering Compliance Officer
• Director of NBI
• Regional Practice Groups , Sector Leads and Client Relationship Partners
• Partners, lawyers, business services members

Primary

Responsibilities:

• Acting as a subject-matter expert and trusted advisor and leading other members of the team to do this for the partnership and fee-earners on financial crime issues arising from each distinct piece of new business. This includes the application of relevant legislation, regulations and policy in the context of client & matter due diligence, risk assessments, complex and/or high risk queries, commercial approvals for new clients and/or matters, sanctions and reputational risk advice.
• Acting as a senior leader within the Financial Crime Team and wider NBI Team globally. Contributes to the training and development of analysts and the wider firm. Assists analysts in resolving complex financial crime and/or reputational issues.

1. Leadership and Management:

• Lead and manage team members assisting in implementing strategic decisions, executing and running operations and working as a global team
• Foster a collaborative, engaged and high-performance culture within the global team with HSF’s values and mindset.
• Execute the team's strategic objectives in alignment with the firm's goals.

2. AML/CTF Advisory:

• Provide expert AML/CTF and sanctions advice to the Firm, ensuring compliance with relevant regulations and standards.
• Develop and maintain robust AML/CTF policies and procedures inline with the PCP global framework.
• Conduct risk assessments and develop risk mitigation strategies.
• Stay abreast of legislative and regulatory changes and ensure the team and firm is informed and prepared to respond accordingly.

3. Sanctions Compliance:

• Provide expert advice on sanctions compliance, including the interpretation and application of international sanctions regimes for new clients and matters.
• Develop and implement sanctions compliance policies and procedures in line with the PCP global framework.
• Monitor and review the firm's and clients' activities to ensure adherence to sanctions regulations.
• Liaise with relevant regulatory bodies and maintain relationships with key stakeholders.

4. Regulatory enquiries:

• Provide expert advice to the firm in relation to all regulatory enquiries, audits and surveys across EMEA, UK and the US. Ensuring the team are consistent with their responses to these enquiries
• Execute on effective processes for regulator interaction, including assisting with reporting, analysis and report writing.

5. Reporting and Documentation:

• Assisting and playing a role in preparing and presenting reports on financial crime compliance matters and understanding the insights to take initiative to help fight financial crime
• Maintain accurate and comprehensive documentation of all advisory activities in a timely manner, leading the team through this.

Qualifications, skills and experience:

• In-depth knowledge of AML/CTF regulations and international sanctions regimes.
• Proven experience in a financial crime advisory role within a legal or financial services environment.
• Self motivated individual with strong leadership and team management skills, with the ability to empower and engage the team.
• Change advocate leading the team to think differently and challenge the status quo to strive to be the leading firm on financial crime.
• Strong analytical, research and problem-solving abilities.
• Strong commercial and market awareness.
• Ability to priories their own and team’s workload, can work autonomously and prioritise multiple tasks simultaneously
• Excellent verbal, written and face to face communication skills.
• Professional certifications in financial crime compliance (e.g., CAMS, ICA) are highly desirable.
• A law degree or equivalent legal qualification is preferred.
• Ability to work well under pressure and to deadlines and to provide support to others.
• Ability to work well within a global team and support the Financial Crime Team in both London and Australia.
  

Team
General Counsel and Risk

Working Pattern

Full time

Location
London

Contract type
Permanent Contract

Diversity & Inclusion

At Herbert Smith Freehills you will be part of a diverse, innovative culture where high performance, client focus and highly engaged people are our differentiator. People at our firm come from a range of backgrounds and bring a wide variety of experiences and perspectives to their work with us. We strive to ensure that our inclusive environment means you feel valued and able to perform at your best by being your authentic self at work. We know that our future success not only depends on being innovative and progressive in the changing legal market but, most importantly, on our people feeling highly engaged in meaningful work.

We understand that you have commitments and personal interests outside of work and we strive to create a working environment based on mutual trust and respect, in which you can perform at your best whilst maintaining sustainable balance across your life.