About Us

Bird & Bird LLP is an international law firm which supports organisations being changed by technology or the digital world. We combine exceptional legal expertise with deep industry knowledge and refreshingly creative thinking, to help clients achieve their commercial goals. We have over 1,400 lawyers in 32 offices across Europe, the Middle East, Asia Pacific and North America, as well as close ties with firms in other parts of the world. If you want to find out more, visit www.twobirds.com.

The firm offers excellent prospects for progression and our culture provides all our people with world-class support to achieve their ambitions and goals.

Bird & Bird is committed to maintaining an inclusive work environment and we are an equal opportunities employer. We support an agile working environment and are happy to discuss flexible working.

An opportunity has arisen to join our Business Acceptance team where each Junior Compliance Officer is involved in conflicts and AML work. Intapp is the firm's system for registering new clients and matters, including conflict checks and anti-money laundering (AML) and sanctions compliance. Accordingly, this recruitment is likely to provide the candidate with opportunities to learn and become proficient in areas beyond their current area of expertise. Training will be provided. 

What you'll do

Compliance

• Maintain knowledge of the firm’s relevant processes, policies and procedures and industry standards.
• Advise PAs, fee earners and partners on best practice in relation to client matter opening procedures.
• Handle incoming administrative queries from the wider firm in relation to the client and matter opening process through the helpline and Business Acceptance Inbox 
• Occasionally required to work with Accounts, Cashiers, Marketing and Business Development, Financial Systems and IT departments. 

Conflicts

• Review new client and matter forms to ensure complete details are provided and query instances where the information is unclear or incomplete. 
• Conduct conflict searches using the firm's conflict database.
• Analyse conflict search results and manage conflict resolution.
• Liaise directly with Partners and Fee Earners on identified potential legal or commercial conflicts, obtaining when necessary relevant information on the matters, in order to make a decision on whether a conflict or potential conflict is present.
• Escalate legal or commercial conflicts in accordance with the appropriate internal conflicts escalation routes.
• Record conflict clearances and any communication with stake holders centrally against the matter for the purposes of compliance and audit.
• Maintain and update the firm's conflict database as key information becomes available on existing matters.
• Assist in the research and implementation of information barriers, whilst protecting confidentiality at all times.

AML

• Undertake research on new and existing clients by using data provider software and other online sources.
• Analyse and establish the corporate structure of the client where relevant and identify the ultimate beneficial ownership. 
• Undertake negative news searches.
• Guide Partners and Fee Earners on the required documents in instances when information is not publicly available or provided by online subscriptions. 
• Collate the client due diligence research.
• Attribute a risk rating and frequency of review to the client
• Escalate AML issues in accordance with the appropriate internal AML escalation routes.
• Perform on-going monitoring of existing clients and update client due diligence documents when required.
• Recording the decisions taken to onboard the client and undertaking risk assessments whilst applying a risk based approach.

About you 

General

• Excellent communicator. 
• Accurate with excellent attention to detail. 
• Team player.
• Good organisational skills.
• Ability and enthusiasm to work in a fast paced environment. 
• Excellent command of written/spoken English, and the ability to tailor style as appropriate. Ability to communicate with non-native English speakers is essential.
• Conscientious and methodical approach and the ability to analyse.
• Solutions driven with a problem-solving attitude.
• To recognise when to escalate an issue and to whom.
• Willingness to learn and develop as the role itself develops.
• A self-starter who shows readiness to ask questions and verify information.
• Keen interest in AML legislation and regulatory compliance.

Qualifications and Experience

• 2+ years’ experience of working within a Risk and Compliance function with some exposure to conflicts and/or AML or as a paralegal in a law firm.
• PCLL/GDL/LPC preferred but not essential.
• Essential applications experience: Word and Outlook.
• Chinese/Cantonese/other language proficiency would be an advantage.
• Experience of Intapp (preferred but not essential).

Please include the following details in your application: 

• Latest Salary
• Expected Salary
• Notice Period

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