Conflicts & Compliance Analyst

Job Description | Conflicts & Compliance Analyst

Department: Business Acceptance (Legal & Risk)

Location: Manchester

Role: Conflicts & Compliance Analyst

Contract: 12 Month Fix-term contract

The Team

You will be part of the Business Acceptance Team, reporting to the Conflicts and Compliance Team Leaders, Managers, Senior Managers, and the Global Head of Business Acceptance. The Business Acceptance Team consists of Senior Managers, Managers, Team Leaders, Senior Conflicts and Compliance Analysts, Conflicts and Compliance Analysts, Conflicts and Compliance Assistants, Paralegals and Administration Assistants.

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

The role is responsible for supporting the Business Acceptance team through the delivery of specific tasks and workstreams, as required, across one or more of the following areas.

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, Managers, Global Head of Business Acceptance, Conflicts Managers and Conflicts Lawyers 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 Legal and Regulatory 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 Leaders, Managers, Global Head of Business Acceptance, Financial Crime Managers and Financial Crime Lawyers 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 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 Business Acceptance Team 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 Financial Crime Team and Sanctions Partners.

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 written and verbal communication skills.
• Degree or other relevant qualifications (Desirable).
• Experience using Intapp or similar intake/conflicts management systems (Desirable).

Competencies

• 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.