Risk & Compliance Administrator in Ipswich

The firm Birketts is a full service, UK Top 50 law firm. With a heritage spanning 160 years, we have more than 700 lawyers and legal professionals based in Bristol, Cambridge, Chelmsford, Ipswich, London, Norwich and Sevenoaks. We advise businesses, government and public sector organisations and individuals in the UK and internationally across four principal practice groups: Real Estate, Corporate Services, Dispute Resolution and Private Client.

We are defined by our Next Level Law proposition. We work with our clients as a proactive partner, horizon scanning and thinking ahead to the changes, challenges or opportunities that they may face. Next Level Law is also applied to our people. Our collegiate culture means everyone is encouraged to achieve their next level in everything they do. RollOnFriday recently ranked us as the 5th best law firm to work at in 2024.

With our ambition to succeed, comes a strong desire to make a positive contribution to the communities we serve, and we are committed to delivering the objectives set out in our ESG strategy. Diversity plays an integral part in all that we do, with female partners comprising 40% of our partnership.

The department The Risk & Compliance department identifies risks that Birketts LLP faces and advises on how to avoid or address them. It implements controls to protect the organisation from those risks. Compliance monitors and reports on the effectiveness of controls in the management of the organisations risk exposure.

As a Risk & Compliance Administrator, you will support the firm in meeting its professional obligations, managing regulatory risk, and ensuring that lawyers can operate confidently within a robust compliance framework.

Purpose of job

• To effectively provide support to the Risk and Compliance Director to ensure that the firm's compliance and regulatory regime meets current requirements, conditions and client expectations.
• Provide support to fee earners and secretaries in relation to risk and quality queries/processes.
• Dealing with AML searches through our electronic providers.
• Chasing non-receipt of ID where required for pending matters.
• Logging of and maintaining Undertakings and the register.
• Monitoring residual and retained client balances, assisting with reports to SRA for clearance of residual balances and payment to charity.
• Updating data on internal systems as required.
• Issuing monthly print outs to fee earners.
• Assisting with administration of the Conveyancing quality scheme.
• Corporate audit letters.
• Dealing with ongoing monitoring notifications from AML electronic providers.
• Undertaking tasks identified from print out reviews.
• Make suggestions for improvement of effectiveness and efficiency.
• Generally support the department with ad hoc tasks.
• Responsible for ensuring own knowledge and training is kept up to date and requesting training when necessary.
• Basic risk queries.

The candidate

• Educated to GCSE or A level standard or equivalent.
• Knowledge/experience of anti-money laundering desirable.
• Good working knowledge of Microsoft Office suite of software (including Outlook, Excel & Word).
• Excellent keyboard skills.
• Accuracy and attention to detail.
• Highly analytical.
• Self-motivated, ability to use initiative and provide pro-active support to fee earners.
• Strong written and oral communication skills. Ability to communicate with colleagues at all levels of seniority and liaise effectively with other internal departments and external contacts.
• Team player.
• Adaptable and flexible.
• Good organisational abilities.

Equal opportunities

At Birketts, our culture is driven by ambition and a commitment to positively impact all the communities we serve. We are dedicated to the success, development, and wellbeing of our colleagues, helping them achieve their goals and seize the opportunities that come with our growth. Alongside a flexible and inclusive work environment, we offer the following core benefits:

• 25 days holiday (FTE) plus Bank Holidays.
• Long Service holiday award - 1 extra week every 10 years continuous service.
• Private Healthcare with BUPA (offered after probation is passed).
• Scottish Widows Pension Scheme (5% employer / 5% Employee).
• Staff Profit Share and Individual Performance Bonus Scheme.
• Salary sacrifice (Pensions, Staff Profit Share).
• Life Assurance - 4 x salary / Permanent Health Insurance.
• Paid CSR Day.
• Enhanced Maternity/Paternity Leave.
• Subsidised gym membership.
• Electric car scheme.
• Agile/Hybrid Working Policy.
• Dress for your Day Policy.

Birketts is a flexible business which has embraced a hybrid working model where our colleagues enjoy a mix of home and office working. We welcome applications from people looking for flexible, agile, and part-time roles and we are happy to explore your preferred working patterns as part of your application.

Please note that this job profile is not an exhaustive list of duties but merely an outline of the key components of the role. You may be required by your line manager to take on additional responsibilities when requested.

Birketts is committed to being an Equal Opportunity Employer. Our policy is unequivocal: we do not tolerate discrimination based on age, disability, sex, race, religion or belief, gender reassignment, marriage or civil partnership, pregnancy or maternity, or sexual orientation. We pride ourselves on being an inclusive organisation that actively promotes equality of opportunity for all, valuing the right mix of talent, skills, and potential. We welcome applications from a diverse range of candidates, and selection for roles is based solely on individual merit.